What do we teach?

In their first three years of school, students study a curriculum based on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, supplemented by an in depth study of the Humanities and Languages taught by specialist teachers. Alongside this core, students develop their creative and sporting potential through the teaching of PE and a range of visual and performing arts. Students that join the academy below level 4 in English or Maths participate in a programme designed to ensure they reach age related expectations as soon as possible.

Years 10 and 11

In Key Stage 4 students follow guided pathways that allow them to study a range of subjects at an appropriate level. We support students to make aspirational and informed decisions that will enable them to create opportunities as they move into post 16 education and employment. 

The programme falls into two sections:

1. The compulsory core of English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education and PSHE.
2. A preferred selection of subjects to complete this ‘entitlement’ based on personal strengths and aspirations.

Subjects offered at KS4:

Click the document below to view the current course information provided for Year 9 students and parents to aid their Guided Choices selection of study in Year 10 and Year 11. 

Click each subject in the table below to view more in depth information on the Exam Board Curriculum Specification. 

CORE Subjects:

• English Language  AQA
• English Literature  AQA
• Mathematics  AQA
• Combined Science  AQA

OPTIONS Subjects:

• Art  AQA
• Child Development  AQA
• Technical Award Food & Catering  AQA
• Geography  OCR
• History  AQA
• Hospitality BTEC  PEARSON
• Modern Foreign Languages – French  EDEXCEL
• Modern Foreign Languages – German  EDEXCEL
• Music V Cert  NCFE
• Physical Education GCSE  AQA
• Physical Education BTEC  PEARSON
• Philosophy, Belief and Ethics EDUQAS
• Technical Award Materials Technology (formally Resistant Materials AQA

• Technical Award Visual Communications (formerly Graphics)  AQA

• Triple Science: Physics AQA, Chemistry  AQA, Biology  AQA

At Oasis Academy Mayfield we believe that every teacher is a teacher of literacy, whatever his or her subject area.

Format Matters

Every teacher and every student knows and understands to use the technique of ‘Format Matters’ to enforce good literacy across the curriculum.

Format Matters is a technique in which teachers require complete sentences and proficient grammar at every chance available, ensuring that students answer questions in a complete sentence format. Teachers can aid this by using the pause, rewind and rehearse techniques. Pause - stop the student and correct the grammar and full sentences. Rewind - let the student finish then begin again, using correct grammar and full sentences. Rehearse – give the student(s) chance to practice before giving an answer in full sentences and correct grammar. In each classroom you will be able to see a poster (like below) which reminds our students of the whole school Literacy strategy ‘Format Matters’.

This technique is proven to improve the long-term memory of students as well as encourage good literacy at all times.

 

Literacy Representatives in the Academy

Literacy Co-ordinator: There is one literacy co-ordinator in the academy to co-ordinate whole-school literacy

Literacy Champions: There is a literacy champion for each subject area to support the teachers with literacy habits, techniques and ideas and liaise with the literacy co-ordinator.

Teaching Leaders: There are Teaching Leaders in Maths, English and Science to monitor and support the teachers with literacy habits, techniques and ideas and liaise with the literacy Co-ordinator.

What is Numeracy?

Numeracy is a fundamental life skill that is needed in many facets of everyday life - personal, leisure, social and work - in order for people to lead a confident and fulfilling life in school and beyond. Numeracy needs to be seen as a practical capability that enables learners to apply their skills and knowledge to solve problems in a whole range of contexts across school and in real life. Across our curriculum we approach numeracy from a life skill perspective as well as improve the general mathematic ability of our students.

The importance of Numeracy across the curriculum

At Mayfield we recognise the importance that numeracy has on the whole curriculum and know that numerate students are those who are confident and competent at using numbers in any context, as well as having the inclination and ability for problem solving. Good numeracy skills boost students’ self-confidence and self-esteem and will help them to progress in all aspects of school life and into their future career choices.

At the academy we each take the opportunity once a week to do a numeracy exercise with our Tutor groups. The Numeracy Coordinator prepares resources on a weekly basis to be used by students all across the school, linking the mathematical skills and knowledge learnt in the classroom with an understanding of how maths is used in an everyday context. This is a great opportunity for students across the whole spectrum of mathematical ability. Our strongest mathematicians are able to support and extend the knowledge of others in their Tutor group, whilst consolidating and embedding their own skills and abilities. This also assists students who may have found it difficult to engage with a particular concept in class, to use the same concept to problem solve and work in teams with their peers. 

Click here to view some examples of our weekly Tutor numeracy resources.

Numeracy Policy

Curriculum areas will endeavour to ensure that materials presented to students will match their capability both in subject content and in numerical demands. They will liaise with the Special Needs and Mathematics departments when appropriate in order to support their teaching of numeracy.

All teachers should consider students ability to cope with the numerical demands of everyday life and provide opportunities for students to:

• handle number and measurement competently, mentally, orally and in writing
• use calculators accurately and appropriately
• interpret and use numerical and statistical data represented in a variety of forms.

Mathematics in other subjects

Sometimes it is really clear when students are studying numeracy skills in other curriculum areas. For example it is clear to see the maths skills in drawing a graph for a science experiment or using a formula to find and unknown quantify in E=MC². In Design and Technology you can clearly see the mathematical skills of drawing compound shapes from plan, side and elevation views or working out the amount of material required to build a set of iPod speakers. 

If you are interested to find out more about how Maths is used on a daily basis across the curriculum, please contact [email protected] (Numeracy Coordinator).

We are committed to preparing students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life beyond the Academy, in modern Britain and the global marketplace.

Through our provision of SMSC, we will:

• enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence
• enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England
• encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the Academy and to society more widely
• enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England
• further promote tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures
• encourage respect for other people
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England

The list below describes the understanding and knowledge we expect of students as a result of promoting fundamental British values:

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence
• an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs, is protected in law
• an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none), should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination

Please click here to view our current SMSC Policy