The aim of our school curriculum is to enrich lives developing social, moral, spiritual and cultural growth within our school family. We believe in lifelong learning aiming to equip our children to live life today and for tomorrow rooted in Christian values.
I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8
Intent
The curriculum at Great Massingham and Harpley CE Schools Federation is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all children. It provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful learners, who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. The curriculum has been designed to raise attainment and accelerate achievement and foster our Christian values.
Our curriculum design develops creativity and problem solving, responsibility and resilience, as well as physical development, well-being and good mental health. The curriculum at our schools has been planned to develop the whole child and promote positive attitudes and a love of learning. Our curriculum supports the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, ensuring that children develop an understanding of British values and are well prepared for life in modern Britain.
Implementation
The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our Federation. A blocked curriculum approach has been implemented at the school to ensure coverage and progression in a number of curriculum areas. This enables cross curricular links to be made without ‘shoe-horning’ theme-based-activities in regardless of educational value – what are we learning NOT what are we doing. The KS2 themes are history and geography led with links, where appropriate, made to Art, DT, music and writing.
In a school with vertically grouped mixed age classes we had to think very creatively about how to arrange themes. In YR and KS1 we have a three-year cycle and a four-year cycle in KS2. This means that in history it is not possible to teach in a chronological sequence so history themes have been arranged to build on previous teaching. They are also planned to enable children to make links between subjects.
The development of chronological understanding is carefully managed through the introduction of each theme and its place in time. The KS2 class has a timeline with themes taught in both key stages marked to support the children in being able to remember and know more.
Learning is enquiry based, fostering each child’s curiosity and interest and enabling the achievement of depth in knowledge and skills progression. Opportunities for a child initiated theme have been incorporated into the plan to allow children to use and apply skills previously learned. This is intended as an opportunity for children to negotiate the subject to be studied, be involved in planning the ‘shape’ of the programme of study and to have ownership of their learning. This will also be used by staff to consolidate any knowledge and skills which require revisiting.
Alongside the teaching of National Curriculum content, our curriculum is planned to provide children with memorable experiences as well as diverse, rich opportunities from which they can learn and develop a range of skills. These include local community visits and visitors, residential visits and many others.
The outdoor environment and the local community are considered an opportunity for active learning for all our children. The school grounds are used to enrich different curriculum areas. All learners have access to good quality educational experiences beyond the classroom walls to ensure learning outside the classroom opportunities are integrated into the curriculum.
Music and performance have a high profile in the school and the school has specialist music teachers, with each KS2 child receiving a weekly music lesson delivered by a subject specialist. Opportunities for performances are planned for and provided both within the school and beyond it.
Great Massingham and Harpley CE Schools Federation also makes full use of the skills of a wide range of professionals. Throughout their time at the Federation, children work with specialist coaches for music and sport.
A varied timetable for extra-curricular activities is offered by the schools, with clubs that support the core curriculum offer, whilst also extending the range of children’s experiences.
The Federation takes pride in providing an inclusive environment, where learners demonstrate high levels of enjoyment in their education and make good progress in their learning and personal development. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for challenge and extension; those who need more help are encouraged and given targeted support to embed learning, to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs and to develop the skills they need to be successful. Children at all levels are helped to achieve their potential.
Subject leaders are beginning to play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice. All subject leaders have been given training and opportunities are planned to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school. Subject leaders understand that the current curriculum plan has been designed so that their ongoing contributions see it evolve and improve further.
Impact
Enjoyment of learning promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality learning opportunities enriching national curriculum content enhance learning and provide opportunities for personal development.
The curriculum provides opportunities to share learning with each other, parents and carers through school-based celebration assemblies, writing competitions, performances, gallery sessions, cluster events and workshops, and Federation days.
At our schools the needs of individual and small groups of children are met within the environment of high quality teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes.
The heart of our curriculum is to develop independence, a life-long love of learning and embed values for life to equip children to be future citizens.
