Our students will be provided with a varied range of teaching and learning experiences appropriate to their learning needs. This entitlement will include opportunities for:

Specialised learning – where young people experience the power and the passion of expert subject teaching.

Themed learning – where young people experience learning that makes links across and beyond subjects, applying skills in relevant contexts.

Greater student-initiated learning – where young people are able to contribute and pursue their own ideas and interests.

Learning to learn – where young people are coached and mentored individually to help them reflect on their own learning.

Whitley Abbey will use the National Curriculum to provide learning objectives for its students but they will not be delivered though ten separate subjects and teachers. Students will have single Opening Minds teacher for 2/3 of the week. Opening Minds teachers will plan student learning through thematic work that focuses on developing skills, competences and knowledge.

Through learning in this way we will create students who are investigative, innovative, responsible and resilient about their learning. Students will be stretched to their academic limits, develop a wide variety of life skills and be taught how to respond to challenge.