Cranford Review 2021

Curriculum:
AQA Unit Award Scheme
This year, students at Cranford have been working
towards achieving certificates through the AQA
Unit Award Scheme. The Unit Award Scheme is a
unique recording of students achievement rather
that a qualification. Students have the opportunity
to study a range of engaging units which can be
tailored specifically to their personal needs. The
scheme allows students to receive accreditation
for their achievements across a broad range of
units accessible to students regardless of ability.
The Unit Award Scheme offers students the
opportunity to have their efforts and achievements
formally recognised with a certificate for each
unit they successfully complete. The Unit Award
Scheme has an ‘Achievement for All’ motto, the
scheme encourages students to celebrate what
they can do, rather than what they can’t and has
been hugely successful this year.
The Unit Award Scheme offers an important
pathway in the development of our students’
social, emotional and mental well-being as well
as focussing on some more practical, hands on
components. Students this year have studied:
Emotional Wellbeing, Awareness of Bullying,
Building Healthy Relationships, Social Media
and Staying Safe Online. All these units have
had been central to the development of social and
communication understanding as well as helping
to prepare young people for adulthood.
‘This year students from years 9, 10 and 11 have
taken part in the scheme. The students have
really enjoyed working on the different units.
The lessons are very interactive and often include
independent research, making and presenting
PowerPoints, creating posters/leaflets and
group work – all necessary skills when working
towards greater independence and preparing for
adulthood in the wider community.’ (Mrs Tutt,
Lead Teaching Assistant)
The Unit Award Scheme is a really nice way of talking and
gathering others opinions. I really liked the Emotional
Wellbeing and Awareness of Bullying units. During the
lockdown we all made a PowerPoint about Bullying and
presented it to the rest of the group over Teams, we all did
well with this. My presentation techniques have improved
and I felt confident and my voice was loud.
Avneet Sandhu 10U
In Unit Award Scheme we learn new things including
presentation skills – where we made a PowerPoint and
presented it to the rest of the group. I like Unit Award
Scheme and have enjoyed doing it as it is interesting to
learn new things. It feels like a free lesson as its fun, I
learn things and contribute and discuss with everyone
around me.
Chester Aitken 10Y
My favourite unit was Awareness of Bullying because we
learnt how you can be better and kind. In lockdown we did
a presentation. We talk about how you can stay healthy. I
like learning about real life things.
Ryan Arnold 10T
We have only just started Unit Award Scheme this half term
but I think I will enjoy it as I like presenting my ideas and
developing better understanding of certain topics.
Warda Abdillahi 9U
I really like doing the Unit Award Scheme programme
because it gets me to learn about interesting topics such as
Knife Crime and Awareness of Bullying. I really felt happy
for myself because I have got two AQA certificates and by
the end of Summer I will have three more. When I started
doing this course it made me really happy because I like
the group and Mrs Tutt really makes things interesting.
Thank you for letting me do the course.
Aminah Yousuf 8T
SEND
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The students were all very happy to receive their
first two AQA certificates in the post over the
Summer half term break and I am sure will be just
as happy to be awarded a further three certificates
before the end of this year. The Unit Award
Scheme motivates and encourages students to
become independent learners as well as giving
their self-esteem a boost when they see what they
can achieve.
Kerry Mulhair
(Assistant Headteacher and SENDCo)
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