Our Creative Curriculum

Our Curriculum Intent

We invite and encourage individual pupils, over the years that they are with us, to

Let Their Light Shine

By promoting and developing the following six values, underpinned by our Gem Learning Powers, our intention is that Our Creative Curriculum nurtures vigorous academic, personal, and spiritual growth in everyone:  

Kindness: We believe that helping children to become kind, responsible members of their community is just as important as developing core academic skills. Children need to recognise the influence that they have on the world around them and value and respect each other and their environment.  
Ruby Power: Supporting others and recognising their achievements. 
 
Curiosity: Developing a spirit of enquiry results in curious children who want to know ‘why’ and ‘how’ and is a key to success. We want our children to be excited about learning new things, thirsty for knowledge and motivated to ask, ‘what if…’ Curiosity makes learning fun and motivates deeper learning, understanding and supports informed decision making. As children build a broad ‘web’ of knowledge it allows them to encounter and absorb new concepts with more ease. 
Sapphire Power: Coping with distractions and remaining focused.                 
 
Resilience:  In order to achieve we recognise that children need to believe in themselves and believe in each other. Resilience can only be realised if we believe that we will get there and engender in ourselves an optimistic outlook on life. Children should be able to recognise their own talents and gifts and have the confidence to share them.  
Emerald Power: Being courageous, brave and bouncing back.                         
 
Perseverance: Without bravery children will not realise what they are capable of. The skill and judgement in taking risks is a key aspect of development. Bravery allows children the moral courage to be in control, to be resilient and to do the right thing.  
Diamond Power: Face a challenge and be responsible for solving problems.     

Collaboration: This is a fundamental attribute of successful and fulfilled individuals. We plan opportunities for effective collaboration in small and larger groups in class and across the school. Collaboration can come in many forms throughout life in school. Collaborative skills and the open mind set that collaboration engenders equip pupils for the next stage of their school journey and a productive future. 
Topaz Power: I can actively learn with others in a group                                                            Amethyst Power: learning well with a partner. 
 
Equality: Equity is a key driver in all that we do in our Federation. We are firm in our belief that everyone can achieve and should be fully supported to reach their goals. We recognise that, in order to reach the same goal, individual children need agile and bespoke levels of support and provision tailored to their ongoing specific needs. Equity positively encourages and makes social mobility possible by increasing life chances; we are resolute that everyone can do it and our curriculum is designed for all to succeed.                                                                          Our Gem Learning Powers: Click here

Our Curriculum Implementation

Using the EYFS Statutory Framework and National Curriculum, age-appropriate progression in knowledge and skills has been identified and mapped out across Key Stages creating a bespoke rolling curriculum for the children in our schools and the context in which they live. We view our curriculum design as a creative, continuous and fluid process, which takes into consideration the contextual needs, characteristics and interests of our children and the rigors and depth of the National Curriculum. Key Stage Leaders and Subjects Leaders work together to update and review this regularly with the current children’s needs and interests always at the heart.

We ensure the National curriculum for every subject and the Chris Quigley Milestones are fully covered and delivered whilst winding into our 2 year Long Term Rolling Plans a creative ‘Theme Hook’ to ignite children’s interests, inspire, motivate and promote our stated values.

We recognise the importance of a clear singular focus on discrete subject specific knowledge and skills as well as the value of connections between subjects.

We know that Knowledge underpins and enables the application of skill and we strive for children to learn new skills alongside knowledge, ensuring that both are explicitly developed. We employ an enquiry approach combined with progress learning activities, and quizzes in subjects to engage pupils and deepen their subject knowledge.  

Each theme incorporates every curriculum subject, inspiring hook days, trips and/or or visits and finishes with a celebration or event to share the highlights of what has been learned and achieved.  

Look to the right or below to our specific subjects to see how we implement the teaching and learning of each individual subject.

Curriculum Impact:  

In our federation, we strive for all pupils to achieve their potential, by having elevated expectations across the board. Children make good to excellent progress throughout the Foundation Stage due to the high-quality interactions between staff and children, the quality relationships between home and school and the bespoke educational program catered to our children’s interests and needs.  

Attainment in the Year 1 phonics check has risen significantly and continues to rise due to the implemented, rigorous, tailored and tracked approach to Early Reading. Attainment in Reading, Writing and Maths at KS1 and KS2 has improved significantly due to the consistent teaching and learning approaches adopted for the core subjects and our bespoke and tailored creative curriculum design. By the end of Key Stage Two, children are performing and responding with more depth to their knowledge and understanding. 

Moreover, children leave our federation with a broad experience across national curriculum subjects, equipped with the key knowledge and skills to enjoy the learning opportunities that KS3 has to offer. Passions for particular subjects are developed and fostered; a talented artist is valued alongside an excellent reader. 

Placing our school values at the heart of our curriculum means that children leave our federation with the attitudes and dispositions to equip them as responsible members of the differing communities in which they can live and prosper: in short, children leave us in Year Six with aspiration and the grounding to fulfil their dreams and potential and to contribute positively to society throughout their life time by letting their light shine.