Curriculum

English

The Literacy Hour has been a major influence since its introduction and constitutes a major part of our English teaching.  This is a daily lesson, which follows the programme outlined in the Renewed Literacy Strategy documentation.  In school we place a strong emphasis on linking Literacy to other curriculum areas and have high expectations of children's written work whatever the context: History, Geography, Science or Religious Education.

Mathematics

Teaching of mathematics is based upon the Numeracy Framework in line with the national requirements for this subject.  All staff have been given specific training in this subject and regularly consolidate and update their skills through inservice training.  The school has adopted daily maths teaching underpinned by the Renewed Numeracy Strategy.

Science

The teaching of science continues to be one of the school’s strengths with children receiving a regular diet of teaching, research, experimentation and discussion across and beyond the whole range of National Curriculum requirements.  We follow the National Curriculum Programme of Study and this programme is supported by the use of the QCA Scheme of Work for Science.

Geography & History

 

A review of these subjects under the National Curriculum led to the adoption of the QCA Schemes of Work.  This led to minor changes in the curriculum, which continues to follow the Programme of Study required by the National Curriculum.    The curriculum in these subjects is brought to life by Educational Visits to places of interest across the North West.

Art

Each year group follows a carefully planned curriculum to ensure that children experience a comprehensive range of media, learn to appreciate and gain pleasure from Art and learn about artists and their work both historical and contemporary.  This year our children will have the opportunity to work with Ali our Artist In Residence on large scale multi media work.

Design Technology

Children are afforded a wide range of experiences in this area of the curriculum ranging from cookery to the designing and making of working models using a variety of construction kits and “junk” materials.  In all projects the children are required to investigate and evaluate existing products, practise the skills needed and then design and make the final product.

Music

Music is taught in a variety of ways, as well as specific music lessons, children learn music through cross curricular work like dance, science and history.   Children in Year Four are also offered the opportunity to learn an instrument through the Tameside Wider Opportunities Scheme.  Some other one to one and small group tuition is delivered by Tameside Music Service as well as that provided by a specialist guitar tutor has to be paid for by parents, click the music link to find out more.  

PE

As well as the National Curriculum provision (which includes swimming) a range of sporting activities is provided for the children including adventure holidays in the summer term, coaching in baseball, football and hockey and the regular practising of skills across a range of sports related activities; all of which take place in the children’s weekly lessons and are also offered on a half-termly basis as extra curricular activities. 

Information Technology

Our resources for ICT have been recently upgraded.  We have an ICT Suite, which can be used by all children under supervision from their class teachers and other adults.  All classes in Key Stage Two have three additional PCs to use for cross-curricular work.   All our classrooms benefit from Interactive whiteboards, which help to make lessons more stimulating for our pupils.

RE

In line with current legislation, the scheme of work for RE follows national guidelines and is closely based upon the Tameside Agreed Syllabus.  RE is non denominational and involves the study of Christianity (for two out of three terms) and one other religion (from Judaism, Islam and Hinduism) for the other term.  RE follows a non-denominational format.  Parents have the right to withdraw children from this area of the curriculum if they so wish.

Collective Worship

Collective worship takes place each day and this is also non-denominational and Christian in nature although stories from other faiths may be told to illustrate other beliefs and practices and to ensure that children grow up with understanding of the world in which they live and with tolerance towards those of a different faith than themselves.

Sex and Relationships Education

The governing body has adopted a spiral curriculum for Sex and Relationships Education.  This kind of approach enables teachers to gradually build upon the knowledge and understanding of the children year on year.  Children learn the correct terminology for body parts from an early age and gradulally build up their knowledge at an appropriate rate.  The curriculum is heavily weighted towards family values and enables children to talk about their feelings and emotions and helps them to learn about changes to their body as they grow up.  Specific lessons about reproduction and puberty take place towards the end of Key Stage Two.  Parents are able to exercise their right to withdraw their child from this aspect of the curriculum.

Enrichment

We believe that taking children on educational visits brings the curriculum alive for children.  In addition, to ensure that our curriculum is stimulating and interesting for all our children, we invite into school a range of specialist teachers and other visitors throughout the year.

Special Educational Needs

We are commited to inclusive practice and ensuring that all our children are able to access the curriculum.  Most children at some stage in their education have a “special need”.  Most times this is temporary in nature and is quickly resolved.  However, some children have a more persistent need and it is our firm policy to cater for such requirements.  We have specific staff who have responsibility, in conjunction with the class teachers, for identifying such needs and designing programmes of work to meet those needs.

Currently we are able to offer support in small groups to a number of children with special needs and have the support of a specially trained assistant for this purpose.  We also work with a range of specialist outside agencies to ensure that our support programmes are fully tailored to specific needs.

Extra Curricular Activities

All our pupils receive specialist coaching both during and after school throughout the year from our full time sports coach.  After School Sports Clubs include football, baseball, cricket, tennis, hockey and athletics. 

We work with other agencies, including local high schools who provide alternative sports and other activities including Cheerleading, Kick Boxing and much more!  These activities have extended to include the whole community on Active Thursdays 6pm until 8pm.

Other extra curricular activities planned for the coming academic year include our new Smart Kids Homework Club, Recorder Ensemble, Wake Up Shake Up, Bright Sparks Maths, Respect Club, Before and After School ICT Clubs and Much more!