Curriculum

North Durham Academy’s core values of inclusion, progression, and excellence are at the heart of our curriculum intent; it is firmly designed with the intention of putting every student first. The Academy fosters a culture of aspiration in which all students aim to achieve their full potential both in academic excellence, and beyond, by providing a diverse curriculum that allows students to deepen their knowledge and broaden their cultural capital.

We aim to create an inclusive environment where all students have access to a curriculum that empowers them with knowledge and experiences over a five-year fluid curriculum.

We embrace a broad and balanced curriculum regardless of starting points. As a result, students leave our school equipped and fully prepared for the next stage of their education and the world of work.

 We are determined that our curriculum enables creativity, emotional resilience and responsibility as a British citizen to ensure all are able to play a positive role in society.

We aim to have a curriculum that:

  • Provides a broad and balanced offer that is bespoke to individual student need and accessible to all
  • Promotes independence and resilience
  • Creates a culture of aspiration and success
  • Allows students to deepen their subject knowledge in a full range of subjects and skills
  • Increases their employability skills for the context of the North of England and beyond
  • Encourages outward looking students

At North Durham Academy we believe that students should be offered a broad and balanced range of subjects to study at both key stage three (Years 7-9) and key stage four (Years 10 and 11)

In Years 7, 8 and 9 all students currently study Maths, English, Science, History, Geography, Spanish, Design Technology (graphics, resistant materials and food), Art, Music, Life, Computing and Physical Education.

At key stage four, provision is in place to ensure that all students have the opportunity to study a broad range of subjects. The pathways that students can follow cover an extensive range of subjects in the arts (art, photography, drama, music, dance), design technologies (resistant materials, graphics, food, engineering, motor vehicle maintenance, ICT and computing), MFL (Spanish), geography and history and Life (PSHE, RE, Citizenship, Careers, SMSC and British Values).

Please click on the icons below to read each subject’s curriculum mission statement and to know what your child will be studying throughout the year.

To ensure that all students can study a range of courses and qualifications that best suit their ability and future ambitions, we have looked closely at their key stage two data and matched a pathway to ensure students select the subjects that will allow them to maximise their life chances.

Our Life lessons, enrichment programme and tutor programme are designed to ensure that students:

  • Are confident resilient individuals;
  • Continue to develop their literacy, digital and numeracy skill;
  • Understand the importance of the rule of law and the justice system;
  • Understand the democracy and political system in the United Kingdom;
  • Develop an interest in, and commitment to, participation in volunteering and other forms of responsibility that they will take with them into adult life;
  • Are well equipped to think critically and debate various issues;
  • Are taught how to manage their money on a day-to day basis and plan for future financial needs;
  • Understand and respect individual liberties;
  • Understand a range of different religions and have a tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs;
  • Have appropriate sex and relationship guidance.

As part of our school’s wider social, moral, spiritual and cultural programme, your child will be receiving lessons on relationships, sexual health and personal safety as well as British Values.

If you require any further information on our curriculum, please contact Mrs K Lax, Principal PA, K.Lax@ncdat.org.uk.