Curriculum Overview
At Ormiston Horizon Academy (OHA), we believe that every child is entitled to a high-quality curriculum that supports strong, fair outcomes. Our curriculum is designed around a set of core principles developed alongside our Academy Trust to ensure all pupils can learn, grow, and achieve their potential.
Knowledge-rich and Ambitious
Every pupil deserves a broad and deep body of knowledge, regardless of their background. Our curriculum helps children understand the world, think carefully and critically, and closes gaps in experience and opportunity by choosing content deliberately.
Coherent
Learning builds over time. Concepts and big ideas are carefully sequenced and revisited in increasingly sophisticated ways. Subjects are structured to develop knowledge logically, while links between subjects help pupils make meaningful connections.
Text-rich
Reading opens doors to learning. Pupils are encouraged to read high-quality texts across subjects, while vocabulary is modelled and practised regularly, helping children communicate fluently in the language of each subject.
Evidence-informed
Our curriculum is based on the latest research from cognitive science and subject-specific studies. This ensures lessons are designed in ways that reflect how children learn best.
Accessible
We make learning achievable for every child. Complex ideas are carefully scaffolded, concepts are presented in multiple ways, and pupils are given regular opportunities to remember, practise, and apply their learning.
Common yet Flexible and Inclusive
All pupils have access to the same powerful knowledge; this is currently being supported by the development of a shared curriculum across Ormiston Academy Trust schools. At the same time, our curriculum allows for local adaptations and individual needs so that every child can see themselves in what they are learning. Teachers can adjust lessons to teach the right content at the right time for their class while staying true to the overall plan.
Our curriculum is constantly evolving to ensure our students receive an exceptional educational experience. Using educational research and reflecting on the developments within subject areas, the curriculum is designed with our students, their needs and future prospects in mind. It encompasses everything we represent at OHA; Respect, Resilience and Responsibility. The curriculum embeds these three aspects at its core, and we are immensely proud of the outcomes of our students, both in terms of their academic progress and in becoming independent, aspirational young people who contribute positively to the wider community.
At our Academy, students follow a three-year Key Stage 3 and a two-year Key Stage 4 programme. This approach gives every child the time to develop a strong understanding across a wide range of subjects, helping them achieve successful outcomes at the end of Key Stage 4. During Key Stage 3, all students experience a broad and balanced curriculum that is ambitious for everyone, while fully covering the subjects and content required by the National Curriculum.