SAWS (Social and Wider Sciences)

SAWS - Computing, Business Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Health and Social Care, Travel and Tourism and Middle School Careers

At the heart of the SAWS faculty is innovation, creative, critical thinking and enterprise. The vison of the SAWS faculty is for all students to be able to think creatively, to understand the world and the society, in which they live, around them. Our ambition is that students ask questions and develop an intrinsic aspiration to make changes to the world around them.

Business Studies

At St Peter’s CofE Academy, we inspire students to embrace the world of culture and diversity to encourage students to be global citizen in the world of business and employment. We are passionate about Business studies and produce a diverse curriculum that helps to prepare students for the world of work. We aim to deliver a mixture of practical and theory driven lessons to enthuse and enrich student’s experiences within the subject. Students are encouraged to partake in cross curricular activities which helps to develop oracy skills, numeracy skills and employability skills to help students to lead successful careers. Just some of the skills students develop are life skills such as money management, relationship building and resilience. 

Computing

We inspire students to embrace the world of Digital Technology. We do this by encouraging students to investigate what is inside a computer as well as outside and how Computing has revolutionised and impacted upon the whole world. Students have access to technology and it has become part of a many people’s daily diet. At SPA we want to develop the next coders, game designers and evaluative business people of the world and having an acute awareness of computing, including how to evaluate, debug and develop successful algorithms are important life skills for all learners. Students are also taught how to keep themselves safe in the digital world. Students are taught to recognise suspicious activity and how to keep themselves safe. Students are also taught the legal implications of their actions to ensure that they develop into responsible citizens. 

Health and Social Care

This subject offers students the opportunity to learn about those around us – the growth and development of the different life stages of humans and the many factors that affect these. It is particularly suited to those that wish to enter into the caring professions e.g.; education, social work, nursing, midwifery, counselling. It aims to give students the necessary life skills to make a difference in people’s lives. 

Psychology

Psychology at St Peter’s CofE Academy makes a unique contribution to the students’ curriculum by developing their knowledge and understanding of the body and how the mind works. It enables students to analyse using scientific methods such as observations and allows them to reflect on the health and wellbeing of the individual through behavioural patterns.

It enables pupils to consider and respond to a range of important questions related to their own lives, what their viewpoint is on sleep, criminal psychology, and factors affecting social influence. This provides relevancy to students as it allows them to assess the world in which they live both globally and locally.

Sociology

Sociology at St Peter’s CofE Academy makes a unique contribution to the students’ curriculum by developing their knowledge and understanding of the society in which the students live in. It enables students to analyse using scientific methods such as observations and allows them to reflect on society and the social circumstance in which they live. It enables pupils to consider and respond to a range of important questions related to their own lives, what their viewpoint in on marriage, and families and what happens to those in society who do not conform to the social norms. This provides relevancy to students as it allows them to assess the world in which they live both globally and locally.

Travel and Tourism

We understand that the curriculum is key to determining the life chances and choices for our students and therefore we will not compromise on providing the very best. The knowledge, understanding and skills learned in studying a BTEC First will aid progression to further study and, in due course, prepare learners to enter the workplace.   

The sector-specific skills and knowledge will provide a sound basis for progression to further study of this sector at level 3 through a vocational qualification such as a BTEC National in Travel and Tourism, or an apprenticeship in either travel and tourist or hospitality.  

At St Peter’s CvofE Academy we aim to enhance the vocational nature of the qualification by:   

• Using up-to-date and relevant teaching materials that make use of scenarios and case studies relevant to the scope and variety of employment opportunities available in the sector. These materials may be drawn from workplace settings, where feasible.  
• Giving learners the opportunity to apply their learning through practical activities that they will encounter in the future in the workplace, for example by practising working skills through teamwork activities. 
• Including employers in the delivery of the programme. For example, engaging local employers in giving examples of current work procedures and practices 
• Liaising with employers to make sure a course is relevant to learners’ specific needs, for example, we seek employers’ help in stressing the importance of English and mathematical skills, and of wider skills in the world of work.