Curriculum Overview
Curriculum summary September 2023
Curriculum breadth and balance (Curriculum policy / statement)
All pupils follow the Curriculum for Wales that becomes statutory in September 2022. The curriculum is broken up into six broad ‘Areas of Learning and Experience’ (AOLEs) covering language, literacy and communication, maths and numeracy, health and wellbeing, science and technology, humanities and expressive arts. Our approach is, as far as possible, through themes that link all the areas of the curriculum. We aim to create a safe and stimulating environment in which children can learn through experience and play.
Overall, where possible, our approach is cross-curricular. For example, writing can readily be linked to historical and geographical topics and maths to science and technology; such an approach enriches, and helps to maintain an overall breadth and balance in, the curriculum delivered. ICT is taught predominantly through the other subjects rather than as a discrete area and children are timetabled to use the laptops and iPads on a regular basis.
Language Literacy and Communication
We recognise the importance of all the basic skills and spend a significant part of the school week addressing reading, writing and speaking and listening. Our teaching of grammar and punctuation is based upon the study of quality texts, and the emphasis in our writing is on purpose, audience and style. Reading is a priority and extra time is given over to hearing individual readers and group reading activities. The school follows the planning and approaches of the National Literacy Strategy and uses the ‘Read, Write Inc’ phonics programme to teach early reading and writing. From roughly Year 2, the children progress to the use of Accelerated Reader.
The teaching of Welsh closely follows the guidelines and scheme of work promoted by the Welsh Assembly Government, involving the children in speaking, reading and writing the language; teachers receive training in delivering this element of the curriculum and the school reflects the traditions of Wales more broadly through taking a Welsh slant on some subjects such as History, and through celebrating festivals such as St David’s Day. The school uses Welsh as a language of instruction across the school in different subjects as well as English. Pupils are also encouraged to use Welsh as a language of communication at the school outside of formal instruction. The school attempts to facilitate continuity for pupils instructed through the medium of Welsh whilst registered at the school or when transferring from primary to secondary school.
Numeracy
We endeavour, through our teaching of maths, to ensure that children are taught concepts rather than methods in order that a secure understanding of the subject can be applied to a range of problems that may be encountered in the ‘real’ world. The school follows the planning and approaches of the EAS TAPAS materials and uses Accelerated Maths and Freckle to help assess an plan for appropriate work
Humanities
The teaching of RE is predominantly Christian-based to reflect the background of the majority of the children who attend the school. It also includes the study of Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, both in themselves and also by looking at themes common to different religions. These topics are linked, where possible, to visits to local places of worship. Children are encouraged in their own exploration of the spiritual dimension of life. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the religious education and collective worship provided.
The study of people and places is taught in a range of ways including through issues based work, both real and imaginary. Basic map skills and knowledge based work is taught and children are encouraged to reflect upon the impact on the environment of themselves and others.
Work about the past is often closely linked to language work as there are clear opportunities for creative work and for the study of non-fiction texts. Beyond studying familiar topics such as The Victorians and Romans, we aim to help develop a sense of chronology in the children and challenge them to think about how evidence is gained and interpreted.
Science and Technology
The school has a wireless portable computer suite across the school and generally runs ‘Apple’ technology This is supplemented by a hard-wired machine and interactive whiteboard in each classroom. All machines are linked to the Internet via a broadband connection. All the children across the school have regular access to these facilities and we aim to ensure that the children have a good grounding in all the basic skills that, undoubtedly, they will be called upon to use in Secondary school and beyond.
Children learn best when they are actively engaged in the process, and in our teaching of science related areas we aim to develop enquiry skills through a range of hands on investigational based investigations.
Opportunities from across the curriculum are used as a basis for generating and realising designs. The emphasis is on the process of designing, making and refining along with the teaching of basic skills.
Wellbeing
We recognise the importance of physical development and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and aim to give the children a wide range of activities to develop their skills, control and tactical awareness. The PE curriculum is supported by a range of extra-curricular activities and children participate in a range of competitions and games including athletics, swimming, rugby, football, cricket and netball.
We are committed not only to developing academic success at the school but, most importantly, rounded individuals who are self-confident, independent and who relate to others in an appropriate way. As part of this we have adopted Jigsaw scheme of work and policy that addresses key themes and moves on towards the top of the school to include sex and relationships education and drug information. The school promotes healthy eating and exercise through the taught curriculum, through assemblies and visitors, through school council initiatives such as ‘scoot to school’ and through encouraging participation in sporting activities.
Expressive Arts
Music is broken down into two main elements; composing and performing and music appreciation. Children also have opportunities to learn various woodwind, brass, string and keyboard instruments whilst at school and participate in a range of extra-curricular activities including a school choir. The school is supported by Upbeat Music and Arts in its music provision.
As with music, art is partly about analysing and appreciating, but mostly about participating. Children will use a wide range of media during the course of their time at the school and view all the main styles of art.
School Residential and Extra – Curricular Activities
There is an annual school journey for the older children which, the last time we went, was a trip to Gilwern in the Brecon Beacons. The purpose of this is to both support the curriculum and to provide an opportunity for personal and social development.
Various extra-curricular activities are offered including choir, individual music tuition, rugby, football, netball and cycling proficiency!