Geography, History, Religious Education, PSHE (including Citizenship), Health & Social Care, Child Care, Sociology, Law, Psychology and Travel & Tourism



The Global Communities zone seeks to focus on the relationship between people in society and the environment in which they live.



The academy aims to recognise the cultural diversity of our community, our nation and the world. We look at how people are affected by the places in which they live and how they react to change. This ensures learners have a desire to learn and to question what they see around them, to broaden their horizons and to develop respect for and tolerance of others.

 



The Global Communities Learning Zone has a huge responsibility to prepare learners for life in an ever changing world. Students are encouraged to form opinions on global issues and make informed choices about their future.



The curriculum is enriched through a range of off-site learning. This includes trips to Tamworth and Stafford castles, walks along some of Walsall’s canals and opportunities to visit local places of worship. In Geography, learners in Key Stages 3 and 4, as well as BTEC Travel & Tourism, have visited Dovedale, Carding Mill Valley, Ashes Hollow, Snowdonia and Weston-Super- Mare. They have also visited the site of the 2012 Olympic Stadium to learn about urban regeneration.

 



A wide range of learning and teaching strategies is used to motivate and challenge all learners. Many activities are delivered through a project based approach and level based tasks. Assessment for Learning is high on the agenda in all lessons across the zone including a variety of peer and self assessment opportunities and the regular use of plenary activities to ensure that all learners understand how they have made progress in lessons. Learning environments are well equipped with projectors and interactive whiteboards.



Geography, History and Religious Education are taught in Year 7 as part of the thematic curriculum. In Year 8, the subjects are taught separately. In Year 9, students can decide to continue their studies in History or Geography and start GCSE courses. Flexibility in the curriculum, however, also means there is the opportunity to study both subjects before the end of Year 11. BTEC level 2 and GCSE Health and Social Care are also offered at this stage. Students with a more practical focus can study the ‘Step Up’ course which supports the development of life skills through a humanities based approach.

 



As well as History, Geography and Religious Education, Post-16 students are able to study AS and A2 level Psychology, Law and Sociology. BTEC Travel and Tourism, level 3 Health and Social Care and Child Care are also offered and more details about these courses can be found in the Post-16 section.



Religious Education and Collective Worship

 



Religious Education is taught until the end of Year 11. As outlined in the National Curriculum, we follow the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Walsall. This ensures that our learners have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the world’s major religions and encourages them to reflect upon their own beliefs and values. We have weekly House assemblies which follow a theme and often consider moral and ethical issues.



If parents wish to withdraw their child from Religious Education or assemblies, they are welcome to come in to the academy to discuss this with us.