‘Our curriculum is designed to provide experiences that build a rich understanding of key knowledge and skills by engaging children and developing their curiosity through exploration, as well as developing their character and learning behaviours so that they become successful lifelong learners’.

Engagement, experiences and exploration

Our children are encouraged to be inquisitive learners by providing opportunities to investigate, problem solve and explore through first-hand experiences so that they develop a love of learning. Examples include;

• Planned visits, visitors, use of artefacts, real life experiences

• Local history and field studies in every phase

• Engagement in cultural activities including sports, music and the arts  

• Immerse children in a range of rich literature

Building key knowledge and skills

In order for children to build a rich understanding of key knowledge and skills our curriculum is sequential and provides layered learning opportunities in order to revisit and build on prior learning. We support the development of this with;

• A carefully constructed curriculum map

• Key milestones and layered learning outlined for each phase

• Unit organisers to support teaching and learning

• Proof of progress opportunities – quizzes, exit/entrance tickets

• Schema charts to assess what children know already, form learning links and identify misconceptions

Developing positive learning behaviours

We develop children’s learning behaviours so that they become effective learners. We want our children to be resilient in order to deal with different challenges, persevere to solve problems, seek ways to self-improve and enjoy learning. We want to equip our children for their chosen pathway in life by allowing them to make mistakes and learn from these in a safe environment. We also encourage independence so that they can go on to become successful lifelong learners. We do this through;

• Use of pupil planners to develop independence

• Use of resources shared via Google Classrooms for home learning

• Learning review weeks – personalised targets and recognition of achievements

• School values – perseverance, excellence (be the best you can be)

• Self and peer assessment opportunities

• Opportunities to make choices, form opinions and develop interests and aspirations

• Skills Builder – listening, teamwork, staying positive, aiming high and problem solving

• Modelling and equipping children with self-regulation strategies

• Oracy – providing children with the opportunity to develop effective communication skills

Developing character - (world citizens, healthy individuals, environmentally aware, creative & confident communicators)

Our children develop skills and values in order to work and communicate well with others, appreciate equality and diversity and prepare them for life in the modern world in which we live. We expect children to build strong relationships and appreciate their roles and responsibilities as part of local, national and global communities.

We provide an environment that enables children to be feel safe and happy and value their own self-worth in an atmosphere of support, trust and mutual respect. We develop their character so that they are thoughtful world citizens, healthy individuals, environmentally aware and creative and confident communicators. We achieve this in the following ways;

• Valuing out of school contributions to local and wider communities by awarding a ‘Good Citizen’ badge

• Celebrating out of school achievements – swimming, football etc

• School values – kindness, cooperation, honesty

• Committees including citizenship, anti-bullying ambassadors, fair trade

• Opportunities to work with others beyond our school community

• Charitable work and fundraising

• GREAT ways to wellbeing

• Opportunities to perform each year

• Skills builder – speaking and creativity

• Global links established

• Promoting equality/diversity – wide range of texts, celebrating cultural events

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