Curriculum Policy
Our Curriculum Vision
We believe that the curriculum should be broad, balanced and relevant in today's world. Our curriculum meets the needs of all pupils whatever their ability, going beyond that set in the National Curriculum to enrich academic and personal skills and experiences with the aim for each child to achieve their maximum God given talent. The curriculum is based on both Ghanaian and British national curricula. We ensure the pupils have a range of learning experiences that challenge, stimulate and promote knowledge and skills whilst encouraging them to become independent learners. The curriculum goes beyond statutory requirements and remains flexible to reflect the needs and interests of the pupils.
The Young Achievers Curriculum Drivers
The curriculum at Young Achievers Primary School aims to strengthen learning through the direct teaching of knowledge and skills but embedding them through cross curricular projects that we refer to as topics. To further widen the impact and relevance of learning to pupils, learning is made memorable by running week-long project sessions offering first hand experiences and hands-on opportunities to give meaning and purpose to the curriculum. These "Project Weeks" are planned and delivered at least once per term, providing cross-curricular opportunities for the children.
Aims
We aim to develop the following characteristics in our pupils:
- encourage the best possible progress and the highest attainment for all pupils;
- enable pupils to make connections across different areas of learning;
- help pupils to think creatively and solve problems;
- develop pupils' capacity to learn and work independently and collaboratively;
- enable pupils to respond positively to opportunities, challenge and responsibility;
- enable pupils to acquire and develop a broad range of knowledge, skills and understanding.
The aims of our curriculum outcomes are to promote an enjoyment of learning and a commitment to learning and achieving. Through the provision of rich and varied activities, we aim to:
- promote high standards in Reading, Writing and Maths including fluency of calculation and decoding using phonics across all year groups as appropriate;
- allow pupils to develop a sense of their skills in the wider world, including the importance of Modern Languages;
- enable pupils to acquire knowledge and skills in Science;
- enable pupils to be confident in the use of Computer Science ('Computing') and develop essential basic skills that are transferrable across all technology platforms appropriate for their age;
- promote spiritual development;
- promote physical and mental development and an awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle;
- enable pupils to be aware of the importance of and participate in the arts and related cultural themes;
- enable pupils to develop moral sensibility through carefully taught values - both moral and key British Values;
- develop the personal, social and relationship-making skills of each child;
- provide equality of access and the opportunity for all pupils to make progress;
- prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of adult life.
Values, Including Ghanaian and British Values throughout the curriculum
We support learners to meet life's challenges and offers opportunities to develop their ability to meet these challenges.
- We provide a caring and secure environment.
- We encourage independence in thought and action so that learners develop selfconfidence and self-esteem.
- We promote tolerance, empathy, trust and respect.
- We challenge our learners to learn, persevere, take risks and achieve and celebrate success.
1. The YAMS curriculum is taught through the strands of Physical Development, Personal and Social Education, Communication, Language and Literacy, English, Maths, Knowledge of the World and Expressive Arts.
The key components of this curriculum for Young Achievers include;
- Continuous provision of engaging and stimulating activities throughout the day;
- Regular discrete teaching from a key adult (teacher and trained LSA) to develop learning.
- Phonic teaching and use in context.
- A meaningful feedback loop where pupils directly inform teachers' planning to provide engaging activities based on pupil input and interest.
- Engaging social interaction with older pupils to experience role modelled behaviour and communication.
- Pupils' outcomes are shared via Tapestry which also sets further challenges to engage parents in learning from home.
2.The Year 1-3 (4-6) curriculum is organised in the following way:
- The National Curriculum is taught through discrete subjects and linked "topic" areas where relevant;
- A whole school planning document indicates the broad objectives and the links between subjects;
- Teachers plan with their pupils weekly; sharing:
- objectives that are created in year and termly overviews that ensure the objectives of the National Curriculum are covered in their entirety;
- an agreed planning format to show the objectives and specific skills (which we call Success Criteria) that all pupils will learn;
- differentiated learning skills that tasks, work and all learning are focused upon to ensure all pupils make the progress they have the potential to make in all lessons.
- the pupils are taught with their year groups - teachers in multi-form year groups plan and involve their year group partner classes in sharing and partaking of ideas as well as organising some learning opportunities that will involve whole year or cross-class activities;
- units of work are planned using the framework of the National Curriculum with an eye to covering all objectives in a manner that links to topics and also stimulates academic skills in a fun and engaging manner;
- we aim to encourage holistic understanding of the world and promote all religions and cultures as equal;
Timetable Guidance:
The time given to NC subjects is as follows:
| Subject | Hours / Week KS1, KS2 | Details |
|---|---|---|
| English | 6 Hours 15 | Reading for pleasure time and 'DERIC' lessons for reading skills |
| Maths | 5 Hours | |
| Science | 1/105 Hours | Investigation based work |
| History | 1 Hours | History and Geography may be taught in blocks to best fit topics. |
| Geography | 1 Hours | |
| Computing Science | 1 Hours | |
| DT | 1 Hours | DT may be taught in blocks to best fit topics. |
| Art | 1 Hours | |
| RSE | 1 Hours | |
| PE | 2 Hours | This can include tennis and basketball sessions. |
| MFL | 0/ 30- 45mins | In some cases, taught more than once a week in shorter. sessions. KSl exposed to French language regularly. |
| RE | 1 Hour |