Post 16 Curriculum Aims and Purpose

The Post 16/KS5 Curriculum at Quarrydale Academy is designed to continue to build and develop the skills, values and attributes that are integral to the ethos of the whole school. We are committed to helping students, both those who join the Sixth Form from the Academy and those from other education providers, to achieve their full potential and to ensure that all are able to make the necessary levels of progress to allow them to succeed in accessing their chosen pathways.

In an area that still suffers from the legacy of the erosion of the mining and textiles industries, where unemployment remains high and the proportion of adults who have attended Higher Education remains well below the national average, we believe that all of our students have the right to access opportunities that will allow them to be unafraid to hold high aspirations and to be supported in gaining the skills, knowledge and capital needed to succeed in achieving these. Not only do we recognise the importance of empowering our students, but also in empowering and enabling parents and carers to support students through Level Three study by fostering parent/carer-student-teacher partnerships. To do so, we aim to deliver appropriate sessions that provide information, advice and guidance for all, alongside maintaining regular communication between home and school through the use of consultation evenings, the reporting of assessment data and providing open and transparent channels of communication at all times.

We believe it is vitally important to ensure that our students develop holistically, although academic achievement is at our core, it is enhanced through the dedication of time and resources to ensure our students develop as a whole. We aim to instil a sense of resilience, inclusion and confidence in our students and hope that throughout their time in Sixth Form, they become well rounded citizens who take responsibility for their civic duty and make positive contributions to their communities and wider society. We wish to enhance and encourage employability skills and a sense of independence, and work hard to ensure that students are all are able to build the social and cultural capital that will facilitate in broadening their knowledge and understanding of the world, benefitting them both academically in and in their personal growth.

Post 16 education at Quarrydale Academy is an exciting and inspiring time for our students. We work to provide them with the foundations and opportunities to create a personalised pathway that will allow them to successfully access their chosen option of Higher Education, employment or apprenticeships in the next stage of their journey.

The Academy offers a wide range of A Level and BTEC Level Three courses that ensure we are able to provide a suitable programme of study for our students that will allow them to ACHIEVE their goals. Additionally, we offer a range of extra-curricular activities and events that support both the academic and social development of our students, ensuring they are provided with the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about their Post 18 choices and are prepared for life beyond Quarrydale. We work in close collaboration with many universities, higher education institutions, employers and apprenticeship providers to enhance the academic and personal skills recognised as the foundations for the successes of our young people in wider society.

At Quarrydale Academy students are expected to develop and embrace a sense of responsibility for their own learning, developing a more independent study style and maintaining a strong work ethic to ensure the most positive outcomes. Students are also encouraged to be active members of the Post 16 community, accessing the opportunities that are afforded to them to ensure their holistic development and to provide the most rewarding Post 16 experience possible.

In return, students can expect high standards in terms of curriculum delivery and support from teachers and tutors and will be encouraged through each step of their Post 16 career. We pride ourselves on knowing our students well, and as a result, are able to provide advice and guidance that is tailored to their individual needs and aspirations, offering them the best chance of success.

In alignment with the whole Academy aims, at Post 16 at Quarrydale:

• We want students to ASPIRE to get the best outcomes they can, to be good community citizens and to set and achieve personal goals
• We want our students to BELIEVE in themselves and have a can-do approach to learning. Have the ability and confidence to overcome barriers and be resilient and not afraid of failing.
• We want our students to SUCCEED and achieve their goals both academically and personally to maximise their potential.