A Curriculum Designed for Excellence and Opportunity  

At River Academy, we believe every child deserves a broad, ambitious, and carefully structured curriculum that inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and prepares them for the future. Our curriculum reflects high expectations and a commitment to purposeful, engaging learning for all.  

A Strong Academic Foundation  

All students follow a rich academic core, including:  

• English, Mathematics, and Science  

• Humanities (History, Geography and R.E.)  

• French as a modern foreign language  

These subjects are complemented by a vibrant offer of creative and technical disciplines such as Art, Drama, Music, Design Technology, Computing and Digital Literacy — ensuring every student can discover and develop their talents.  

A Coherent, Knowledge-Rich Journey  

Our Curriculum Leaders work closely together to deliver a curriculum that:  

• Builds knowledge and skills over time  

• Is structured around clear learning goals  

• Provides regular opportunities to revisit and embed key concepts  

This approach supports strong academic progress and nurtures independent, confident thinkers.  

 

A Bookletised Curriculum 

 

In the majority of subjects across the curriculum, students use Curriculum Booklets. These have been designed by Curriculum Leaders, bringing the best of what should be taught, in a carefully sequenced manner. Retrieval practice is embedded as standard to ensure that students are continually revisiting prior learning and making connections with new knowledge to ensure retention. High level, rigorous texts are chosen to reinforce teaching and learning, and reading skills are explicitly taught to ensure high levels of engagement.  

Home Learning 

At River Academy, Home Learning is an integral part of our curriculum. Curriculum Leaders design Home Learning tasks that have purpose and value. All tasks reinforce the learning taking place in the classroom, and often provide opportunities to repeat and rehearse the key parts of knowledge and skills that have been taught.  

In the core subjects, Home Learning is completed on the Sparx online platforms: Reader, Maths and Science. These platforms provide a tailored curriculum which is matched to the individual students’ ability, ensuring a bespoke offer that supports individualised progress.  

In other subjects, Home Learning is completed in Booklets which are designed by Curriculum Leaders. In these, Knowledge Organisers are provided to support learning.  

We understand the impact that good quality Home Learning tasks have on progress and attainment over time. Therefore we insist that every student completes their Home Learning, every time. We support students who require additional help by providing a Homework Club twice a week. When Home Learning is not completed, we will hold back that student in a same-day detention to ensure that they have the time and space to complete the tasks, ensuring that they do not fall behind. As a result of this relentless commitment, River Academy is rarely out of the top 5 schools in the country (indeed, across the Globe!) for Home Learning completion. 

Inclusive and Supportive Learning  

We are proud of our inclusive ethos. Students with additional needs are supported through high-quality classroom practice and targeted interventions, ensuring every learner can thrive.  

Developing the Whole Child  

We place great importance on personal development. Our curriculum is enriched with:  

• Independent reading and academic discussion  

• Oracy and communication skills woven into every subject  

• PSMSC (Personal, Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development) delivered through assemblies, tutor time, and curriculum themes  

• Careers education introduced from Year 7, helping students connect learning to future aspirations  

Ready for the Future  

Our curriculum is designed to support strong progression into Sixth Form and further education, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and character to succeed in life beyond school.  

Withdrawal from RE 

Parents have the right to choose whether or not to withdraw their child from RE without influence from the school, although a school should ensure parents or carers are informed of this right and are aware of the educational objectives and content of the RE syllabus. In this way, parents can make an informed decision. Where parents have requested that their child is withdrawn, their right must be respected, and where RE is integrated in the curriculum, the school will need to discuss the arrangements with the parents or carers to explore how the child’s withdrawal can be best accommodated. If students are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Students will usually remain on school premises. 

Should you wish to withdraw your son or daughter from RE, please contact the Headteacher in writing. 

 

If you require further information regarding the curriculum, please contact Mrs Billingham, Deputy Headteacher, via the School Office.