Our Curriculum

We have high expectations for our students, encouraging them to create dreams for their future and supporting them to secure ambitious destinations. We aim to develop students who feel happy and valued and act with integrity and honesty. 

Our school values: confident, ambitious, respectful, every child, are at the heart of everything we do.

What is our Curriculum Intent?  

Our curriculum is designed to develop specific knowledge and skills across the subjects that we offer. It is ambitious and inclusive with the aim of preparing students for life after Durham Academy. 

Students study a broad curriculum including core academic, practical and artistic subjects. This is complemented by our Personal Development curriculum and wider enrichment opportunities in order for students to develop their knowledge and skills as well as their personal qualities. 

Our curriculum

• is appropriate and relevant to our students.
• raises students’ aspirations and ambitions for the future 
• encourages independence and resilience 
• is progressive, interleaved and sequenced to develop knowledge and understanding which results in deep and lasting learning for our students. 
• provides opportunities to develop levels of literacy and numeracy across curriculum area 
• enables students to pursue their passions and creativity 
• supports students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 
• develops cultural capital
• supports students’ physical development and understanding of how to be responsible for their own health and well-being
• promotes respect for other people irrespective of sex, race, religion, ability, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic group, or age
• reflects our ethos and values, including the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Our Curriculum at Key Stage Three (KS3)

All students begin their day with a structured tutor time per day. The curriculum runs over a fortnight with 25 lessons each week.

Our Curriculum at Key Stage Four (KS4)

At Key stage 4 all students study the three core GCSEs English language & Literature, Maths and Double Science