Our Curriculum
Rationale
At Highfields Primary school, we want to prepare children for a happy life. We not only want them to learn how to make a living but be confident in the world and know how to live a fulfilling life.
We follow the National Curriculum with subjects being taught both discretely and as part of carefully planned 'contexts'. Within these 'contexts' we incorporate key skills as well as subject specific skills which are applied across the curriculum plan to give a holistic approach to learning, sometimes led by children's interests, whilst at the same time ensuring the development of individual subject skills and knowledge.
Our aim is to develop our children into the scientists, historians, geographers and artists of the future with our carefully thought out content and ambitious curriculum design. We understand it is vital for every child to succeed academically, but that they also need to develop well personally and socially if they are going to lead fulfilled and happy professional and personal lives.
Our definition of learning is children remembering more in the long term. We design, organise and plan our curriculum and teaching to ensure that children are not merely covering national curriculum content, but achieving a depth to their learning which enables them to use their knowledge skills and understanding in all areas of the curriculum.
Careful curriculum design and planning means that we build in many opportunities for children to repeat and practise essential knowledge, skills and understanding in every subject. This ensures that children can revisit and retrieve previous learning, which gives them a deeper understanding of the key knowledge skills and processes within subjects.
Our subject leaders/champions have designed progressive curriculum maps which ensure children gain the key knowledge and skills in every subject. Our teachers ensure that every child is included in all subjects by ensuring their needs are met in the classroom wherever possible
We have designed and planned our curriculum to offer a range of experiences which contribute to every child receiving a full, rich, and broad curriculum. We do not narrow the curriculum at Highfields Primary School because we believe that every child is entitled to experience the wide range of artistic and physical opportunities the curriculum subjects provide.
We make highly effective use of Assessment for Learning during teaching to evaluate children’s understanding. Purposeful, specific verbal feedback enables children to reflect on and make immediate improvements to their learning. Further information about Assessment for Learning can be found in our Assessment Policy.
The range of experiences we offer supports our children academically, but also ensures that their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural needs are met. We are incredibly proud of our curriculum and the experiences we provide children who in turn demonstrate how they are deeply proud of our school, values and diverse society to which we belong and play an active part. The school values are embedded throughout the curriculum and help the children to exceed beyond the expected.
We are proud that our curriculum gives our children the knowledge, skills, confidence and self-belief to lead a happy and fulfilled life by encouraging them to always aim high and work towards following their hopes and dreams in life.
Below are the latest Curriculum Overviews for you to view.
A wide variety of teaching methods are used, which are designed to give children the chance to learn in different ways. Children are taught as a whole class with both group, paired and individual work also widely used.
To ensure we comply with our duties in the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 about making our curriculum accessible for those with disabilities or special educational needs, we aim is to help all children to benefit as fully as possible from their education.
Children work mainly within their own class group, receiving a high level of first quality teaching, participating in intervention groups and accessing 1:1 support where appropriate. Arrangements are made for pupils who have medical conditions so that they can access all areas of the curriculum through individual support, adaptations or modifications to all school based activities. Children who have an EHCP which will specify the type and level of support required to meet the medical needs of such pupils. (SEND Information Report and SEND policy)
The school curriculum encompasses a variety of learning opportunities that your child will experience whilst at school. It is planned with clear progression and cohesion to make learning experiences relevant and meaningful.
Curriculum Information for Parents
The framework of the National Curriculum is the basis on which learning is organised; National Curriculum subjects are sometimes taught separately; at other times we adopt a more thematic joint approach.
We consistently aim to build on your child's previous learning experiences and engage them in a level of work that is appropriate to their needs.
Below are curriculum information we send to parents at the begining of each Context for Learning.
Autumn Term
Autumn Term 2
Please note: Years 4 and 6 Curriculum Information continues into Autumn 2.
Spring 1
For more information to find out more about our school
curriculum, please contact the school, using the details in the
footer below, and you will be put in touch with the relevant
person depending on your enquiry.
