Primary Curriculum Detail
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum has been designed in three layers to provide pupils with a wide range of opportunities to develop as aspirational life-long learners, able to take their place as active citizens in an ever changing world.
Oracy underpins our work across the curriculum as pupils develop the skills to reason, discuss, debate and present their learning in a variety of contexts with increasing skill and confidence.
The Academic Layer
In this layer, all pupils follow an ambitious programme of study which covers the breadth of the national curriculum. Emphasis is placed on the development of pupils’ ability to read fluently, confidently and with enjoyment as quickly as possible in order that they are able to use these skills to access the wider curriculum. In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, pupils access daily phonics delivered systematically through the use of Read Write Inc. Pupils access phonically decodable books which they are encouraged to practise both at home and at school.
All pupils participate in a whole class daily reading lesson where they are exposed to a wide range of high quality texts. This session is carefully planned to enable pupils to practise fluency alongside the development of their comprehension skills.
We encourage pupils to develop a love of reading through exposure to a wide range of literature and varied experiences including daily story sessions, visits from authors and access to a well-stocked library.
The other subjects within the academic layer are planned sequentially to enable pupils to build on prior knowledge in order that they know more and remember more as a result of high quality learning experiences.
The curriculum is carefully planned so that some foundation subjects can be delivered in blocks in order to develop mastery by immersing pupils in their learning. Over the course of the term, pupils will have covered the relevant curriculum content in all subjects. PE, computing, MFL (in KS2) and PSHE are taught weekly.
There is a strong emphasis on ensuring that pupils master basic skills in reading, writing and maths to the highest standard. In order to embed these basic skills, we repeatedly utilise opportunities to further develop them across the curriculum. As a result, pupils achieve outcomes well above the national average by the end of the final key stage.
The Personal Development Layer
Our curriculum is designed to extend beyond the academic; it is bespoke to our community and wider society; encouraging tolerance, empathy, environmental awareness and enables our children to communicate confidently in our ever-changing world. There is a strong focus on developing pupils’ moral, spiritual, social and cultural understanding so that they are well-prepared for life in modern Britain. We carefully plan the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens in an ever-changing world. We aim to introduce them to the best that has been thought and said and intend to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
A robust PSHE and RSE curriculum, enables us to ensure that pupils fully understand how to keep themselves safe. Learning is planned to enable pupils to explore and debate issues which affect our local community and wider society, including internet safety, CSE, radicalisation and knife crime. Pupils are encouraged to be aspirational, make good choices and understand what they need to do to reach and succeed in the careers to which they aspire.
Within this layer of the curriculum, pupils develop their understanding of how to keep physically and mentally healthy, eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle. Numerous opportunities including yoga, table tennis, Zumba and cheerleading are provided for pupils to be active during the school day and through extra-curricular activities.
Our academy provides a highly inclusive environment where all learners enjoy their education. We ensure through the careful planning of learning opportunities and experiences that all of our pupils – including our disadvantaged and SEND – have access to a rich, broad and balanced curriculum. We recognise that learning is a life-long adventure and our intention is to create a culture of personal and professional development at our academy, where adults continue to learn and develop alongside the children.
The Enrichment Layer
We understand that pupils arrive at school with varied experiences. Through this layer of the curriculum, we provide pupils with a wide variety of experiences to develop interests which may extend into adulthood. Pupils choose from a variety of activities designed to deepen their understanding of healthy lifestyles and cultural experiences.
Each term, all pupils work towards a celebration event involving the whole academy. These events include creating an art gallery and planning a community tea dance, where pupils develop their skills and understanding of how they can contribute to the advancement of the local community and wider society. Pupils are taught the importance of charity and inclusion by participating in a number of events involving various members of our community. Pupils’ opinions and contributions are valued; this is evident in school council, art council, science council and eco-schools council.