Approach

Students in years 7 and 8 are taught in a primary class-based model that places emphasis on well-being and relationships. Routines and strategies are embedded to provide a safe, predictable and supportive environment. There is a focus on developing self-esteem and resilience providing students with the building blocks needed to engage with their learning, take pride in their work and succeed in a school environment.

We place high value on introducing tools to support students’ ability to recognise their emotions and select strategies to foster self-regulation and emotional control. We aim to equip students throughout their school journey with the necessary skills to feel secure and confident in the school environment so that their independent decision making and autonomy supporting them to move from co-regulation to self-regulation. The Nurture model will support students to learn about their sensory system and experiment with regulatory strategies which aim to support students’ impulse control, sustaining attention and conflict management to navigate through challenges.

At The Pride Academy, we recognise that students join us with varied prior experiences of learning. In some cases, students may have missed key aspects of their learning which has resulted in gaps in students’ skills, knowledge and experience our nurture curriculum aims to address gaps through the sequencing of curriculum content. Curriculum coverage at Key Stage 3 aims to provide a broad and balanced offer which mirrors the National Curriculum allowing student to encounter varied subjects including:

Our whole school approach to learning considers the individual needs of our students and recommended provisions from students’ Educational Health Care Plans and their personal contexts. To support students, we employ a range of adaptive teaching strategies to meet individual learning to personalise the learning experience so that personal interests are utilised to facilitate engagement.

n Year 9 students move from the Nurture Model to the Transition Model where they are provided with opportunities for increased independence through access increased access to subject specialist teaching and increased access to subject specialist learning environments outside of their tutor base. The Transition Model has a primary focus on preparing students for the next stage in their educational journey. Students will be introduced to a range of qualifications and expose them to a more in-depth learning experiences discovering students’ strengths and passions in preparation for selecting their options in Key Stage 4.  In Year 9 students are encouraged to consider personal aspirations and goals through one-to-one careers guidance and work-related encounters. Students personalised learning continues to be informed by the National Curriculum studying the following areas:

In Year 9 we continue to follow a child centred approach to learning providing age-appropriate teaching strategies to help students learn to organise and structure the increasing demands of the curriculum. As we progress from the Nurture Model to the Transition Model students are encouraged to develop increased autonomy when managing their Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs through selecting appropriate emotional regulation tools and move from high levels of co-regulation with adult support to increased independence and confidence in identifying tools which are effective for each individual.

Students will continue to foster and develop their passions and interests in preparation for the progression model and literacy skills are built upon to promote students use of disciplinary literacy supporting them to develop competence and work toward the skills and knowledge needed for success in Key stage 4 qualifications and examinations.

In Key Stage 4 students continue to develop their independence and determine their next educational goals by selecting options subjects that each lead to formal qualifications.  Students study core subjects of English, Maths, PSHE, Science and Physical Education and in addition can select from optional subjects of:

• Fine Art
• Photography
• Child Development
• Sport Leaders/PE
• Food Preparation and Nutrition/ Home Cooking
• Design and Technology/ Construction
• Hair and Beauty
• Business Studies
• History
• Mechanics

Each subject pathway enables students to work towards qualification that may be in the following areas:

• Functional qualifications provide foundational skills for life and work.
• Vocational qualifications prepare students for specific careers with a blend of practical and theoretical learning.
• Academic qualifications focus on in-depth knowledge and provide a traditional route to higher education.

It is our aim at The Pride Academy for all students to follow a personalised pathway that aligns with their interests and future aspirations, helping them to gain qualifications that will support their personal growth and support next steps and successful destinations.

In Key Stage 4 students will develop their growing independence with increased opportunities to engage in education through offsite visits where they can consolidate their subject knowledge through experiential learning. Students will apply the emotional regulation tools they have gained in the Nurture and Transition Model to manage their individual needs in an increased range of settings both in school and out of school when engaging with the wider community. The curriculum aims to prepare students of their next steps and promote opportunities for success through a tiered qualification systems which allows students to recognise their own achievements, build self-esteem and an increased positive view of themselves as learners.

At the Pride Academy our Post 16 offer aims to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead fulfilling independent lives and pursue voluntary or paid employment, high education and integrate positively within society. The curriculum offer includes a combination of specialist vocational courses and opportunities for retaining Literacy and Numeracy qualifications not obtained at Key Stage 4 as well as course focused on personal wellbeing and health. The subjects offered as part of our Post 16 curriculum are the following:

• Personal Growth and Wellbeing
• Work Skills
• Work experience
• Life Skills
• Home Cooking
• Functional Skills English
• Functional Skills Maths
• Child Development
• Construction
• Mechanics
• Art and Photography

Students will be provided with extensive support in preparing them for the requirements of the working world through workshops, external speakers, workplace encounters and offsite life skill experiences. Students are educated on external support mechanisms available beyond school and how to access these in order to support their ongoing journeys and maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.