Curriculum

It is the policy of the governors that the school should provide a rich, varied, balanced and broad-based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils in order to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. Through the provision of a wide-ranging and challenging creative curriculum the school aims to help pupils to develop lively, enquiring minds.

At the heart of the school’s curriculum provision for children aged 5 to 11 is Creative Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2. For children below 5 in Reception the Foundation curriculum focuses on a series of Early Learning Goals which together form an appropriate basis for future work in the National Curriculum at Key Stage 1. The curriculum of the school covers the ten core and other foundation subjects of the National Curriculum plus other work, including religious education, personal, social, moral education and citizenship, which gives the school its own distinctive character and ethos.

Teachers use a variety of teaching strategies including whole class teaching, collaborative group work, pairs and individual work. The approach or combination of approaches, chosen is entrusted to the discretion of each class teacher. Where collaborative group work is the preferred method of working, groups are usually of mixed ability, although matched-ability sets are often used in literacy, mathematics and in other specific work at the discretion of the class teacher. Relevant discussion amongst children in lesson time is encouraged, although some periods of the day are set aside for Individual work.

All teachers teach all subjects to their classes, supported by Subject Leaders. Classroom helpers are available in the form of volunteers and paid teaching assistants. Volunteer helpers are used at the discretion of the class teacher. Volunteer helpers assist in the classroom, in the library, in sports activities, on educational visits and school journeys and in providing help, such as developing contacts with industry, commerce, local services and places of interest. Secondary school pupils and students from further and higher education on work experience, observation and teaching practice are accepted into school on a regular basis. In addition the school has a very strong partnership with the University of Hertfordshire to support ongoing development of trainee teachers.

The emphasis of teaching and learning in the school is on first hand experience and children are increasingly given responsibility to take control of their own learning. Investigative work is encouraged and promoted in as many subject areas as possible and ICT is used extensively to support this work. Out of school educational visits to places of interest for children in all classes take place frequently and a week’s residential school journey is organised for children in Year 6.

Children are encouraged to communicate their feelings in a variety of ways and ample opportunities are provided for them to become involved in decision making about the direction and development of their work.

In Key Stage 2 homework will be set on a weekly cycle, allowing families some flexibility on when the work is completed. From Year 3 onwards pupils are encouraged to work at home on a regular basis and the homework set will range from 1 -1.5 hours a week in Year 3 to 2 – 2.5 hours a week in Year 6. Children in Key Stage 2 will have a homework book in which their homework for the week will be clearly set out. Their work is likely to include weekly spellings and number bonds (tables) and at different times a variety of tasks related to their work in school in English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, History, Geography or Religious Education. Also, from time to time, there may be follow-up tasks related to work commenced in school and items of work to be completed.

By providing a rich, balanced and varied curriculum our aim is that children will:

• Become literate and articulate members of society, and to use the skills of reading, writing and speaking for a variety of purposes to suit and support their learning and their future needs.
• Have an understanding of the skills of numeracy and to apply mathematical skills and ideas appropriately, accurately and confidently to the challenges of everyday life.
• Question the world about them, pursue an independent line of enquiry and draw relevant conclusions from their scientific knowledge, attentive observations and testing.
• Appreciate the wider world in which they are growing up and understand their part in its history and future.
• Be able to express themselves creatively through a variety of media be they auditory, visual or tactile and to appreciate and have opinions on the work of others.
• Be able to use information and communication technology for a range of purposes.
• Develop agility, a healthy life-style and team spirit.
• Engage in co-operation through a variety of sporting activities and other pursuits promoting physical, mental and spiritual health.
• Develop understanding and respect for religious and cultural diversity and, in particular, to be introduced to the beliefs and practices of the Church of England.
• Have pride in themselves and their school and to develop awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others.
• Develop habits of self discipline and acceptable behaviour.
• Acquire a set of moral values and the confidence to make and hold moral judgements.