Curriculum Aims & Structure

At the beginning of each academic year, all students are issued with a Lakelands Academy Diary in which students will place a copy of their individual timetable. This diary is where students will be able to plan for lessons and upcoming events and record all homework tasks.

There are five lessons daily, each lasting for an hour. Our timetable of lessons is spread over a 2-week period. The day is planned as follows:-

Our expectations of students are very high, both academically and socially. Targets are set for individual students, subjects and there are whole school performance targets. We track the progress of every student and measure their achievements against their previous performance at Key Stage 2 (in Primary School) and at Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9). These targets are based on prior attainment making it possible to build up a comprehensive picture of each student's potential, and this helps teachers to focus on what our students are really capable of achieving. 

When students do not appear to be meeting their full potential, they are mentored by staff or Senior Tutors, and parents are informed. Not only is this monitoring of benefit for fulfilling the academic potential of our students, it can also identify the particular needs of children who have, in some cases very serious, learning difficulties. Our excellent Special Needs department helps large numbers of students to overcome their particular learning difficulties. 

Assessment is part of an on-going dialogue between staff and students and therefore assessment takes place in a variety of terms. We strive to increase student's awareness of how they can improve and so we make increasing reference to success criteria using level descriptions (KS3 in years 7, 8 and 9) or GCSE mark schemes (KS4 in years 10 and 11), as appropriate. In most subjects, work is also tested on a regular basis and each year group has a formal "Examination Week".

Once a term, students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 receive reports giving information on their performance in individual subjects and an attendance record, and students in Year 7 receive reports in the Spring and Summer term. On receipt of the Reports parents are given the opportunity to comment on their child's progress.

There is an Annual Parents Evening for all Year groups. In addition, for Year 7 students there is also a Pastoral Evening in November. 

We acknowledge and record personal achievements and certificates are awarded in all subjects throughout the curriculum on a regular basis.

Homework is set on a regular basis for all students. It is essential that parents/carers help students to develop good study habits to supplement and reinforce the work done in class and at home, if real progress is to be made.

All homework tasks, including written work, reading, investigations and revision are detailed on the Satchel:One. Each student is also issued with a homework diary where they can record their homework.

ICT facilities are available at lunch times for students to complete their work. The amount of time spent on homework each evening will range from up to one hour in Year 7 to two hours in Year 11.