CURRICULUM CHARACTERS

Each of our curriculum areas has their very own character. This is to provide an identity for each subject and for our children to understand what the subject is teaching them. 

You will find further information about each of these characters on the individual subject areas website pages.

INTENT – What Are We Trying To Achieve?

Our FOCUS Challenge Curriculum encourages a climate for young people to explore how to apply their knowledge in original ways and with purpose. We have recently revised the our curriculum to ensure that standards in writing are being improved by using exciting literature through science. The units ensure that there is a huge focus on working scientifically as well as dealing with the specific science knowledge for a particular year group.

For example, in Year 4 the use of excellent quality text like 'The Incredible Book-Eating Boy' is central to the science unit dealing with the digestive system. In Year 3, the excellent book 'The Street Beneath My Feet' is central to the science unit on 'rocks'.

The units help teachers to improve pupils' writing through science but still hold on to the statutory requirement for science and ensures that pupils' grammar, punctuation and vocabulary is being challenged. 

Principles
We are committed to providing quality and excellence through an exciting, stimulating environment that stretches and develops the child as a whole and to provide an education which will develop social skills and encourage children to become more active citizens within the school community and beyond. 

Tell me and I forget,
Show me and I remember,
Involve me and I understand.
 

Aims: 
The Challenge Curriculum aims to: 

•Provide a broad and balanced curriculum. 
•Build up children’s confidence and motivation to learn through the use of a range of learning and teaching styles. 
•Embed key skills in order to prepare children for real-life and everyday situations. 
•Provide opportunities to apply knowledge and learning in practical ways. 
•Provide a creative approach to planning and delivery that will incorporate and embed key aspects of the National Curriculum especially Literacy and Computing. 
•Provide enrichment opportunities where learning and teaching can take place beyond the classroom. 
•Develop Excellence and Enjoyment. 
•Support the Every Child Matters Agenda. 
•Shape our curriculum to meet the needs of our children.
•Stimulate our children’s natural curiosity and to give them the confidence to be curious. 
•Allow our children to take risks. 
•Teach skills through what interests our children – Essential Learning. 
•’WOW’ experience at the beginning of every theme will enable teachers to follow what inspires their pupils.
•Involve our children in decision-making about their learning, allowing children choice and independence. 
•Closely monitor and assess progression in attainment.

If you would like to find out more about our FOCUS Challenge Curriculum, click on the website link below.

IMPACT - How Do We Know Our Curriculum Is Having The Desired Impact?