At Upper Arley, we have developed a curriculum that develops both children’s knowledge and skills. Our curriculum is designed to support our Vision, Values and Key competencies and ensure that our children’s needs are met, preparing them for their future lives.
At Upper Arley our vision is to inspire the whole child to develop a sense of pride and ambition leading to strong attitudes to learning and good outcomes.
In order to achieve this vision, we develop the following values and key competencies to ensure that children leave with the skills and knowledge they need for the rest of their lives.
Our values are: alongside our 12 Christian values, we focus on perseverance, respect, compassion and thankfulness
Our key competencies are: independence, curiosity, caring, confidence and co-operation
Curriculum
At Upper Arley, we follow the National Curriculum as the basis for our teaching of knowledge and support the development of the Values and Key Competencies outlined above through our teaching approaches and relationships as well as broad opportunities through the Arts, Forest School and Music.
National Curriculum
The National Curriculum provides pupils with the essential knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
The full National Curriculum document can be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-primary-curriculum
English
At Upper Arley C of E Primary School, we strive to enable all children to develop high standards of language and literacy through an aspirational, engaging and broad curriculum. Children will develop vital skills to enable them to communicate confidently in both spoken word and writing, developing these skills through our carefully planned, sequenced and varied sessions.
As well as being able to express their ideas, thoughts and feelings with confidence and compassion, underpinning these skills is the child’s ability to read. From the Early Years, all children are taught to read through a robust synthetic phonics programme, Letters and Sounds, and will engage in a range of opportunities where reading aloud or listening to a text is a daily habit, whether for pleasure or to gain knowledge. These opportunities continue throughout school and are built upon to encourage and nurture a passion and purpose for reading.
Through our carefully thought-out plans in writing, children are exposed to a range of genres, authors and texts to enrich their understanding of the skills writers need and the different ways of communicating with the wider world. Children will have regular opportunities to develop a rich vocabulary and accurate grammar that enables this comprehension and composition of text to continue to develop throughout their time in primary school and in preparation for their transition to Key Stage 3. From Early Years, children are taught about the relationship between letters and sounds, which leads to the development of skills and understanding of word structure and spelling. All children are taught consistent spelling patterns and rules to enable confident and accurate spellers. We have consistently high expectations of handwriting and presentation, which enables children to be proud of the work that they produce and display fluent, legible and joined writing.
Our curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:
- read easily, fluently and with good understanding
- develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
- use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
- are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate
Maths
We follow the White Rose Maths planning which has the use of Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) resources at its heart.
Arts (Music and Art)
Mr Carrigan, a specialist music teacher, teaches music to all classes and our KS2 choir. We are keen for children to take part in and watch performances and know that the benefits of music are universal and will help in raising standards across the curriculum. Art skills are taught following the progression as outlined in the National Curriculum.
Foreign Languages (French)
French is taught in KS2 to all children and supports both the learning of speaking, reading and writing but also a developing global and cultural awareness outside of the UK.
Humanities (Geography, History and RE)
Through the teaching of the Humanities, children’s eyes are opened to the world and they develop a sense of chronology and knowledge about historical events and famous people. In Geography, an understanding of the geography and people of the world is developed alongside an understanding of some of the main religions of the world being taught in RE. We follow the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus for Religous Education across all school ages.
Computing
At Upper Arley, we believe that all children have the right to access a broad and balanced computing curriculum. With children from many different starting points, everyone deserves the opportunities to learn the basic skills. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Content-Contact-Conduct’ is a basis for which children will need if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use creativity to understand and change the world. At Upper Arley, the core of computing is Computer Science in which pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, including laptops, iPads and interactive whiteboards, allowing them to continually practice and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology– at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in an ever-changing digital world.
The 3 C’s
Content – being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material
Contact – being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users
Conduct – online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm
For the academic year of 2020-2021, the children at Upper Arley will be learning and becoming familiar with the basics to computing and coding. They will be learning the hardware (laptops and ipads), the correct use of log in details, correct terminology as well as accessing a range of software and online content. Projects will be used throughout the year so that all children have opportunities not just learn the skills but also demonstrate them.
Implementation:
The Upper Arley Computing Curriculum is written by the Subject Leader, taking into account the historical experiences that the children at school have had. As part of this planning process, teachers need to plan the following:
- A cycle of lessons for each subject, which carefully plans for progression and depth, promoting the progression in skills from the National Curriculum;
- An range of activities are used regularly to support learners’ ability to remember and retain their learning, with particular focus on coding;
- Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner, where appropriate;
- Visiting experts who will enhance the learning experience;
- Projects and final outcomes to be skills based and meaningful for the children.
Technology (Science, DT and Computing)
Inspiring children to explore and experiment in the area of technology provides them with skills for their futures and the creativity and knowledge to develop their learning in these vital areas of the curriculum.
PE
Through the National Curriculum for PE, children are taught the skills and knowledge to participate in individual sporting and healthy lifestyles as well as participate in competitive sporting events.
Homework
Homework at Upper Arley focuses on practising key skills with adults at home. This takes the form of reading, spellings, times tables and maths facts as outlined by the teachers. Additional half termly Home Learning activities linked to topics being taught are promoted but are optional to complete.
PSHE
We follow the guidance from the PSHE Association when planning our PSHE curriculum.
Forest Schools
All year groups experience Forest School at Upper Arley and this supports our vision, developing confident children with perseverance, independence and curiosity through the co-operative approach central to Forest Schools.
We are required to publish a Curriculum Overview and this is listed below with our assessment documentation. Our curriculum is much more than the overview and for further information, please speak with Mrs Langfield or look on your child’s class page for their curriculum mindmap and homelearning for each half term.
Upper Arley’s Curriculum plan
UA tl-teaching-and-learning-policy-2020
Curriculum_Overview_for_Years_1-6
Overview of Curriculum 2019 UAPS
whole school topic plan 2019-2021
PE Long Term plan 2020-2022
PE Curriculum map Upper Arley CE
Assessment
We use assessment to support learning and to help children make the most progress that they can. Please see our assessment overview and the DfE document below outlining the testing approach for all schools.
Upper Arley Assessment overview
DfE Information booklet for testing