Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Intent

At Hanham Woods Academy, our curriculum is driven by the vision to provide every student with a broad, balanced and ambitious education that prepares them for success in life beyond school. We believe that all students, regardless of background or starting point, deserve access to a curriculum that opens doors to future education, training and employment opportunities, while developing the knowledge, skills and character needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Our curriculum has been carefully designed to ensure that students experience a rich range of academic, creative, practical and personal development opportunities throughout their time at the academy. Through this, we aim to nurture confident, resilient and responsible young people who are equipped to contribute positively to their local, national and global communities.

The curriculum at Hanham Woods Academy is underpinned by five key principles:

A Broad and Balanced Curriculum

We provide a comprehensive curriculum that gives all students access to a wide range of subjects and experiences. This ensures that students develop a strong foundation of knowledge across the curriculum while discovering their interests, talents and aspirations. Our curriculum is designed to prepare students for their next steps and unlock pathways into further education, apprenticeships and employment.

Meeting the Needs of Every Learner

We are committed to ensuring that all students can access, engage with and excel within the curriculum. Through adaptive teaching, targeted support and appropriate levels of stretch and challenge, we strive to meet the diverse needs of our learners. We have high expectations for all students and seek to remove barriers that may prevent them from achieving their full potential.

Planned Progression and High-Quality Learning

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build progressively over time. Subject leaders have designed coherent learning journeys that enable students to make meaningful connections between concepts and develop increasing levels of expertise. This approach supports high-quality teaching and learning, ensuring students experience success in every lesson, every day.

Personal Development and Lifelong Learning

Beyond academic achievement, our curriculum promotes the development of the whole child. We encourage curiosity, creativity and critical thinking while supporting students’ personal, social, spiritual and emotional development. Through effective study habits, metacognition and opportunities for independent learning, students are empowered to become confident and self-regulated learners.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Hanham Woods Academy, we are proud of our inclusive ethos. Our curriculum reflects and celebrates the diversity of modern Britain and promotes equality, understanding and respect. We seek to ensure that all students feel represented, valued and empowered to contribute positively to society. Through this, we develop confident, respectful and responsible citizens who understand their place within the wider world.

Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

Learning extends far beyond the classroom. We offer a broad programme of enrichment, leadership opportunities, educational visits and extra-curricular activities that enhance students’ experiences and support their personal growth. These opportunities encourage participation, develop talents and interests, and help students build the confidence and skills necessary for future success.

Our curriculum offer, including the allocation of lesson time across subjects and year groups, reflects our commitment to these principles, ensuring that all students receive a rich, balanced and ambitious education that enables them to Aim High, achieve strong outcomes and realise their full potential.

At Hanham Woods we operate a two week timetable.