“It is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.” – Elon Musk
The curriculum at Southill Primary is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all our pupils. It provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful learners, with high aspirations, who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. Our curriculum ensures that academic success, creativity and problem solving, as well as physical development, wellbeing and mental health are key elements that support the development of the whole child. We aim to build children’s learning powers (resilience, reflectiveness, resourcefulness and reciprocity) and promote a positive attitude to learning. The curriculum celebrates and embraces diversity while supporting children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, ensuring that they are well prepared for life in modern Britain.
The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school.
We have a rigorous approach to teaching English and Maths through Talk for Writing and Maths No Problem. We use Cornerstones Maestro to support our teaching of foundation subjects. This approach enables project based learning, fostering each child’s curiosity and interest throughout each project and also enabling the achievement of depth in knowledge and skills. Our curriculum is designed to provide children with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which children can learn and develop a range of transferable skills.
The school takes pride in ensuring that children enjoy a wide range of sporting activities. Our PE curriculum is planned and monitored ensuring staff have the skills and knowledge to teach effectively. We also make full use of the skills of a wide range of professionals. Throughout their time at the school, children will work with specialist coaches as they learn rugby, tennis, and cricket. We hold regular fitness activities and the school holds the ‘Active Schools Gold Award’ for competitive sports.
A varied timetable for extra-curricular activities is offered by the school, with clubs that support the core curriculum offer, as well as those which develop specialist skills, such as Rock Band, whilst also extending the range of children’s experiences. A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for learning.
Subject Leaders will play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. All subject leaders are given training and the opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.
We provide opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills both indoors and out. This curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes.
Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality trips and visitors to the school enhance the curriculum and provide opportunities for writing for a purpose.
Children have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based and external exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools. Developing their independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.
