Deep Curriculum Analysis

At Little London Academy, Deep Curriculum Analysis (DCA) enables pupils to synthesise their knowledge and learning, making conceptual links and connections across curriculum areas, across time and across cultures. This adds relevance and depth to learning and provides opportunities for high quality research. Deep Curriculum Analysis generates critical thinking by creating thoughtful citizens who can: consider, represent, question, analyse and argue from different perspectives; utilise powerful skills such as inference and understand important concepts such as prejudice, reason and bias. The teaching of sophisticated vocabulary is prioritised throughout DCA units to develop a deep understanding of powerful vocabulary and its impact, giving pupils the opportunity to practise and deepen their understanding.

Our DCA Study

Volcanology

Our DCA study called, “Volcanology: from Leeds to Goma” is a comprehensive study which examines the interdependence which exists between the physical, human and environmental, within these often hostile and dangerous environments. This ambitious study focusses predominantly on the location of the world’s volcanoes, encouraging pupils to consider why there is no volcanic activity where we live. Following on from this we then consider why millions of people live within the vicinity of very explosive volcanoes, before acknowledging that many people who live within the shadows of these volcanoes, do so at significant risk. Therefore, we focus on how we can mitigate against the damage caused by eruptions and how we can help to better protect people and communities, especially those living in the poorest regions of the world. Underpinning the DCA is a development of pupils’ teamwork, SMSC and presentation skills. Additionally, throughout sessions 5-6, there is a clear focus on careers and aspiration, which underpins the culmination of the DCA.

Operation Chastise

Operation Chastise builds on the chronological knowledge of the Battle of Britain and WW2, focusing on a specific action that arguably had significant impact on British morale and the future development of the war in favour the Allies.

In Operation Chastise, we look in depth at the scientific and engineering challenges required to build the lightest bomb possible that could do maximum damage to a heavily defended target. We look at the fundamental physics underpinning each aspect of the Upkeep Bomb design and consider the trade-off between flight-crew losses and the achievement of the strategic goal of destroying enemy infrastructure – in this case the Ruhr Valley dams of the Sorpe, the Möhne and the Eder.