At Mascalls Academy we aim to provide a broad range of educational opportunities for all students regardless of their ability or background, to develop their potential to the full and to enable them to become confident, caring adults with the competencies necessary for success in adult life and life-long learning.
Curriculum Intent
Mascalls provides a challenging and rigorous curriculum with knowledge acquisition at its core. Our curriculum is broad and balanced, with a rich variety of subjects allowing students to study widely. The diversity within the curriculum offers stimulating and challenging learning meeting the needs of all our students regardless of background or ability. The learning opportunities are both innovative and inclusive. We have designed a curriculum that not only instils value in the core subjects but also the EBACC and foundation subjects in all key stages. Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful learners with high aspirations. Our curriculum ensures that academic success, creativity, problem solving, reliability, responsibility and resilience, as well as physical development, well-being and mental health are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning and enable them to become well-rounded, global citizens.
Through our digital strategy students are able to access the best curricular resources from within the academy and beyond to enhance, support, assess and review their learning at any time for all learners.
High quality summative and formative assessment at Mascalls define curriculum excellence, it sets out the standard that you expect students to achieve and informs both the curriculum and teacher planning. The design of assessment is derived from a tight focus on assessing the content taught, the accumulation of knowledge and the application of skills appropriate to the age and stage of the learner. The outcomes of assessment, both formative and summative, identify gaps and misconceptions in knowledge and understanding, directly informing future planning by providing information that can be used by the teacher to close the gaps as close to the assessment point as possible.
Digital opportunities are utilised through our chromebook scheme to enhance the efficiency of assessment, improving the speed and diagnostic nature of feedback from summative and formative assessments.
Challenge is at the heart of teaching and learning at Mascalls, with high expectations through clarity of explanation, expert modelling, questioning, deliberate practice and feedback lessons are delivered in the most efficient sequence to ensure optimal learning. Through our research based approach, we banish the educational myths that have little impact on learning and knowledge acquisition. We ‘teach to the top’ and scaffold appropriately. We never confuse low prior attainment with low ability; all students are provided with learning tasks that have a ‘desirable difficulty’. Our research into cognitive load theory underpins our approach to pedagogy and the ‘Challenge Wheel’, our explicit models of instruction and instructional techniques fit within the characteristics of working memory in order to maximise learning.
Our digital strategy makes the most of the opportunities to substitute, augment, modify or redefine aspects within the learning process to ensure the most efficient and effective delivery.
International Baccalaureate – Middle Years Programme
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathise with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning. The programme empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally. The result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
Please click on the links below for more information about the IB MYP.
Knowledge Organisers
We are pleased to introduce our Knowledge Organisers. Please click on the links below for more information, or alternatively please contact Mr Hatherill, Assistant Principal.
Please Note: Students will need to sign in to be able to access the portal.
Curriculum Model
At Mascalls in KS3 we deliver a curriculum under the framework of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. The Middle Years Programme encourages students to become lifelong learners. It aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. We develop these attributes in our young people through our written curriculum by excellent teaching and learning and our bespoke pastoral programme. Students study a broad curriculum in the MYP across 8 subject groups:
- Language acquisition – the study of a foreign language
- Language and literature – English language and literature
- Individuals and societies – history, geography and RE
- Sciences – biology, chemistry and physics
- Mathematics
- Arts – art and design, dance, drama and music
- Physical and health education
- Design – design and technology and computer science
Healthy Minds was also introduced this year. Healthy Minds draws together 14 evidence-based modules into a cohesive programme to enhance specific aspects of a student’s wellbeing and behaviour.
Students then continue their journey of learning in KS4 in GCSE/ vocational programmes in year 10 and 11. In key stage 4 we offer one of the widest range of option choices amongst our local schools, embracing the academic and vocational curriculums. All students will continue to study English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Spanish, RE and PE. Students then have the following option subjects to choose from a range of GCSE and vocational subjects such as Fine Art, Art Textiles, Art Graphics, Photography, Product Design, Food and Nutrition, Dance, Drama, Music, History, Geography, Separate Science, Sports Science, Computer Science, Film Studies, Sociology and Business Studies. Students choose three option subjects to include either History or Geography.
Students who decide to continue their educational journey at Mascalls will study a diet of A Levels or a combination of A level and vocational programmes. In key stage 5 we offer students pathways through either a traditional academic route of A Levels or a mix of A Level and vocational courses, in total offering a range of over 30 subjects with addition to the further study of the GCSE subjects offered including Politics and Psychology.
Mascalls has an extensive thematic pastoral programme which follows the structured inquiry principles. This programme is delivered daily through advisory and assembly sessions in same year class groups/ bubbles.
We offer a wide range of activities, programs and learning experiences within the co-curriculum that complements what students are learning in school within the academic curriculum. Students have access to good quality educational experiences beyond the classroom walls through an extensive program of lunchtime and afterschool clubs, school educational trips which support learning in the classroom as well as the numerous performances and exhibitions throughout the year.
Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. All subject leaders are given training and the opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.