Curriculum Statement
Our purpose is to provide a caring learning environment with high standards and expectations where children grow into responsible, resilient, independent learners. Our school ethos is firmly rooted in our values: We Care, We Inspire, We Achieve.
We provide a broad and balanced education for all children that is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively acquiring sufficient knowledge of skills, future learning and employment.
We enable children to develop knowledge, understand concepts, acquire skills and be able to choose and apply these in relevant situations.
We support children’s physical development and responsibility for their own health and enable them to be active.
We ensure equal access to learning for all children, with high expectations for every child and appropriate levels of challenge and support.
Curriculum Intent
Excellence in teaching and learning is at the heart of our school. We offer an exciting, engaging and creative curriculum which inspires and motivates our children. Every classroom shows quality educational expectations known as “The Western Way”.
Western Primary provides a bespoke and enriched curriculum that is designed to recognise the context of the school and the children’s needs. There is a focus on the necessary development of language and communication skills which our children require to succeed in life. Our curriculum allows pupils to develop an extensive vocabulary and language skills.
Western Primary School approaches the promotion of fundamental British values through everyday practice, the implementation of its SMSC calendar as well as the teaching and learning that occurs in our PSHCE curriculum. These British Values are: democracy; individual liberty; the rule of law; mutual respect; tolerance of those with different faiths and belief.
Curriculum Implementation
As a maintained primary school, we teach the National Curriculum. The school has worked hard to identify common threads running through each subject and carefully chosen concepts which allow children an excellent progression of skills and knowledge. We recognise that the curriculum encompasses all subjects and we provide links across all subjects to give children a clear rationale for completing their learning. The children will be aware of the subject in which they are learning skills and knowledge at all times. In order to allow our children to remember key skills and information, they will revisit them frequently over the course of all key stages.
Our carefully crafted curriculum balances the national expectations and an all-encompassing range of experiences allowing our children to flourish. Clear strategic planning allows the curriculum to be dynamic and adapted to the context of the school and children’s needs. Age related expectations in progression documents and phase knowledge overviews combine the acquisition of knowledge and development of skills to create a purposeful and exciting learning journey for every child. The curriculum has high expectations to combine transferable skills, give the pupils wider experiences, demonstrate a breadth of vocabulary and develop strong cross curricular links.
Our marking and feedback policy is an opportunity for children to reflect on their learning and think deeply in their feedback. This can also take place in Dedicated Improvement and Reflection Time (DIRT) which is timetabled in all classes.
Both teachers and pupils will demonstrate quality educational expectations in all sessions known as “The Western Way” which develops consistency and cohesion across the whole curriculum. Lessons are engaging with active learning at the heart of all we offer.
Curriculum Impact
The impact of the school’s curriculum can be seen in the learning produced in children’s exercise books. Subject leaders record the children’s voice by speaking with the children. Their learning is also clearly evident on the walls of their classrooms and other learning environments. We always ensure the children are aware of the things they have done well and what they can work on to improve further.
Pupil progress and attainment will be outstanding. It is rigorously monitored through ongoing assessment and through three key assessment points during the year in reading, writing and Maths and two key assessment points in the year for all other subjects. Teachers meet with senior leaders in school to discuss pupil progress and set effective targets. Western uses rigorous monitoring throughout the year to gauge the impact of the curriculum design. Learning is measured through careful analysis of application of skills across the curriculum; showing how acquisition of knowledge is enhanced dramatically by the expectation to evidence quality thinking and demonstrate individual understanding.
Our curriculum enables our pupils to leave Western Primary with a secure set of skills and knowledge which they can build on in Secondary school and beyond.
By the time pupils leave Western Primary they will be:
- Resilient and confident
- Respectful and tolerant
- Able to communicate effectively
- Able to develop positive relationships
- Have aspirations to achieve their full potential
- All rounded global citizens ready to make a positive contribution to society.
Progression of Knowledge and Skills
English (FS and KS1 spelling, KS2 spelling, Speaking and Listening, Reading, Writing, Knowledge progression)
Maths (Supported by White Rose)
Phonics and Early Reading
We teach phonics and early reading through Little Wandle (A DfE validated structured synthetic phonics programme). This is supported by matched decodable books from Collins.
For more information, see the Early Reading page here.
