Curriculum Intent & Vision

Our curriculum intent and vision is underpinned by our Trust values and mission:

Success through Endeavour

Ambition through Challenge

Strength through Diversity
 

At Summit our overarching curriculum aims to:

• Promote social justice through the provision of a rich and relevant cultural capital curriculum that supports students’ learning in a wide range of subjects
• Challenge robustly all forms of discrimination and unconscious bias by providing an inclusive curriculum that is relevant to the backgrounds of all our pupils
• Provoke ambition in our students by challenging them to engage with hard concepts
• Inspire students to enjoy reflective and dynamic learning
• Support our students to overcome disadvantage by equipping them with the deep knowledge and complex skills they will need to succeed in future education, work and life
• Spark curiosity and excitement in students about the world, themselves and each other
• Deliver coherence within and across subject areas so that students understand, learn how to remember, and make connections between the composite parts of the knowledge they are taught
• Engender understanding, optimism and hope in our students, to empower them to create a better world

Academies will have additional, individual curriculum intent according to their ethos and context. Leaders will review their curricula to ensure that it reflects different world views equally, for example (but not exclusively) that of women and people of colour.

Academies will map their curricula within and across subject areas, mindful of the foundations of the primary curriculum, and the future demands of further and higher education. Careful and intelligent consideration will be given to the selection of interleaved knowledge and skills across five years of learning. Our ‘Excellence in Teaching’ model of pedagogy, rooted in direct instruction, will support profound learning across a coherent curriculum experience for students.

Academies will collaborate and share practice, planning and resources to reduce workload, and will be free to adapt their own curricula with respect to their particular context and needs.

At Solihull Sixth Form College our overarching curriculum aims to:

• Give a warm welcome to 16-19 year old students from across Solihull and Birmingham and support transition from School to College and beyond.
• Build on a 45 years of expertise in A level and level 3 Applied teaching and learning.
• Offer a diverse and exciting choice of subjects to meet the interests and ambitions of students, employers and the local community (36 A levels/A level equivalents and 6 BTEC Extended Diplomas, 2 National Diplomas and 1 T level).
• Have inclusive yet robust entry criteria which encourage progression to level 3 study and improve life chances.
• Ensure excellent teaching and learning experiences and pastoral care that will challenge, stimulate and motivate students to excel over their two years at the College.
• Deliver coherence within and across subject areas so that students understand, learn how to remember and make connections between the composite parts of the knowledge and skills they are taught.
• Provide expert and highly qualified teachers who have a passion for their subject and invest in their students.
• Create a highly resourced and vibrant environment where everyone feels valued, respected and is able to thrive.
• Provide a distinct pathway for students to university, apprenticeships and employment and personalised support to enable them to achieve their goals.
• Develop our students so that they stand out in their universities and workplaces for the skills they have developed, their mature approach and independent nature.
• Promote a culture of mutual respect and tolerance where everyone’s opinion is valued.
• Embed equality in all that we do, celebrate the diversity of both students and staff and robustly challenge all forms of discrimination and unconscious bias.
• Promote social justice and equip students to be culturally literate, curious about the world and ready to excel in our democratic society.
• Develop students’ resilience in the modern world and encourage them to take pride in their achievements.
• Offer all students an opportunity to engage in exciting and stimulating enrichment opportunities that go beyond the curriculum and support them to develop as young citizens and members of the local community.