The Sandford Primary School curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all pupils and furnishes them with skills, knowledge and understanding in preparation for their future lives. We strive to provide an equitable experience for all our students, regardless of need; inclusion is at the very heart of everything we aim for. We celebrate diversity and utilise the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of our supportive community, while nurturing the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Our curriculum ensures that academic progress, knowledge, creativity and problem-solving are highly valued and embedded through every year groups' learning. These, coupled with our overarching core values: Decent, Proactive and Happy, as well as physical development, emotional well-being and mental health, are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning and life.
Like all schools, we are constantly striving to improve our curriculum and, to this end, we are in the process of remodelling our provision for the children.
Intent
At Sandford Primary School, we are further developing our curriculum offer which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress from EYFS, through each Key Stage. The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the individual pupils. The intent of our curriculum is to provide the very highest standard of education, ensuring the children flourish academically, for life in the 21st Century, within a broad and balanced curriculum. This is underpinned by the school's Vision - CARE, LEARN, THRIVE - and Core Values (Gratitude, Tolerance, Self-Control, Courage, Fairness, Respect, Empathy, Resilience and Collaboration) which are addressed individually and through other areas of the curriculum, including assemblies. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and their understanding of the core values of our society are woven through the curriculum. Our pupils are supported to acquire the requisite skills, confidence and self-esteem to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education and to make a positive contribution to society as they grow up.
Implementation
The National Curriculum is delivered using a creative, topic-based approach which builds year on year upon the children's learning. The curriculum is covered through a range of different topics in each class, making relevant and meaningful links between the subjects, where relevant. Our Learning Without Limits approach is the pedagogy that underpins how we implement our curriculum. We believe no child is born 'clever' at a subject, but rather, everyone is able to succeed and improve upon their personal best, if the conditions are right. Formative assessment is used to understand where the children are in their learning and plan next steps accordingly, thus ensuring the implementation of our lessons is appropriate for all our children.
Impact
The impact of our curriculum is assessed throughout the time our children are with us, including the statutory assessment points such as end of Key Stage SATs, as well as other nationally reported results. Impact is assessed throughout the topics and lessons in order to plan next steps and also summatively so that we can gauge the impact of what we have taught versus what the children have learned, thereby informing us of where we need to make changes. It is the shift of knowledge to the long term memory that demonstrates understanding. No matter the child's starting point, they should progress and achieve to the highest possible standard for them; not only in reading, writing, maths and science but within the foundation subjects such as Art, Music and History. When they move onto Secondary School, they are equipped to access the next step of their educational journey but also to thrive due to the building blocks of learning that they have received. More than this though, they will be ready to make a positive and worthwhile impact to the wider community as informed and responsible 21st Century citizens.
Please find a selection of Parent Guides which both inform and answer any questions you may have about what your child is learning in PSHE and, more specifically, in RSE.