Curriculum Overview

Our curriculum has been designed to be ‘connected’ - influenced by the knowledge outlined in the National Curriculum. Being ‘connected’ ensures that children not only build on previous knowledge and experiences but are able to make links within and across subjects to deepen their learning. It is sequenced to ensure breadth and depth of learning, following the principles of mastery. It provides a broad range of experiences for our children and takes into consideration our knowledge of childrens' backgrounds, diversity and our unique community. We are committed to delivering a broad, balanced and knowledge rich curriculum which will inspire and enthuse our children. We want our children to be knowledgeable, analytical, and resilient with the skills to solve problems and the confidence to take risks.

We organise our school curriculum by mapping objectives through each stage of learning. In this way we ensure that ‘knowledge builds on knowledge’, helping children to know more and remember more.

Woven through our curriculum are three key drivers:

Connected Curriculum
Key curriculum drivers	Wellbeing	Diversity	Change

These link directly to our core Darwin Values and drive our key curriculum concepts:

Darwin Values	Selfhelpability	Stickability	Growthability
Darwin Values	Bouncebackability	Empathability	Changeability

Subjects Key curriculum concepts
History Geography	Achievement and Beliefs	World around me	Conflict and Power
	Chronology
	Location and Place	Human and Physical	Fieldwork
Science	Humans and Animals	Living things and their habitats	Materials, Forces and changes
	Working Scientifically
Computing *	Data and information	Programing and media	Systems and Networks
	Online Safety
DT	Nutrition	Structure	Mechanisms and Systems
	Appraise, Design and Analyse
Art	Art History,	Appreciation and Evaluation	Colour Theory
	Composition
PSHE & Darwin Values	Health and wellbeing	Living in the world	Relationships
	Selfhelpability	Stickability	Growthability
	Bouncebackability	Empathy Ability	Changeability

Whilst we have worked hard to achieve a curriculum that is well connected, we also appreciate that some subjects stand alone and need to be taught discretely. Links are made where they are contextually meaningful. For example, RE PE Music and French.

Our connected curriculum will:

place a high priority on children’s physical and mental well-being to ensure a holistic approach to development (wellbeing)
promote British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs throughout the school. It is designed to open their eyes to different cultures and different ways of life and being a member of a global community (diversity).
encourage children to develop the knowledge that enables them to become resilient reflective learners and grow to be well rounded adults who are prepared for life.(change)
identify the key knowledge that children require, be progressive and ambitious and ensure the successful transition through the different phases of their educational journey
provide opportunities to check that children have acquired and retained ‘sticky’ knowledge through carefully planned retrieval.
will be organised and delivered in a way that achieves the best outcomes for learning. For example sometimes subjects will be taught in blocks
support all of our children to be able to read at an age-appropriate stage. Our reading journey starts when children first join our Nursery..
ensure children acquire a broad range of knowledge that builds over time.
ensure appropriate continuity and progression for children and their learning.
encourage children to be invested in their learning, in order to develop their independence
provide opportunities for children to fulfil their potential across all subjects.