curriculum
At Westbury Park school, we value and respect everyone. As a learning community, we challenge and inspire one another, developing confidence to make positive choices in a changing world, so that together we discover tomorrow.
INTENT
Our curriculum puts the child at the centre of our caring, sharing, achieving school, where positive relationships, based on mutual trust and respect are at the heart of everything we do. Our ambitious curriculum has been designed to take account of the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and the Primary National Curriculum. It exposes our children to enriching experiences, immersing them in progressive knowledge and skills; equipping them with the personal characteristics required to succeed.
Our research driven and sequenced curriculum allows children to develop the skills, knowledge and vocabulary to succeed in a learning environment where vibrant experiences abound, allowing each of them to express themselves as an individual.
The key principles behind the design of our curriculum are for our children to:
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be confident, independent and resilient; displaying a thirst for learning
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be kind; showing empathy and compassion whilst valuing diversity
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achieve academically across the entire curriculum
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be culturally knowledgeable about our country and our world
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have aspirations for the future and know that these can be reached through hard work and determination
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make healthy choices and lead a healthy lifestyle
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make the most of technology in a safe and productive way
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be well prepared for the challenges of the secondary school curriculum.
IMPLEMENTATION
Each subject is taught discreetly with a relentless focus on building pupils core skills of reading, writing and maths across all subjects. It is well organised and driven by the needs of the children. It provides memorable experiences; children are engaged and behaviour is positive. The curriculum underpins children’s good spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Detailed planning maps for the whole school are produced for each subject ensuring clarity of coverage with a strong emphasis on progression of knowledge and skills. Carefully selected enrichment opportunities are key to providing all our children rich experiences to enhance their learning. Developing an understanding of the fundamental British values infiltrates aspects of the curriculum and assembly themes.
Our coherently planned curriculum ensures development and understanding of key knowledge, skills and concepts, which are re-visited regularly. We teach discreet subject specific knowledge and always look to combine learning in a cross-curricular way so knowledge is given context.
The use of ‘Knowledge Organisers’ and ‘Learning Slips’ provide transparency within the curriculum. They also provide a means of tracking knowledge, understanding and skills taught. These elements are regularly re-visited and assessed through formative and summative assessment. Revisiting learning enables knowledge to be committed to long-term memory allowing children to build on prior learning.
Subject Leaders ensure topic content is not repeated, the progression of key knowledge and skills is maintained and content is differentiated throughout the school.
IMPACT
Children make rapid progress right from when they join EYFS because of the exciting activities planned for them both indoors and outdoors and by the support and challenge they receive by well trained and knowledgeable staff. By the end of EYFS the children are enthusiastic, confident and are well prepared for Year 1.
A rigorous approach to phonics teaching enables children to access the curriculum quickly, make links in their learning and develop a love for books and learning. This love for learning continues through all subjects and all contribute to children making excellent progress from their starting points in EYFS. Attainment and progress is consistently well above national expectations in all key stages with a particular strength in those children achieving the higher standards by the end of Year 6.
The children are at the heart of everything we do and the children will leave Westbury Park as independent, responsible young people with a love of learning with some happy primary school memories.
As part of our core offer we aim to ensure that every child has had the chance to experience the following during their time at Westbury Park Primary School:
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Experience a professional musical or theatrical production
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Take part in a school production
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Have the opportunity to play a musical instrument and sing in a choir
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Have the opportunity to take part in competitive and non competitive sports
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Take part in a range of extra curricular clubs or other activities inside and outside school
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Expand learning through educational visits, including residential visits
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Learn from the life experiences of others through visits and visitors
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Be motivated and inspired by a diverse range of role models and to be a role model through working with younger children
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Experience the outdoor curriculum
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Take part in initiatives that promote global citizenship and local engagement