Governing bodies are required to produce a curriculum statement annually. This replaces the requirement under the School Framework and Standards Act 1998 for a curriculum plan. From September 2014 there is an expectation from the government for all mainstream primary schools to deliver the new National Curriculum. We have therefore adapted our School curriculum accordingly to ensure that we meet the current aims and statutory requirements.
At Barrington School we believe in the concept of lifelong learning and the idea that adults and children learn new things every day. We maintain that learning should be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone; it should be fun. Through our teaching we equipchildren with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to be able to make informed choices about the important things in their lives. We believe that appropriate teaching and learning experiences help children to lead happy and rewarding lives.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum (2014), we enhance this with planned opportunities that make up the wider school curriculum. Learning is always exciting and in a meaningful context for children. Where commonality exists between subjects and aspects, learning is linked and lessons taught using a cross-curricular approach. Where this is not achievable, subjects are taught discretely. The rehearsal and application of basic skills learned in the core curriculum is a driver for the entire curriculum.
We place a strong emphasis on the development of the basic skills necessary to be confident independent learners and successful adults. All children engage in a carousel of literacy skills development sessions where they develop their reading and comprehension skills in addition to developing a command of all aspects of the English language. In addition, all children take part in a daily English and Mathematics lesson.
At Barrington Church of England Primary School, children develop a strong sense of moral purpose based on Christian values, in addition to develop respect and understanding of people who have different characteristics to themselves, whether that be age, disability, gender, race or sexuality. A rigorous, well planned curriculum, delivered by excellent staff in an ethos of care, love and support enables our pupils to be well rounded, empathetic young people who have a thirst for learning and respect for all around them.
Our curriculum aims to:
- Provide a stimulating classroom environment with:
- good teaching and learning displays in classrooms and communal areas reflecting a broad and balanced curriculum;
- purposefully organised classrooms
- accessible shared resources;
- tidy, well organised working environments.
- enable children to become confident, resourceful, enquiring and independent learners;
- foster children’s self-esteem and help them build positive relationships with other people;
- develop children’s self-respect and encourage children to respect the ideas, attitudes, values and feelings of others;
- show respect for all cultures and, in so doing, to promote positive attitudes towards other people;
- enable children to understand their community and help them feel valued as part of this community and
- help children grow into reliable, independent and positive citizens.
- investigation and problem solving;
- research and finding out;
- group work;
- pair work;
- independent work;
- whole-class work;
- asking and answering questions;
- use of the computer;
- fieldwork and visits to places of educational interest;
- creative activities;
- watching television and responding to musical or tape-recorded material;
- debates, role-plays and oral presentations;
- designing and making things and
- participation in athletic or physical activity.
Our curriculum is very carefully planned by all staff to ensure we not only provide children with a broad and balanced education, but most importantly, a curriculum that engages and inspires our children to learn. In planning our curriculum we have also taken into account the particular needs of the children living in Barrington and Shepreth.
Our children follow a mixed age curriculum where learning within each topic is differentiated to meet the needs of the different aged children in each class. We plan a series of thematic units or topics which cover all of the programmes of study from the National Curriculum [September 2014]. The development of these units or topics is carefully monitored to ensure that pupils meet all of the requirements of the curriculum that are appropriate to their year group.
Whilst we also use these units and topics as a stimulus and context for writing, English and mathematics are generally taught separately. However, if natural links occur, we use them to promote children’s learning and their ability to use and apply their knowledge and skills in different contexts.
As a Church of England school, our curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural and social development of pupils, so that they know that they are cherished as individuals and can be excited about growing up, and taking their part confidently in a modern democratic society. We follow the Cambridgeshire Agreed Syllabus to teach RE and make extensive use of the Understanding Christianity resources.
If you would like any further information about the curriculum we provide for our children please contact Gill Davies (firstname.lastname@example.org)