17th Jan 2024
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Curriculum Design
St. George’s Primary School has high aspirations for pupils to achieve the best possible outcomes, regardless of background or ability. It is our view that every child who enters our school will stand shoulder to shoulder with all others in society, and have the knowledge that with commitment and determination, they can achieve their aspirations.
The ‘St. George’s Way’ is to teach lessons that are distinct to each child so that they are engaged at an individual level. Through our intrinsic approach to teaching and learning, children at St. George’s begin to develop a strength of character essential to their success in later life. We provide opportunities through discussion, debate and learning beyond the classroom, to develop essential communication skills and a sense of self.
Our Open Curriculum Intent is:
An extensive and inclusive curriculum, established through the premise of enabling transferable knowledge and skills between subjects, providing aspirational norms and values to enrich pupils with the ability to make fulfilling life choices.
Implementation:
We teach the National Curriculum through enquiry based concepts. We focus on developing thinking to deepen learning through transferable skills that are interwoven through the Open Curriculum.
Impact:
The Open Curriculum is continually assessed by teachers in each subject to enable all pupils to make progress. Assessment grids are used to identify pupils' attainment and challenge achievements. The impact of the Open Curriculum is monitored by subject leaders and is overseen by the Senior Leaders and Governors to ensure progression across the National Curriculum.
View / Download Example Concept Map
The Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage takes children through from birth to 5 years. It forms the curriculum for the Nursery school, and the first year in the main school in the Reception class. The children progress towards achieving specific targets known as the Early Learning Goals by the end of the Reception year. The foundation stage curriculum has a strong emphasis on learning through well-scaffolded play and has seven areas of learning and development:
Three Prime Areas
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
Four Specific Areas
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive arts and design
Learning through scaffolded play is part of early learning both in the classroom and outside. The Nursery school has a separate outdoor learning environment, so that the needs of the Early Years Foundation Stage can be met. The Reception class also accesses the outside area and share playtimes in the larger playground with the other children from the main school.
Teachers from Reception and Nursery work closely together sharing ideas and resources so that the children can build on previous learning and achieve a smooth transition as they move through the school.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework
Reception Year
Admission to the Reception class is organised by Norfolk County Council and you will be notified by them of your child’s place. Before starting in Reception you will be invited to make an informal visit to the class with your child. This enables your child to see their new classroom, meet the other children and get to know the staff they will be working with.
While your child is getting to know their new classroom, parents will meet with the Head Teacher who will explain the organisation of the school and give an opportunity to parents to ask questions and sort out uniform etc. Each year there will also be a further transition programme for you and your child to participate in, so that you both feel ready to start school in September. Further details will be provided to you once your child’s place has been confirmed.
Key Stage 1 & 2 Curriculum
A broad and balanced curriculum is provided throughout the school.
Key Stage 1 and 2 follow the National Curriculum. We deliver the National Curriculum by teaching through overarching Concepts: we call this our ‘Open Curriculum’, whereby all subjects are taught through a skills and knowledge focus, enabling children to gain a depth of understanding which they can apply across many subject areas.
English
The aim for English in our school is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop a love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.
The development of language is the basis for much of the learning that takes place in our school; pupils are encouraged to speak clearly and confidently and to listen to others. We aim to give pupils a love of reading, to develop an appreciation of books and an eagerness to use the library. English is an established part of the school day. The pupils enjoy a wide range of texts including plays, poetry, traditional stories and information books.
We use the Read, Write Inc. structured programme to teach reading. This programme includes picture and context clues, sight vocabulary and phonic skills. As reading skills develop, pupils are questioned on their understanding of a text.
Children take reading books home to share with parents. We value parental partnership in helping children learn to read and to that end provide a reading diary for parental communication. We recommend that children spend between ten and twenty minutes each day reading at home with an adult.
Pupils are taught how to write in different ways for different purposes, e.g. letters, fictional stories, newspaper reports, plays, poetry and factual information. We teach grammar, punctuation and spelling in context. We encourage pupils to take pride in their handwriting and in the presentation of their work.
| View / Download - Year One |
| View / Download - Year Two |
| View / Download - Year Three |
| View / Download - Year Four |
| View / Download - Year Five |
| View / Download - Year Six |
Mathematics
We aim to provide a high quality mathematics education that provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
We strive to enable our children to become fluent in the fundamentals of maths so that they can recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
We aim to enable children to be able to reason mathematically and solve problems by applying their mathematical knowledge.
Maths learning is based on practical investigation leading to developing mental strategies and informal and formal recording methods.
The maths curriculum covers:
- Number
- Measurement
- Geometry
- Statistics (KS2)
- Ratio and proportion & Algebra (Upper KS2)
Science
Science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through biology, chemistry and physics.
Our Science teaching aims to ensure our children develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of these areas and of nature and the processes and methods of science together with a scientific enquiry approach to enable them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
We also aim to enable children to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.
Computing
The computing national curriculum aims to equip pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.
We aim to enable the children to understand and apply principles and concepts and solve problems in computational terms and to become responsible, confident, competent and creative users of information and communication technology.
There are interactive whiteboards in all teaching areas in the school that are used effectively by staff to enhance learning in all curriculum areas. The children have access to control technology, data logging equipment and digital cameras and regularly use IT in general class work.
The school has an e-safety policy; and children are actively taught to use the internet safely.
| View / Download - Computing Progression KS1 |
| View / Download - Computing Progression KS2 |
Design and Technology (DT)
We aim to enable the children to develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate in an increasingly technological world.
Throughout their time in the school, the children investigate how a variety of objects work and are made. They then have the opportunity to design and make their own products based on what they have discovered. There is an opportunity to work with a wide variety of materials including textiles, wood and food. The children learn how to use a variety of tools in a correct and safe manner.
Art and Design
The display boards around our school demonstrate our varied artistic talents. We aim to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. The children experience a variety of media and have the opportunity to create 3D work as well as 2D. Children work individually or collaboratively and on different scales that encourages communication and negotiation skills. The children learn about great artists, craft makers and designers.
Geography
We aim to inspire the children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people and develop understanding of the key physical and human processes.
The children learn about the local area and the wider world and consider the environment and human impact.
Children are encouraged to think about similarities and differences, continuity and change, cause and effect.
History
The history curriculum enables the children to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and understand the chronological order.
History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.
Languages (KS2)
From Year 3 children will learn French. The teaching during Key Stage 2 will enable the children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and writing.
Music
In the school we have a wide variety of tuned and untuned instruments. Children are encouraged to enjoy music making as they work through the National Curriculum. The children learn to perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods.
There are further opportunities to have small group tuition in a range of instruments (small charge). Currently we offer: guitar, keyboard and flute.
Physical Education (P.E.)
P.E. is considered to be a very important part of our school life, both within and outside curricular hours. Every week the children take part in two hours of P.E. We try to give the children as wide an experience as possible, including not only dance, games, gymnastics and athletics but also a great variety of games skills such as football, basketball, cricket, tennis and rounders. We encourage children to lead healthy, active lives and provide competitive sports opportunities.
The school holds a sports day in the Summer term, promoting team work and competition. All children are encouraged and enabled to take part in all sports regardless of gender or ability.
Religious Education (R.E.)
Religious education is taught according to the Norfolk agreed syllabus. Children learn to understand common aspects of six world religions during their time at school. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from R.E. To do this parents should, in the first instance, put the request in writing to the Head Teacher. They will then be invited into school to discuss the matter.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
PSHE is supported across the curriculum, for example, in science and drama and may include activities such as circle time. We have a detailed Relationships and Sex Education Policy (parents have the right to withdraw their children from these lessons following a written request and a discussion with the Head Teacher). The school is part of the Healthy Schools approach, promoting a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. A wide variety of activities, special events and charity work promotes citizenship and an active responsibility from our children for themselves, others, the environment and the wider world.