Intent - this is what we want our children to learn - our vision for them as learners
Our curriculum is driven by the aim to prepare our children for a lifelong love of learning. At Wolsey House Primary School, we offer a rich and vibrant curriculum which is ambitious for all learners. Through our curriculum, we develop the essential knowledge, skills and understanding, which are the building blocks for later life. Our curriculum encompasses not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but goes beyond the experiences of the classroom to ensure that our children are exposed to the richest and most varied opportunities that we can provide. Our aim is to enrich every child's school experience by creating an environment where they are encouraged to succeed and be the best they can be.
Our Curriculum is based on the development of vocabulary that can be used in the children's learning at other points of a child's education e.g. preparing them for secondary school. This vocabulary is carefully considered for each topic to ensure it is meaningful, transferable and ambitious. In classrooms you will see these words displayed as 'sticky words.'
At Wolsey House cultural capital prepares children with the essential knowledge and skills for their future. The exploration of new skills and experiences help to nurture resilience, curiosity and creativity. We provide learning experiences that promote confident, self-motivated pupils, eager for lifelong learning. Reading and developing a rich and varied vocabulary underpins every aspect of our curriculum intent.
Key values underpin our curriculum. We believe that these are important and promote these values throughout the curriculum; in the classroom and in assemblies as we try to unlock the potential of every child. We want our children to leave Wolsey House equipped with the knowledge and skills for the world of academia and to deal with a rapidly changing world. We want them to be ready and able to face the challenges of the world, contribute to making their communities a better place to live and to be resourceful, resilient and reciprocal learners. A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, provide a purpose and relevance for learning and ultimately to help every student to find strengths and interests.
Sport/Physical Development and the Arts have a high profile at Wolsey House and pupils are introduced to a variety of activities. In Physical Development these include basketball, football, cricket, running, athletics, tag rugby, karate, dance, gymnastics, multisport, cheerleading, weekly swimming sessions. In the Arts visits to the theatre, museums, art galleries: visits to school from artists in residence, theatre in residence (e.g. for History), dancers, theatre companies . These activities have engaged many children including children with SEND. To promote physical health and wellbeing, a range of clubs gives learners an opportunity to access a wide variety of clubs after school hours and during lunch times.
Our cohesive, engaging and stimulating curriculum places the children at the centre and opportunities are created for them to make connections in their knowledge, skills and understanding across all subjects. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop their self-esteem and self-confidence. They are involved in the planning stage as we value their ideas and contributions, we believe that children learn best when they are able to steer and direct their own learning. We want our children to be inquisitive and passionate about their learning and spark a desire for lifelong learning.
Implementation - this is how we teach our children
At Wolsey House children in KS1 and KS2 follow the National Curriculum. Children in Foundation Stage follow the Early Years Foundation Curriculum. Our teachers bring the National Curriculum alive by making links between the individual subjects and applying them to a theme. We base our curriculum on a Challenge Curriculum where each topic begins with a Big Question. Each half term teachers produce a curriculum plan that shows the links between different curriculum subjects and how they can be linked by overarching topics. We call this the Big Picture. Year groups work together on the same topics and there are plenty of opportunities to learn in and outside of the classroom.
A Big Question is carefully designed for each curriculum topic. This allows children to explore and investigate with the end in mind. They can demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways in order to answer the Big Question. Key concepts that will impact on children’s future learning are identified and form the key vocabulary that will be covered. These are our ’Sticky Words.’ Our curriculum design allows the children to connect past, present and future in their learning and to build upon existing knowledge and skills to ensure that these can be applied in all areas of the curriculum. In this respect, our curriculum allows for the accumulation of knowledge and skills, for the children to build on what they know and embed knowledge to enter the long-term memory – making it stick! Themes have been planned with the children’s needs in mind, ensuring that the local community plays a part alongside the wider world. In order to broaden the children’s experiences, visits and visitors are carefully planned to support and inspire the learning. As part of our planning, we ensure regular recaps of subject content and an opportunity to deepen the children’s understanding of their learning.
Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 have daily English (Literacy) and Maths (Numeracy) lessons. At Wolsey House every subject is important and our curriculum is broad and balanced. It includes the Foundation subjects, Personal, Social, Health and Emotional Skills (PSHE), Social, Moral, Spiritual & Cultural (SMSC) and British Values. In August 2014 it became a statutory requirement in England for schools to teach a Modern Foreign Language at Key Stage 2 - French is taught from Years 3 to 6. Opportunities for developing Literacy and Numeracy skills across the Curriculum are created.
Impact - this is what they have learnt - the knowledge and skills developed through our Curriculum
Our children’s attainment in core and foundation subjects will be in line with or exceeding age-related expectations. Our children will be fully prepared for their next stage of education and equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute positively to society as a whole. Our children will feel safe to try new things and have developed a love of lifelong learning.