What Do We Want Our Pupils To Know?
(SUBJECT-SPECIFIC CURRICULUM)
Our Core Curriculum
Maths, English, Science, Computing, Religious Education & Physical Education
WHAT are we aiming for?
HOW do we achieve this?
Our MATHS curriculum aims to create children who:
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have a love for maths
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can use a range of strategies to calculate fluently and accurately
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can reason mathematically and solve problems
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can transfer mathematical skills to real-life contexts
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believe, that with practice, they can master mathematical concepts
At Forsbrook, we deliver a mastery curriculum, through a programme called ‘Power Maths’. The Power Maths programme is designed to spark curiosity and excitement about maths, as well as nurture confidence in mathematical concepts. Power Maths provides daily challenges and compliments our own approach to fluency, problem solving and reasoning. Skills and concepts taught through Power Maths are then applied to other areas of the curriculum.
Weekly arithmetic quizzes are delivered from Year 1 upwards and immediate interventions (Fix-its) are placed to scaffold learning.
Challenge is provided through daily lessons and additional opportunities across the curriculum are provided such as the Primary Maths Challenge, enterprise projects and intra-school competitions.
Home/School links
Half termly KIRFS (Key Instant Recall Facts) are set and accessed via our school website. All KIRFs are linked to age-related expectations.
Our ENGLISH curriculum aims to create children who:
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speak confidently, listen attentively and question, debate and query respectfully
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have a love of reading and enjoy books from a range of authors
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have the skills, knowledge and understanding to access a range of texts
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can express themselves through writing in a range of styles showing a good understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling
Our English curriculum is split into three main areas:
1. Writing, Grammar & Punctuation (WGP)
2. Reading & Phonics
3. Spelling
WGP (Writing, Grammar & Punctuation)
A daily WGP lesson is delivered through a phased approach whereby children learn and practice genre-specific skills and then apply them to extended pieces of writing. These skills are then transferred to other areas of the curriculum as incidental pieces of writing. Children learn to self-edit through the ‘first-draft to final-draft process’. All schemes of work delivered for WGP are based around rich, whole class texts.
Reading & Phonics
A daily phonics lesson is delivered in KS1 and reading lesson in KS2. All reading lessons include a balance of fiction and non-fiction texts, are linked to specific topic areas and explore a range of authors and styles.
Spelling
Spelling is taught three times weekly through a teach-practice-apply model. Spellings focus on both spelling patterns and words from National spelling lists.
English across the curriculum
We promote the transference of accurate English across the curriculum and give children opportunities to read, write, perform, debate, question and listen in a range of contexts from Early Years through to Year 6.
Reading and writing is further promoted through focus days such as World Book Day and whole school projects.
Home/School Links
Parents are asked to read at least four times weekly to promote books and reading skills and half-termly spellings are accessed via the school website.
Our SCIENCE curriculum aims to create children who:
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have inquisitive minds and a passion to explore the world around us
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can ask and answer questions through experimentation and investigation
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understand that our world is always developing through scientific discovery
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have a good knowledge of science-based facts
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understand and can use scientific vocabulary accurately
Our Science curriculum focuses on two areas:
1. Knowledge and understanding of science
2. Working scientifically
Science is embedded into our creative curriculum where possible to allow children to make natural links between different areas of the curriculum. Alternatively, where appropriate, it sits as a stand-alone lesson. We allow flexibility for this in our curriculum design to maximise learning opportunities and ensure that objectives delivered achieve the greatest impact.
Through science lessons, children are given opportunities to experiment with science, explore the world around us and expand their scientific vocabulary. Knowledge mats are used to support the development of scientific knowledge and linked vocabulary.
Science is further developed through STEM projects (see below) and promoted through special events, such as science week.
Our COMPUTING curriculum aims to create children who:
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recognise that technology is rapidly developing
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understand how to stay safe online
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are good digital citizens.
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can use technology for a range of outcomes
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are skilled in programming and understand how to manipulate technology for a desired outcome
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are computational thinkers
Our Computing curriculum is delivered as a weekly lesson using our school’s ICT suite or class set of Ipads.
We have developed our own computing scheme of work, which is linked, where possible, to our creative curriculum. This scheme focuses on the main strands of the computing curriculum with a strong emphasis on internet safety and online citizenship. This is also promoted each year through the National internet safety day. When computing skills have been taught, these are then applied in other areas through our creative curriculum.
Home/School Links
Parents are invited into school yearly to join us on Internet Safety Day. During these workshops, parents learn alongside their children in a range of practical activities linked to a strand of the computing curriculum.
Our P.E curriculum aims to create children who:
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understand the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle, including nutrition
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are motivated and enthusiastic about sporting activities
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have the skills, confidence and resilience to achieve personal success in a range of sports, including swimming and alternative sports
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understand the importance of team work and demonstrate good sportsmanship
At Forsbrook, Physical Education (P.E), is taught at least twice weekly. Our P.E curriculum is split into the following areas:
1. Dance
2. Gymnastics
3. Swimming
4. Athletics
5. Net/Wall
6. Striking & fielding
7. Invasion
8. Rowing/Fitness
9. Alternative Sports
The skills associated with these areas are built on a progression from Early Years to Year 6. Each half term, children are exposed to two different areas, occasionally with the input of specialist coaches. Within each area, they will: acquire and develop skills, select and apply skills, develop knowledge and understanding and evaluate and improve their performance.
All children, from Reception upwards, swim for one term each academic year. Children who excel in this area then have the opportunity to compete in an inter-school swimming gala against local schools.
Inter-school competitions are scheduled each year to allow children to compete in sports they excel in. Children are then encouraged to pursue their strengths at a local or national level.
Daily Exercise (30 minutes plus)
At lunchtimes, sport leaders organise a variety of activities to encourage children to take part in physical exercise outside of curriculum time. In addition, a morning boot camp can be accessed three times weekly before school by children and parents.
Our R.E curriculum aims to create children who:
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understand Christianity and demonstrate Christian values
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understand the importance of spirituality and reflection
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appreciate world faiths and make comparisons and connections between them.
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appreciate the impact and affect that religion has on people’s lives
Our Religious Education (R.E) curriculum is a vital part of our core curriculum. It is delivered each week and is based around two main principles: learning about religion and learning from religion. As a Christian school, we follow the scheme of work ‘Understanding Christianity’ as well as exploring the five other world religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism. Children are encouraged to compare and contrast, develop a tolerance of other faiths and express their own beliefs and ideas.
