Curriculum Intent
Our Intent:
At Ninestiles, an Academy we are an aspirational and inclusive academy that champions the values of respect, commitment and achievement.
We facilitate transformational learning and exceptional progress through an inspirational, knowledge-rich curriculum.
We improve life chances for our students by tackling disadvantage and removing barriers to learning to ensure that they all achieve their potential. Students leave our academy as self-respecting, compassionate global citizens.
Our Vision:
Our curriculum intent is to provide a curriculum that is unapologetically ambitious, securing the very best academic outcomes through the values of respect, commitment and achievement.
Our curriculum ensures that students leave Ninestiles as rights respecting global citizens with a strong sense of identity, moral purpose, and the capability to gain meaningful employment or entry into a good university.
Curriculum at Ninestiles, an Academy
Curriculum Overview
Ninestiles, An Academy delivers a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum designed to meet the needs of all learners, enabling them to flourish in their chosen career pathways. Our curriculum intent ensures that every learner can achieve exceptional academic progress, grounded in Summit Learning Trust’s ethos of success through endeavour, ambition through challenge, and strength through diversity.
Key Stage 3 – Years 7, 8 and 9
We are dedicated to providing learners with a well-rounded and ambitious curriculum that emphasises the importance of literacy, numeracy, and the development of core knowledge and skills across all subject areas. Our curriculum experts have identified the key knowledge and understanding learners should acquire and have carefully sequenced these as part of our provision. This curriculum, with its strong academic core, equips learners to leave Ninestiles, An Academy as rights-respecting global citizens, instilled with a strong sense of identity, moral purpose, and the skills necessary for meaningful employment or admission to a reputable university.
Physical education and sport are essential components of a balanced curriculum at Ninestiles. As part of our Healthy Active Lifestyles curriculum, learners engage in a variety of team and individual sports, utilising our excellent on-site facilities. Art, design, and technology are taught on a rotational basis, covering food, product design, art, and textiles. These projects, crafted by our creative and passionate subject specialists, aim to develop the necessary skills for success in these disciplines.
Computing is a discrete subject in Key Stage 3, laying the foundation for digital literacy. Learners become proficient in ICT skills and learn to write computer programmes to solve problems. Performing Arts lessons foster an understanding and appreciation of the arts, whilst also enhancing learners’ confidence, communication skills, and creativity.
Upon entry to Ninestiles, An Academy, learners are offered the choice to either study French or Spanish. The vast majority of our learners choose to take their selected language at GCSE, as part of the English Baccalaureate. Cultural diversity is a significant strength at Ninestiles, An Academy, celebrated through the many students who excel as linguists.
Key Stage 4 – Years 10 and 11
At Key Stage 4, we offer a wide range of options and provide targeted support and guidance to assist learners with their choices. While we believe the English Baccalaureate route is suitable for most learners, our curriculum model includes flexibility to ensure personalised programmes for those who may benefit.
We strive to enable every learner to reach their full potential, and we encourage learners to have a varied selection of subjects, while also focusing on their strengths, supporting our holistic approach to preparing them for meaningful employment or university entry.
The decision to pursue double or triple science is based on each learner’s ability and aptitude. Where appropriate, we ensure that some learners can take an entry-level qualification alongside their GCSEs, although this applies to a very small number.
Over the course of five years at Ninestiles, An Academy, learners will acquire the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to secure meaningful employment or a place at a high-quality further education institution.
All learners have an equal entitlement to the full range of the academy curriculum, and we are committed to making this accessible to everyone, regardless of prior attainment. Support and extra provisions are available for all, including high-attaining students, through greater challenges in their learning and opportunities to demonstrate and develop their abilities. Ninestiles also extends the school day for every Year 11 learner, providing an additional lesson after school to facilitate more in-depth teaching and learning across all subjects, ahead of their vital examination periods.
Should you have any queries relating to our curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Francis, Vice Principal, at Click to show email address