Our Approach to Curriculum

The curriculum is at the heart of what we do at Inspiration Trust, and our work in this area is nationally recognised. We believe in the power of knowledge and have created a knowledge-rich curriculum in our schools.  

With the individual conventions and histories of each subject discipline at its heart, our curriculum is inclusive, ambitious, and rigorous. We are proud to have a nationally recognised knowledge-based curriculum that has traditional subjects at its heart. It is properly sequenced to ensure systematic and thorough teaching for all. The curriculum is designed with long-term learning in mind. Students should be able to take what they learn into adulthood and use it to provide them with opportunities to succeed in life. Our curriculum takes students beyond what they already know and enables them to be more socially mobile, ensuring they secure knowledge they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to. 

Where students have special educational needs, we do not narrow our curriculum. We adapt our curriculum and teaching approaches to ensure everyone can access the curriculum and achieve success. 

Students at Wayland Academy study a rich curriculum covering a range of academic disciplines, creative and performing arts, and vocational subjects. All of these subjects are taught by our knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers who work hard to bring their subject to life. 

In Years 7, 8 and 9, students study art, computing, drama, English, food technology, French, geography, history, maths, music, personal, social and health education (PSHE), physical education, religious education, science and technology. 

In Years 10 and 11, all students study maths, English, science and physical education. In addition, students select from a set of options that includes art, business studies, computer science, design technology, food technology, French, geography, health and social care, history, sport science. We also offer language GCSEs for those who speak more than one language. 

The curriculum is balanced with a comprehensive PSHE programme, CIAG (Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance), exciting extra-curricular activities and student leadership opportunities. Relationship and sex education (RSE) is taught to all year groups in an age-sensitive manner through a combination of lessons, drop-down days and assemblies. 

Our Subject Leaders work closely with the Inspiration Trust curriculum team to develop high-quality teaching materials that benefit our students at Wayland Academy, as well as the many students across the Trust. 

“Teachers follow leaders’ plans, teaching subjects in a logical order and revisiting knowledge pupils need to learn to make sure it sticks in pupils’ memories. Teachers check what pupils have learned and adjust what they teach accordingly. Pupils learn well.” Ofsted Report July 2023. 

Read our curriculum policy for more information