At Woodthorpe Primary School, we provide pupils with a knowledge rich curriculum that recognises substantive and disciplinary knowledge are intrinsically linked and interdependent. Our carefully chosen content places core knowledge at the heart of each curriculum subject. The knowledge is cumulative and constructs firm foundations from EYFS which children can build conceptual understanding over time.
Key conceptual knowledge is mapped and sequenced in termly overviews. Core knowledge is drawn from the National Curriculum, and within discrete subjects, categories of knowledge are identified to ensure broad coverage and progression across each year group. The subjects are sequenced carefully to ensure that all children receive their full entitlement to our ambitious curriculum content.
Our Global Curriculum gives our children opportunities to make sense of the increasingly complex and rapidly changing world in which they live. Our curriculum enables pupils to think critically about world issues and to develop an awareness of the impact our actions can have on others.
The six global themes the children learn are: Social Justice and Equity; Identity and Diversity; Sustainable Development; Peace and Conflict; Human Rights; and Power and governance.
Staff are relentless in their pursuit of new ways in which to engage each child in their class, which is why each year planning is designed to meet the interests of the current cohort. Visits and visitors change year on year, which means that the children in school are regularly exposed to new and exciting experiences.
For more information on the curriculum please contact: Foundation Stage – Julie Shepherd, Key Stage One – Charlotte Collins and Key Stage Two – Martin Murray (Assistant Headteachers)
What are we trying to achieve? (Intent)
The content of each learning journey is planned through the lense of the whole school Global Theme. Content is matched to support the children’s developing understanding and supporting them to make links beyond subject boundaries allowing them to become articulate and knowledgeable citizens capable of making informed decisions and a positive contribution.
At Woodthorpe, our aim is to provide dynamic opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident, successful learners with high aspirations. By the time they leave us, they will have encountered a range of experiences which will allow them to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. The skills and knowledge they acquire will empower them to succeed, giving them the confidence to become more socially mobile. They will set and reach aspirational goals. We are passionate about raising the self-esteem of all our learners, ensuring that they are all well prepared for life in modern Britain.
As a school we participate in a variety of research projects, adapting practice where appropriate in order that our children are given the very best opportunities to succeed.
How the curriculum is delivered? (Implementation)
At the heart of our curriculum implementation is the belief that all children need to be taught the skills of successful learning. Our delivery promotes our core attributes of: Inclusion, Independence, Respect & Success
Lessons are pitched ambitiously and children are supported to succeed through a range of strategies including Kagan structures, scaffolded challenge and timely intervention. All sequences of learning begin with an opportunity to make links with prior experiences. These are then built upon and developed as appropriate. Children have an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and embed learnt knowledge at the end of each sequence.
What difference is the curriculum making? (Impact)
At Woodthorpe, the primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for the 21st century world. By the time our children leave us at the end of Key Stage 2, our children are well rounded learners who are prepared for their next steps in education.
The structure of our curriculum ensures all children are given the opportunities to deepen knowledge and understanding across the curriculum in a progressive way, therefore enabling all of our children to achieve in their learning. Outcomes for pupils at our school exceed those of their national counterparts. Further details can be found in our National Results page.
Reading, Writing and Maths at Woodthorpe
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