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‘Small School, Big Opportunities, Great Achievements’

Curriculum

Curriculum Intent Statement

 

Our curriculum at Thakeham Primary School places the children at the heart of everything we do.  We believe that our children have the right to a rich, engaging and relevant curriculum that will help them to thrive in the wider world. We aim to take into account children’s prior knowledge and learning, to provide the children with first hand experiences, to help them develop the skills of resilience and curiosity and enable them to understand how the progressive concepts, content, knowledge and skills covered in each curriculum area, all interconnect to influence future learning.  We treat each child as an individual therefore adapting the structured curriculum to meet their needs.  Our children will learn through a curriculum that is fun and will foster a passion for learning so that children may develop into life-long learners.

 

Our curriculum is led by our curriculum drivers. These key aspects underpin our planning in every topic, in every year group:

 

Through our curriculum our children will understand their Place in the World

 

Children understand and relate to their place in our wonderful local community as well as understanding their place in the wider world. Our aim is for our children to be thoughtful respectful citizens, both of one another and the environment. We bring with us our Thakeham links but we are also looking to develop these to include those in and around our new site.  Links are developed both locally, internationally and globally to help us realise this aim.



Through our curriculum our children will become Inspired Learners


We draw on children's interests and starting points in developing a curriculum that is relevant and engaging, encouraging children to be curious, inspired and enjoy their learning. Resources, visits and visitors are chosen to stimulate and bring our children's learning to life. 'Stunning Starts' to our topics will be aimed at enthusing the children right from the beginning. Children's achievements in key areas of learning will be celebrated through our 'Fabulous Finishes' at the end of our topics, also providing an opportunity for us to share these with families wherever possible.

Through our curriculum our children will be Learning for Life


Children have opportunities to see that their learning extends beyond the classroom and how this links to 'real life', whether this be through work or hobbies they may be engaged in during their future. Children have opportunities to nurture their talents and will hopefully discover new ones throughout their learning journey at Thakeham. They will be encouraged to be resilient and think flexibly and creatively when faced with a challenge to achieve their aspirations.

Curriculum Implementation

 

Our curriculum is planned to be cross-curricular where possible and discreetly taught when necessary. This enables our children to be given opportunities to learn in cohesive blocks and ‘stick’ their learning together each year, building on previous knowledge, skills and experiences.   Our Curriculum Leaders have identified, for each curriculum subject, the key concepts, knowledge, skills and vocabulary we expect all pupils to learn and understand. 

 

At Thakeham Primary School our children are organised into four classes:

 

  •        Acorn Class: (Early Years Foundation Stage/Reception)
  •        Oak Class (Years 1 & 2)
  •        Maple Class (Years 3 & 4)
  •        Elder Class (Years 5 & 6) 

 

Our planning is takes the following format and draws on children's interests and ideas:

 

  •        Long Term Plans and Knowledge and Skills Progression Documents: these outline the key themes/topics in each curriculum area and ensure year on year we build on children's experiences, knowledge and skills.
  •        Curriculum Overviews: these are organised for each class as part of a two year rolling programme. They provide a brief overview of our areas of learning and Curriculum Drivers.
  •        Medium Term Plans: these are more detailed teaching and learning tools for each curriculum area on a lesson by lesson basis for a half-term.
  •        Weekly Planning: these are completed for maths and English and outline the teaching and learning on a daily basis.

 

To view the National Curriculum in its entirety please click here

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum

Curriculum Overviews

 

Our Curriculum Overviews show the learning that will take place across either Cycle A or Cycle B of our school curriculum. 

They can be found on each class page:  Learning / Pupils / Select the class

Curriculum Information Letters

 

Our termly Curriculum Information Letters inform parents about what the teaching and learning will be in each class in the current term. 

They can be found on each class page:  Learning / Pupils / Select the class

Curriculum Impact

 

The impact of our curriculum is measured in the following ways:

  •        Statutory assessments.
  •        Formal and informal assessments.
  •        Feedback from pupils and parents.
  •        Pupil discussions and interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
  •        Governor monitoring with our subject link governors.
  •        Annual reporting and tracking of standards across the curriculum.
  •        Photo and video evidence of the pupils’ practical learning.

 

We use assessment information to:

  •        Monitor and record the attainment and progress of individuals, groups and cohorts.
  •        Guide teachers’ planning, strategies and use of resources and plan intervention.
  •        Inform parents and the governing body about progress and attainment.
  •        Ensure a consistent approach to measure progress towards and against national standards.
  •        Enable pupils to reflect on their own progress, understand their strengths and identify what they need to do to improve.

 

We know our curriculum is effective when we see our pupils:

  •        Demonstrate confidence, independence, resilience and a real passion for learning.
  •        Are inspired to achieve their very best.
  •        Develop their individual talents and skills.
  •        Achieve at least the expected standard across the entire curriculum by the end of Key Stage Two.
  •        Are well prepared to access the challenges of the secondary school curriculum.
  •        Form meaningful relationships based upon mutual respect and trust, recognising and celebrating difference, not only within the school community, but in the wider world as well.
  •        Develop a strong sense of respect and responsibility, both within our local community and the wider world
  •        Become co-operative, caring citizens for the future.

 

This enables us to measure the impact of our curriculum and to evaluate if we have achieved our goal of producing confident, independent, inspired and resilient learners, when they leave the school at the end of Key Stage 2.