Our application of the National Curriculum

In the summer of 2018, we began to review the school’s delivery of the national curriculum. It was nearly four years on since the new version was introduced in 2014 and we wanted to review our provision in the light of developments since then. Learning from experience, keeping the best of 2014-18 but adding new aspects. Also making sure, as classes are mixed year groups, that all children get parity of experiences (but not necessarily identical ones), that there is no duplication of subject matter nor any omission of statutory content. We knew this was going to be a big job -  begun in the summer of 2018, we expect in its entirety it is at least a year to eighteen months’ work, to reach the end of the planning phase; then we will begin to embed and develop our ideas. 

We tracked imaginary children of differing ages and abilities through notional curriculum journeys, as there are six classes in the school and eight year groups (four in the upper and lower schools respectively) so every child will spend two years in one class – but that could be different in many ways depending on cohort size and children’s dispositions.

Like all good projects it has centred around discussion, collaboration, debate, midnight oil and Post-it notes!

At the same time, the Diocese changed our statutory RE syllabus too. This stands alone — although we endeavour to link as much of it as possible to other learning and our teaching of British Values (Heart knowledge). We have adapted the syllabus to match our school needs.

To read the RE curriculum map, click  here

For British Values, click  here

What's included in the National Curriculum ?

As a state school, we must follow the National Curriculum which is divided into a range of subjects, each has its own Programme of Study (English, Maths and Science) or Purpose of Study (all other subjects). These are split into Years 1, 2, 3 and 4*, 5 and 6*.  Each Programme/Purpose of Study has specific Aims and Attainment Targets to be met by the end of a child’s time in that year. 

To find out more about the subject content of each Year Group, click on the Jigsaw Puzzle Curriculum Overview PDF

To find out about all Programmes/Purpose of Study, follow this link in your web browser:

http://www.primarycurriculum.me.uk/ 

For Maths and Science, there are Programmes of Study for each Year 1 to 6. Other subjects  are  grouped for Y3/4  and 5/6. For some subjects, e.g. Art,  the Purpose of Study is split simply into objectives for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. As our children are in mixed-age classes,  teachers take account of the Programme/Purpose of Study for both year groups and include all the relevant objectives in the lesson, differentiating up and down as appropriate.