A curriculum that reconnects pupils with learning and prepares them for their next step

At Waterside Academy, our curriculum is designed to provide every pupil with a broad, ambitious and purposeful education.

We recognise that pupils may arrive with different starting points, disrupted educational experiences, gaps in knowledge or low confidence in learning. Our response is not to narrow their entitlement. Instead, we identify what each pupil needs to participate successfully, build secure foundations and progress towards appropriate qualifications, further education, training or employment.

Our curriculum combines:

Strong academic foundations
English, mathematics, science, reading and communication.

Personal development
PSHE, citizenship, digital life skills and preparation for adulthood.

Wider experiences
Physical education, extended curriculum, enrichment, community experiences and purposeful learning beyond the classroom.

Personalised pathways
GCSEs, Functional Skills and other recognised outcomes are selected according to pupils’ starting points, needs and intended destinations.

Preparation for the future
Careers education, employer encounters, off-site learning and destination planning support pupils to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed for their next steps.

"I CAN" Values 

Our curriculum is shaped by our values:

Inclusion • Communication • Aspiration • Nurture

These values influence both what we teach and how we teach it, ensuring pupils feel known, supported, challenged and prepared for life beyond Waterside.