The curriculum at Abbey Grange Academy is designed to give all learners the knowledge, skills and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. It is ambitious and broad.

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Key Stage Three ensures comprehensive coverage of the National Curriculum, Key Stage 4 pathways allow students to pursue the EBACC or develop their interests in a wide range of subjects.  As a Church of England Academy, all of our students routinely undertake a Religious Studies qualification at KS4. At Key Stage 5 a suite of over 25 Level 3 (A Level or Applied) subjects are available in our Sixth Form. At every transition point students are guided and supported to aspire high and strive for excellence.

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Our curriculum is designed and sequenced to successfully develop the knowledge and skills that students will apply with increasing fluency and independence. Our ABBEY character, alongside a focus on oracy and reading is integral to our curriculum.

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We are a talk rich school. We support our students to learn through talk and are relentless in our development of oracy skills with our students in order that they may have agency in their lives, have a genuine “seat at the table” and be courageous advocates for themselves and others.

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Reading is everywhere at Abbey Grange as we believe it is central to the development of informed young adults who have a passion for lifelong learning, a love of discovering new ideas and a desire to experience new worlds.

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Through high expectations and expert teaching, students from all backgrounds and starting points will be able to achieve. Our ABBEY Character programme (which includes the PSHE statutory curriculum) and enrichment programme as well as access to a wide variety of extra-curricular activities ensures a genuinely holistic experience for all students, with  access to enriching activities and the development of skills that will help them to succeed in further education and employment. We are responsive to the needs of our students and work with them, and listen to them in order to regularly reflect upon and shape our offer.

• Knowing our students well and ensuring their voices, lived experiences and aspirations are represented in our school
• Relentlessly high expectations for all our students regardless of their starting points.
• Creating opportunities where all of our students have opportunities to flourish
• Maximising all opportunities to deliver our character curriculum – aspiration, benevolence, belief, excellence and youth leadership/advocacy
• Teaching our students how they learn andsupporting them to know more and remember more.
• Embedding healthy work habits in our studentsthrough “taught not told” study, revision and learning habits
• Maximising students excellent attendance and teaching them that being present and engaged is a core value for lifelong success
• Ensuring options are wide, and passions are supported – education gives us all options
• Teaching ambition and aiming high – ceilings are there to be smashed!
• Supporting student wellbeing
• Celebrating success both in attainment and progress
• Recognising next steps – careers and further education are regularly discussed and referred back to, support is assured at every step of the way
• Rooted in John 10:10 – flourishing, students have chance to celebrate and explore the Christian Faith through invitational activities

We have a 5 and 7 (or two year at post 16) curriculum plan mapped out for each subject.

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We recognise our wide range of KS2 experiences and build upon these with a carefully crafted KS3, rooted in the National Curriculum and ensuring students have a broad and enriching experience.

Students are supported at the end of Year 9 to choose an appropriate GCSE pathway which allows them to capitalise on their strengths, pursue their passions and reach for their goals. Our orate, aspire, flourish pathways meet the needs of all our students. Whilst all students continue with English, Maths, RS, Science, PSHE/Character the vast majority of our students will undertake 10 GCSEs at the end of Year 11, “opening doors” and maintaining breadth.

Our KS5 students study at least 3 x Level 3 programmes of study alongside enrichment including PSHE and RSE.

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A two week timetable ensures maximum and equitable coverage for all subjects.

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All lessons at the academy follow the Abbey Grange Learning Cycle. This ensures there is a consistent approach across all lessons.

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A spiral curriculum is delivered and this ensures regular review and revisit. Students are taught the importance of spaced practice retrieval and interleaving.

At Abbey Grange, we are proud to be an articulate academy, placing a strong emphasis on developing students’ speaking and listening skills. Oracy, the ability to express oneself fluently and articulately, is central to our curriculum and aligns with the ABBEY Character values:

Aspiration, Benevolence, Belief, Excellence, Youth Leadership, and the idea of students learning to flourish in both their academic and personal lives.

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What is Oracy?

Oracy is about more than just speaking—it’s about being able to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and engage meaningfully in conversation. We partner with Voice 21, a national organisation that champions oracy in education, to ensure our students develop these essential skills. This collaboration enables us to create an environment where students regularly practice speaking and listening across all subjects, helping them to grow as confident and articulate communicators.

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Why is Oracy important?

1. Aspiration: Oracy encourages students to aim high and set ambitious goals for     themselves. By developing their communication skills, they gain the confidence to speak up, share their ideas, and make their voices heard. This aspiration will empower them to chase their dreams and thrive.
2. Building Confidence: Oracy helps students build self-confidence, an essential part of Belief.     As they practise speaking in a variety of settings—from classroom discussions to presentations—students develop the self-assurance needed to engage in new opportunities, and this confidence will support them in all areas of life.
3. Academic Success: Strong communication skills are linked to better understanding of     subjects, improved problem-solving, and clearer explanations. Oracy helps students excel academically by allowing them to articulate their ideas more effectively, aligning with our value of Excellence. This ability to communicate clearly also supports Youth Leadership, as students who can speak confidently are more likely to lead and influence others in positive ways.
4. Benevolence and Social Skills: Oracy is key to building empathy and understanding, helping students develop Benevolence. As they listen and respond thoughtfully to others, students build the social skills required for positive relationships and collaboration, essential for a thriving community.
5. Career Readiness and Flourishing: As students prepare for the future, oracy equips them with the tools to succeed in the workplace. The ability to present ideas clearly, negotiate, and work collaboratively are all vital skills that contribute to long-term success and flourishing.     Oracy ensures that students are well-prepared to make a positive impact in their careers and communities.

How does Oracy impact our school?

At Abbey Grange, oracy is woven throughout everything we do, from the classroom to the wider community. It’s not just a subject—it’s a core part of our students’ development and aligns with our commitment to the ABBEY Character values. We believe that every student should have regular opportunities to speak, listen, and engage in meaningful conversations, whether they’re presenting in class, debating a topic, or collaborating in group work.

• Interactive Learning: Teachers use oracy strategies to encourage student-led discussions,     debates, and group work, ensuring that all students have a voice. This supports Youth Leadership, as students take ownership of their learning and demonstrate leadership skills through communication.
• Personalised Development: Through regular feedback and reflection on their oracy skills, students gain insights into how they communicate and how they can improve. This     contributes to their ongoing personal growth and ability to flourish as confident, capable individuals.
• Opportunities for All: Whether through formal presentations or informal discussions, every     student is given the opportunity to develop their voice, ensuring no one is left behind. This commitment to inclusivity is an essential part of our culture, fostering an environment where every student can thrive.

By fostering a culture of oracy, we aim to help students develop the skills they need to flourish academically, socially, and personally. Oracy helps them become better communicators, thinkers, and leaders, enabling them to live out the values of Aspiration, Benevolence, Belief, Excellence, and Youth Leadership in all areas of their lives.

Quality First Teaching supports an inclusive curriculum and regular staff CPD ensures this is kept current and actioned. We want all students to be able to access the curriculum and reach their potential. We adopt a flexible and child centred approach to curriculum adaptation and delivery but will always balance a request for flexibility with the need for students to meet standard criteria for accreditation and ensure their curriculum opportunities remain broad.

Home Learning supports our students to know more and remember more.

• At Key Stage 3 students undertake Regal Recall by accessing carefully constructed knowledge maps and regular testing
• At Key Stage 4 students are taught critical examination skills and how to use Cornell Notes
• At Key Stage 5  we expect students to undertake 5 hours per subject, per week of CPE (consolidate, practice and extend) work. This ensures students regularly review their learning, apply their acquired knowledge in a structured way and extend their wider reading and fosters a love for academic curiosity

Regular and proportionate to curriculum time, we use verbal, peer and self assessment, written and whole class feedback.

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We have end of year Trust Assessments for all KS3 and 4 non exam years.

All students in our Sixth Form undertake three Level 3 Courses (A Levels or Applied) and many choose to study for an EPQ or award in Sports Leadership.

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University is still the natural pathway for the majority of our students and we  capitalise on Contextual Offers and Support from a variety of high profile Universities. Increasingly our students are choosing to access degree level apprenticeships and employment post 18 and are supported by our experienced careers officer.