Curriculum vision Our curriculum supports our students to achieve academic and vocational excellence, fosters a lifelong love of learning and empowers them to become leaders that will make a positive contribution in their communities and the wider world.

Merchants' Academy Primary

At Merchants’ Academy Primary, we aim for all children to demonstrate our strong set of values, to take pride in themselves and their community and to be fully equipped to be a force for positive change in their future society. Our carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich curriculum is, where appropriate, supported by a cornerstone text, allowing children to revisit ideas, discussions and build knowledge and understanding gradually across a range of subjects and topics. Running alongside our broad, rich curriculum is a comprehensive map of experiences, trips, visits and extra-curricular activities that both inspire and contextualise learning.

We are highly aware that in today’s world, with opportunities and therefore expectations for communication increasing at a fast pace, we need to equip our students with effective communication skills in order for them to flourish and succeed. For this reason, we prioritise reading, writing and oracy in our curriculum, placing great emphasis on vocabulary acquisition and the importance of Standard English in all subjects. We use a wide range of texts recommended by the CLPE who put ‘expertly chosen, quality children’s books at the heart of all learning’ are used to support teaching and learning across the curriculum. We are passionate about the power of literature in providing a medium through which children can experience and discover the world, imagine and develop their understanding of people, places and times beyond their everyday experiences.

We follow the National Curriculum but have invested significant thought into shaping our own curriculum to be broad and rich, engaging children with matters pertinent to their locality and contemporary society. In addition, we aim to equip children with the knowledge and confidence they need to challenge viewpoints which may be biased or prejudiced and to champion worthy causes in order that they can play their part in making the world a better place for all.

Merchants' Academy Secondary

At Merchants' Academy Secondary, we are committed to equity and social justice. We believe improving educational outcomes is the best way to positively impact our students’ futures. Our curriculum extends beyond academics, fostering character development through PSHRE, enrichment, and character education programs.

The experiences, skills and knowledge gained through these wider experiences are essential to enable students to function and contribute to society and access any career path they choose. Our students will leave respectful and responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society. They will be confident young people who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.

We hold high expectations for our students, offering a broad and ambitious curriculum that includes both traditional academic and vocational subjects, valuing them equally. Our carefully sequenced curriculum is designed to ensure student success by helping them build on prior knowledge, retain information, and develop effective learning habits through regular retrieval practice.

Inclusivity is at the heart of our curriculum, providing all students with equal opportunities and the necessary support to achieve challenging learning goals. We emphasise deep understanding and the application of knowledge, with assessments purposefully designed to support learning and evaluate curriculum effectiveness.

Reading is crucial at Merchants' Academy. It enhances comprehension across subjects, and we promote reading for pleasure to close the vocabulary gap. Our curriculum ensures that students not only achieve academically but also grow into well-rounded individuals ready for the future.

We hold high expectations for our students, offering a broad and ambitious curriculum that includes both traditional academic and vocational subjects, valuing them equally. Our carefully sequenced curriculum is designed to ensure student success by helping them build on prior knowledge, retain information, and develop effective learning habits through regular retrieval practice.

Inclusivity is at the heart of our curriculum, providing all students with equal opportunities and the necessary support to achieve challenging learning goals. We emphasise deep understanding and the application of knowledge, with assessments purposefully designed to support learning and evaluate curriculum effectiveness.

Reading is crucial at Merchants' Academy. It enhances comprehension across subjects, and we promote reading for pleasure to close the vocabulary gap. Our curriculum ensures that students not only achieve academically but also grow into well-rounded individuals ready for the future.