Approach to Learning

At Harris Academy Ockendon, we believe that curriculum design is a profound act of social justice, one that ensures every child, regardless of background or ability, is empowered through access to powerful, knowledge-rich learning that opens doors beyond their lived experience.

Guided by our mantra, “Knowledge is Power. We Make it Stick,” we are relentless in our pursuit of excellence, curating a curriculum that champions equity, ambition, and the transformative potential of education.

A Curriculum that takes students beyond their lived experiences: Knowledge is power, we make it stick

At Harris Academy Ockendon, we believe every child deserves more than just a good education, they deserve an exceptional one. That journey begins with a powerful curriculum.

Our curriculum is carefully designed to be knowledge-rich, broad, and ambitious, giving children access to ideas, cultures, and experiences far beyond the everyday. We want our students to be ‘in the know’, equipped not only for exam success, but with the kind of deep, meaningful understanding that lasts.

This belief sits at the heart of everything we do. From maths to personal development, our mantra guides us: “Knowledge is Power. We make it stick.”

When we decide what to teach, we understand that we’re shaping your child’s future. That’s why our subject leaders start with purpose: they carefully select the most powerful, specialist knowledge, drawn from leading academic institutions, to ensure every lesson is rich, meaningful, and impactful. But our ambition goes beyond academic success. We believe that access to this high-quality curriculum is a matter of social justice: every child, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to thrive through education.

Every child regardless of their background, starting point, or ability has the right to access this powerful knowledge. We believe that by doing so, they gain not just qualifications, but the cultural capital and disciplinary understanding to thrive in an ever-changing world.

We are committed to ensuring that every student at HAOC is protected from discrimination and has full access to learning, in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the SEND Regulations 2014.

Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and we’re here to make sure they do.

Our subject team leaders have designed and planned their curriculum according to the following 5 principles:

1. The curriculum is driven by powerful knowledge with the challenge ‘pitched up’;
2. The curriculum is sequenced logically so that new knowledge builds upon old and prepares pupils for the next stage;
3. The curriculum is specified in detail so that teachers and pupils are clear on what needs to be learned and in what depth;
4. The curriculum is taught to be remembered, not merely encountered;
5. The curriculum is supported with a homework strategy that supports the delivery of knowledge to long-term memory.

The approach to curriculum design can therefore be summarised according to the following equation:

Ambitious Intent ⇒ Logically Sequenced ⇒ Specified in Detail