The start of this academic year marked an exciting new chapter for the Faculty of Languages so we would like to take this opportunity to share recent developments and celebrate the many enriching opportunities available to our students.
Please find the latest Science faculty blog below:
This year, the faculty has focussed on developing the extended writing skills of year 9 students in order to enable them to be able to express themselves without the need for tight scaffolds. There have been several opportunities this year for year 9 students to use a homework task to develop and plan ideas for a longer piece of written work in the classroom. The feedback given by the teacher and from opportunities to share planning with other students has then enabled our year 9 students to engage with an extended written piece of purple pen to really demonstrate their higher order knowledge and understanding skills in a range of different pieces of work.
Character education in PACE
Character education is about ensuring all out students understand the values and vision behind our ARCH values and how in their PE, Music and Drama lessons we structure lessons to ensure we model these values.
Boost to students’ digital skills
We have been strengthening and developing our students digital skills by embedding Microsoft Teams and associated technologies to give them increased confidence, skills and processes in using computers. At year 8, we have also introduced a basic skills curriculum to address the weaknesses that some students have through a heavy increase in exposure to tablets and smartphones, rather than desktop computing. These skills will have an increased impact on their ability to use computer software across the curriculum and, later on, when they enter the workplace. The assignment below shows an excellent piece of Year 9 work, where the students have been learning how to program the microbit to learn coding skills; the assignment was submitted in Microsoft Teams, assessed and then returned to the student for revision, enabling high levels of progress in their learning.
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.”
Flora Lewis
One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of young people’s education is what happens beyond the confines of a classroom. Seeing students conquer their fear of heights at Hagg Farm or being genuinely in awe of the effort’s soldiers went to in the First World War is not surprisingly pleasing.
Every time you turn on a light switch, do any form of exercise or turn on a tap, you are relying on processes and ideas that are part of the science curriculum at the National Academy. Our aim throughout the time that students are studying with us is to give them opportunities to understand and explain everyday experiences and to see the impact that science has on their lives.
In Social Sciences, a large part of our curriculum is intended to give our students the opportunity to develop analytical and evaluative skills. In Religious Studies this is seen in both key stage three and key stage 4 though debate style responses that the students are invited to engage with in a considered way. In key stage three we use the 'flipped coin' strategy, where in lessons students are invited to present different arguments on a physical 'flipped coin' to help them see how the different arguments are being presented. The strategy is then built upon in key stage four, where some students need to analyse and evaluate a wider range of arguments by introducing the jigsaw piece strategy. This strategy enables students to see how different arguments can be used to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to support the different religious points of view on the topics we are discussing.
How do I use leadership skills in PACE lessons?
Here are 6 important leadership skills students learn from participating in Physical education and performing arts (Drama and Music) that can be applied to many roles and careers – even outside of performing arts and sport.
Nestled within the corridors of the National Church of England Academy lies a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation – the Art, Design, and Technology department. Here, students are not just taught skills and knowledge; they are encouraged to explore, create, and push the boundaries of their imagination.
