Curriculum

Driven by our ethos and values, our curriculum enables students to study the subjects important to them, develop the skills they will need to shape them as citizens ready for a prosperous future in modern Britain or globally.

We have very high expectations for every student, with challenging, aspirational and shared potentials. Students at Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy are supported academically and emotionally developing skills, attitudes and abilities which will enable them to achieve their life goals.

Our curriculum is sequenced to ensure that students gain knowledge, connect key concepts, acquire new skills and learn how to apply this confidently in different contexts. Our curriculum leaders have carefully considered what knowledge should be secured and how best do we ensure that pupils learn that knowledge in a way that means they remember it and can use it? In 2020-2021 we have become a High Performance Learning (HPL) Pathway school and are at the start of a two year journey of implementing the HPL framework alongside our curriculum content.

The HPL framework underpins the learning culture and educational fabric of the academy. The HPL ethos chimes with our academy values: scholarship- character – community and drives us in our mission to unlock a thirst for learning for all to successfully access an ever-changing world. To overcome barriers and embrace challenges to enrich themselves and our community. We are strongly aligned to the belief that high performance is for the many, not just for the few, as we embark on our journey to be a world class school.

High Performance Learning is a research-based, pedagogy-led philosophy that responds to our growing understanding of human capability. It normalises high performance for all students and uses a unique teaching and learning framework to systematically develop the cognitive skills, values, attitudes and attributes needed for lifetime success. (Deborah Eyre)

Our curriculum approach continues to evolve as we embed the HPL framework of how learners think (Advanced Cognitive Performance) and how learners behave – (Values, Attitudes, Attributes) into our curriculum and culture. We will be building the HPL cognitive competencies into our subject curriculum alongside knowledge and disciplinary skills over the next two years.

The overarching aims of our curriculum is to drive the following outcomes:

Increasingly strong academic results year-on-year leading to good post school destinations
Well-motivated and engaged students; school-ready, college-ready, work-ready and life ready

Art & Design

Aims to provide opportunities for students to achieve well and make individual progress by exploring areas of Art that are valuable, interesting and relevant to the National Curriculum or assessment criteria. Students enjoy learning and create artwork that is individual, creative and innovative.

Business Studies

The Business Department at KEVI HWGA aim to enable students to develop their knowledge around the fundamentals of starting and running a business. As students delve deeper into the world of business they will learn about how to grow a business on an international scale.

Childs Play, Learning & Development

Students learn how children are expected to grow, develop and learn; any factors which may affect this; and how to support the individual needs of children effectively. They will understand the role of an Early Year’s Educator, and hopefully be inspired to work with children.

Computing

Computing drives innovation in the sciences, in engineering, business, entertainment, and education. It touches every aspect of our lives from the cars we drive to the movies we watch and the way in which businesses and governments communicate with and hear from us.

Design & Technology

We enable students to develop creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to apply these to the real world. We promote a love of learning by encouraging our students to be resourceful, innovative, and creative problem solvers in the ‘real world’.

Drama

Drama is an essential part of a varied and creative curriculum offer within our academy. We aim to develop creativity, empathy and a curiosity for the world in which we live, in an environment of trust and intrigue, developing confidence, communication and every opportunity to think outside the box.

English

The core purposes of the study of English are: To challenge, inspire and enthuse our students to have a hunger for knowledge; a lifelong love of reading and independent study; to ignite creativity in a variety of forms and to develop confidence and accuracy in written and verbal communication.

Geography

The core purpose of our study of Geography at KEVI HWGA, and what we want students to gain from is: to stimulate a sense of wonder about the world, inspire students to want to shape a better future and equip students with skills for the future.

Health & Social Care

We provide an understanding of the health & social care needs of people throughout the different stages of life; how development is affected by events, lifestyle choices and relationships; how to interpret health and lifestyle data; and an insight into the skills and care values of service providers

History

We promote an enquiry-based approach, helping students question and evaluate ideas and concepts. We engage with the past to promote activity in debate and use evidence to make judgments with confidence. We ensure students become good citizens in the wider community and develop analytical skills.

Maths

Mathematics is the means of looking at the patterns that make up our world and the intricate and beautiful ways in which they are constructed and realised. Numeracy is the means of making that knowledge useful.

Media Studies

Students will have the opportunity to investigate a range of media products which include advertisements, marketing, newspapers, music videos, film, radio and video games in the exam. Component Two involves students to investigate media forms and products, with an emphasis on media contexts.

Modern Foreign Languages

The core purposes of the study of French at KEVI HWGA are firstly, to enable students to understand and communicate effectively in French, in both spoken and written forms; and secondly, to foster a love for and interest in the language and culture of France and French-speaking countries.

Music

Music inspires creativity, builds confidence and provides lifelong skills. Learning an instrument translates theoretical knowledge into fine motor skills and promotes emotional wellbeing. Students are regularly given the opportunity to spectate and perform on stage which builds self-esteem.

PE

We want to give students the tools and understanding required to make a positive impact in their own physical health and well-being. They will experience a wide variety of sports and physical skills which will enhance life-long fitness and life choices.

Psychology

To study the science of human behaviour and experience we conduct experiments, examine theories & analyse the proposed causes of behaviour.

Religious Studies

Our core principle is to provide a curriculum which is relevant to our learners but also challenges them to examine their own understanding of life. Our GCSE results are above the national average and all students make good or excellent progress.

Science

As a Science team we want our students; to foster a love for all Sciences, enjoy the practical elements of the subject. We want our students to develop the essential skills to understanding the way the world works through the eyes of a scientist in order to become a scientist for our future.

Sociology

Sociology is primarily about raising awareness of the social world. There are many things that we take for granted in our everyday lives such as how we dress, what we believe, how we live and what we buy.

Textiles

Using creativity and imagination pupils will design and make products that solve real and relevant problems considering their own and others’ needs.

Literacy at HWGS

Literacy encompasses one’s ability to read, write and communicate and it is these areas that form the foundations to an individual’s success.

Numeracy at HWGS

From telling the time to reading election results online, there is a significant need for working with numbers, measures and diagrams in day-to-day tasks. It is vital therefore that all pupils are confident in their own numerate abilities.