Curriculum intent. What does our curriculum offer children?
At Drayton C of E Junior School, we have designed a knowledge rich curriculum with pupils’ learning at the centre. Our curriculum is broad, balanced and exciting; we hope it will inspire children to nurture a lifelong passion for learning. It puts the child at the centre of our caring school, where positive relationships, based on mutual respect are at the heart of everything we do.
Drayton C of E Junior School aims to provide a curriculum that is engaging, relevant to the children in our community and reflects the school’s Christian ethos. Emphasis is placed on children learning the core skills of maths and English, especially reading, as these are essential for life-long learning. Our exciting curriculum allows children to develop skills in the distinct disciplines of each National Curriculum subject, whilst making the most of cross-curricular links and topic themes to ensure that the learning feels relevant and has a purpose. The curriculum exposes our children to enriching experiences, building progressive knowledge and skills and equipping them with the personal characteristics required to succeed in life. We intend for our curriculum to be empowering, enabling pupils to develop their interpersonal skills, creativity and independence.
The most important work of the school is learning. We believe that how we are learning is as important as what we are learning and strive to find ways to make learning enjoyable, engaging and meaningful. It is our belief that by making learning fun and relevant, and by regularly re-visiting and building on prior learning, our children will better remember the key knowledge that is central a successful curriculum. Our children will experience learning through practical activities, learning both inside and outside and learning through investigation. We aim to bring learning to life where ever possible; we welcome visitors into school and recognise the importance of both day trips and residential experiences for the part they play in enriching the curriculum and promoting the development of the ‘whole child’. Extra-curricular activities are also an important part of our provision. We offer a wide variety of opportunities for children to engage in and enjoy outside of the classroom.
Effective ongoing assessment is central to the success of our curriculum. Teachers continually assess, reflect and adapt the curriculum to ensure that all children achieve the very best they can. We encourage learners to ask questions and to take responsibility for their own learning. With our caring ethos at the core of the school, we intend to ensure that the children feel safe, happy and supported; we want them to feel comfortable in learning as much from mistakes as successes.
The structure of the curriculum
At Drayton C of E Junior School our curriculum is delivered using a mixture of discrete subject and cross-curricular, topic-linked lessons. Daily maths and English lessons are carefully planned by class teachers to ensure suitable expectation and progression. In addition to these, children have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a series of engaging topics. These topics allow for links to be made between subjects, helping the children to see the relevance of their learning in a ‘real-life’ context. Care is taken to ensure the discrete disciplines and skills of each subject are explicitly taught. We are fortunate that our children receive quality music, PE and swimming lessons from specialist teachers. Throughout the year, we plan fun, creative and exciting themed days which are woven into the curriculum to extend the breadth and balance of opportunities we offer our children. To find out how we make our Curriculum accessible for those with disabilities or special educational needs please visit www.draytonjunior.norfolk.sch.uk/information/send-inclusion/
How the school involves parents, pupils and the church and local community in the curriculum
Our links with St Margaret’s Church in Drayton help enhance many aspects of our curriculum, especially RE, PSHE, music and history. Visits to the church are much enjoyed. Through engaging with the wider community, from Badger’s Wood Care Home to the Parish Council or the local gardening club, our children are able to establish a link between what they learn in the classroom and real-life experiences. Parents are key partners in their child’s education. We value their support and work together to provide the best opportunities for every child. The staff and children enjoy working alongside parents during our regular maths and reading cafés.
