Depth
Our staff at Chelsea Academy are committed to ensuring our curriculum is delivered through excellent teaching and learning. We are passionate about the power of education and its potential to transform lives. It permeates each and every one of our curriculum areas. Our teachers are committed to their own research-informed professional development ensuring that as a community we continue to learn together to flourish. Our students benefit from exceptional educational facilities and highly qualified staff teaching across Key Stage 3 to GCSE and A Level. They are supported both academically and pastorally to prepare for public examinations but also to inspire in them a love of learning beyond the curriculum. We do not apologise for the high standards we expect of our students, both in their work ethic and in their future ambitions and our destinations record is a testament to this.
Breadth
In Key Stage 4, students have three options across a variety of subjects, including technology, the arts, and a choice of computing qualifications, thus ensuring that a balanced variety of subjects to suit all learners is maintained.
Skills and qualifications for life
It is vital for their life chances that students do well in English, mathematics and science. There is a strong focus on the core throughout Chelsea Academy’s curriculum, as reflected in the allocation of time to core subjects at both Key Stages 3 and 4. It is our pledge to parents & carers to do everything in our power to support students in achieving strong outcomes in these qualifications. Throughout KS4 students continue to study physical education, computing and citizenship. In addition, all students complete a GCSE in Religious Education at the end of Year 10. RSE and health education continues to be delivered at KS4 through the Pastoral Curriculum (during Coaching Time) and through Citizenship.
All courses taught at the Academy are recognised and valued by colleges, universities and employers, and lead on to good post-16 progression whether further study or apprenticeships. The Academy reviews the KS4 offer annually to ensure it meets the needs of all learners and is compliant.
Our vision is that our students can only truly flourish in the wider world with appropriate KS4 qualifications and the skills developed as a result.
Timetable Allocation
Lessons per week per subject are allocated as follows in Key Stage 4:
| Subject | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
| English | 5 | 6 |
| Mathematics | 5 | 6 |
| Science* | 6 | 6 |
| RE (Early Entry)** | 2 | 0 |
| Core PE | 2 | 2 |
| PD*** | 0 | 0 |
| Option A | 3 | 3 |
| Option B | 3 | 3 |
| Option C | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 29 | 29 |
*A decision will be made in Year 10 about which students will work towards GCSE qualifications in the separate sciences, and which students will work towards the combined science award. As Science is our specialism, significant efforts will be made to put a high percentage of students in a position to be entered for the separate Science GCSE qualifications.
**Early entry, full course GCSE for all students in Year 10.
***Following the completion of the RE course in May, a series of PD lessons is delivered in the remaining curriculum time. Other PD input takes place through year group assemblies, sessions by visiting speakers and drop-down half days.
EBacc Policy
A broad range of GCSE subjects are offered to students, with EBacc options featuring strongly: Computer Science, Geography, History, French, Spanish, as well as the opportunity to sit GCSEs in heritage languages. The full EBacc is not a compulsory element of our curriculum, however, more able students are advised to study these facilitating subjects with a view to future study at top universities, and all students are required to study at least one EBacc subject.