Wolsey House Primary School delivers a relevant, stimulating, challenging, creative curriculum. We aim to provide opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident, successful learners with high aspirations who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. There is a high focus on developing children’s moral, spiritual, social and cultural understanding. We ensure that children are well prepared for life in modern Britain. We provide a highly inclusive environment where children at all stages are supported to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged, encouraged to expand their skills and knowledge through varied curriculum opportunities. Those who find learning more difficult are encouraged to learn through targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace and to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.
Our focus on curriculum development is always carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression. It provides pupils with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which children can learn and develop a range of transferable skills. The Wolsey House curriculum is based on the development of vocabulary which can be transferred to any point of a child’s learning journey. This vocabulary is carefully planned for each topic to ensure it is meaningful, transferable and ambitious. The vocabulary will be displayed in classrooms and known as “sticky words.”
Children in KS1 and KS2 follow the National Curriculum. Children in Nursery and Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Our teachers bring the National Curriculum alive by making links between the individual subjects and applying them to topics. We base our curriculum on a Challenge Curriculum where each topic begins with a Big Question. Each half term teachers produce a curriculum plan. The links between the different curriculum subjects and where appropriate the link to an overarching topic are identified in the plan. We call this the Big Picture. Teachers in a year group select a topic and plan collaboratively. Planning includes opportunities for good quality learning in and outside the classroom.
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.
Subject leaders have an integral role in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review. The innovative practice across Wolsey House provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to work in teams and develop social skills both indoors and out. The curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be 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 pupil outcomes. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality educational visits and visitors are integrated into the curriculum and used effectively to enhance learning.
The children are central to our Curriculum. 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.
Further information about our Curriculum
Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 have daily English (Literacy) and Maths (Numeracy) lessons. They follow a broad and balanced curriculum which includes the Foundation subjects, Personal, Social, Health and Emotional Skills (PSHE). 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 e.g. writing.