Our School Curriculum

We try to make children’s learning exciting, fun, meaningful and challenging. We insist on high standards which we are then proud to share.

• Our projects start with an exciting experience or challenge to capture the children’s interest and generate enthusiasm
• Learning skills, curriculum skills and knowledge are taught rigorously through a range of engaging and challenging activities
• A high quality outcome brings together the children’s learning in a meaningful way and is shared with parents and the community

Our curriculum is mainly delivered through “Learning Experiences”. These are stimulating short units of work that aim to inspire, enthuse and encourage our children. They give rise to a sequence of lessons that provide children with a rich experience that is based on their needs and interests.  They are supported by a team decision to work on one of the learning values as well as to deliver the current School Development Plan.  The curriculum has been developed from the national curriculum where possible.

Learning Experiences are all similarly structured. They begin with a stimulating “hook.”  A sequence of well-judged, rigorous activities to develop learning follows.  A single, high quality outcome concludes the experience. The outcome often involves a parent or community sharing event.

The Golden Rules of Learning Experiences:

• Plan experiences that focus on what the children need both in terms of learning and value. Identify these through discussion and observation.
• Take objectives from the national curriculum and from the “progression of key skills” documents that the school have devised.  Base planning on the need for a “driver” subject, and up to 3 supporting subjects. The focus is on creating curriculum balance across a cycle and not necessarily within each Learning Experience.
• Provide children with first hand inspirational experiences wherever possible and with meaningful outcomes. The children need purpose for their learning.
• Plan lessons that are meaningful, relevant and take account of children’s interests. Lessons are structured flexibly and differentiated.  Wherever possible these should enthuse teachers and other adults as well as children. For that reason, Learning Experiences, if repeated, will be remodelled and improved.  
• Do not be afraid to take risks: make learning experiences memorable.  We encourage children to take risks through scaffolding activities and this fits well with our learning values.   
• Give children enough time to complete the learning experience making sure that the work they produce is of a high standard and generates pride. Ensure, however, that children will also be under some time constraint/pressure so experiences are short and concise and do not slow.
• Have children take an active role in their own development and be aware of what they need to do to improve and how to succeed through sharing objectives.
• Provide children with a rich range of problem solving experiences that cater for a variety of learning styles, extend thinking and encourage pupil talk and discussion.
• Set extremely high expectations of attainment and demonstrate these through adult led modelling. Aim for each child to reach for the highest level of personal achievement.
• Reflect high standards in a stimulating learning environment that maximises opportunities in the use of learning resources, such as computing or the active use of the outdoors.
• Learning Experiences, wherever possible, should be central to the community that we serve and involve this community actively. Local trips and visits are integral to our curriculum.