Curriculum
Curriculum Information
Intent
As a Church of England School, our distinctively Christian vision and values are at the heart of everything we do. The vision and values were agreed following a series of consultations involving stakeholders from the school including pupils, parents, staff, governors and church representatives.
Our Vision
We are built on Christian foundations where every individual is celebrated as unique. We aspire to be curious, compassionate, tolerant and active in a diverse world. We gather together to build a community that finds each person’s gifts and nurtures them that their light may shine. We hold a vision of success for all.
“Let your Light Shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven” Matthew 5:16
Our Values
Courage - Kindness - Honesty - Excellence - Joy
Our curriculum has been named “Our Curious Curriculum” and has been developed closely to our vision and values. Therefore, we endeavour to ensure that our Curious Curriculum consists of well-planned lessons providing varied and high-quality, engaging activities to inspire children and enable them to explore key questions in all subject areas for the appropriate key stage. They are able to develop new skills through the variety of interesting contexts. They are able to develop and demonstrate their creativity.
At Icklesham CE Primary School, our Curriculum plays an important role, not only ensuring that our children follow the National Curriculum in an engaging way but, in promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children.
As a result of our excellent curriculum, we want our children to leave school as well-rounded individuals ready for the next stage in their lives.
We want children to be curious and have a thirst for knowledge, to know how to learn and work independently while striving to produce their best results at all times. As a school community we hold a vision of success for all children and our curriculum allows this to be achieved.
Through this curriculum our children will be encouraged to become courageous advocates and champion causes which are special and meaningful to them, be it global issues or matters far more personal and closer to home.
Leaders recognise that our school does not reflect the diverse nature of society, so opportunities to promote diversity and equality are maximised throughout the curriculum. Carefully thought through curriculum plans and learning experiences ensure that children’s experiences reflect that of wider society.
Through strengthening children’s understanding of our Christian Values through the curriculum, we aim to empower children to make positive choices and develop themselves as unique, confident and compassionate individuals.
Implementation
The implementation of our curriculum is carefully and coherently planned to ensure that all pupils have the best possible opportunities for their future learning. Planning takes account of prior learning and attainment with high expectations for secure subject and procedural knowledge and skills attainment. There are planned assessment opportunities and minimum key expectations for all pupils. This is to ensure that all pupils ‘know more and remember more’ across the curriculum. Key vocabulary has been identified in all units of work and displayed in the classroom; allowing teachers and pupils to make regular reference to it.
Each unit of work begins with an ‘I wonder…’ question that encourages all pupils to become engaged, curious learners who ask questions and enjoy finding out more. Teachers follow the pedagogical approach of ‘I think, We think, You think’ which allows teachers to model learning and skills, moving on to paired work, peer discussion and explanation followed by fluency practise to encourage independence for all learners.
Teachers place high importance on ensuring that pupils do not experience cognitive overload through checking understanding systematically, identifying misconceptions accurately and providing clear, direct feedback.
We believe that pupils need to see, hear and take an active point in first-hand experiences from a wide range of sources and encourage the use of the wider school community, off-site visits and inviting experts into school. Children’s work is presented in their ‘Curious Curriculum’ books in a variety of ways; encouraging increasing independence and pride in their learning. Children use these books and displays around school to recall their learning and share with the school community.
Impact
As a result of our Curious Curriculum teaching at Icklesham we aim to enable pupils to:
- Talk with passion about their learning, showing that they enjoy and are inspired by their lessons.
- Become learners who are able to problem solve, use creativity and are able to communicate effectively.
- Develop a rich and deep subject knowledge.
- Understand the purpose and value of their learning and see its relevance to the past, present and future.
- Know the value of memorable experiences on their learning.
Develop vocabulary enabling them to express their thoughts and beliefs as well as exploring the beliefs of others with respect. - Develop their understanding of the idea of advocacy, to know how they can challenge injustice and how they can help to make the world a better place.
- Reflect upon their own learning, identifying successes and aspects they would like to find out more about.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the school’s Christian Values, to know what these look like in practice and to apply this understanding to help make everyday choices.