Find out about our School Curriculum

Our curriculum consists of a 2 year rolling programme within each Key stage class; Year A and Year B. 

We believe that our children deserve more than just the National Curriculum. Life has so much more to offer and our children have so much more to learn and experience. With this in mind, we work to prioritise the opportunities we want our children to have during their time with us and be inspired to see what our world can offer them within their futures. Below is a summary of the key factors which inform the choices we make and drive our aspirations for them. We use these 'drivers' to underpin the work we undertake in all areas of school life and to ensure our curriculum is enriched and personalised in order to meet the needs, interests and ambitions of our children and their families.

Vocabulary

It is the primary aim of our curriculum, that our children develop the skills necessary to define and communicate their understanding of a range of foundation and core subject vocabulary. We support them to communicate their thoughts, ideas and feelings successfully in a wide range of different forms. They need the ability to read well and read widely as this broadens horizons, develops imagination and provides a rich vocabulary through which to construct knowledge and understand the world. Being able to write clearly, comfortably and where necessary concisely in many different forms remains a key skill and our curriculum exploits every opportunity to develop this ability.

Character

We are passionate for our children to learn what is distinctive to themselves and makes up their unique character. Our teaching includes the Commando Joe character curriculum which provides the development of good sense and capacity to ‘think and choose intelligently’ between alternatives. Encouraging children to think differently and more deeply about their actions is a significant element of our distinctive curriculum. The design of our curriculum embeds the below behaviour traits within exciting topics based on amazing explorers. A vast number of NC objectives are achieved within each unit of work as well as inspiring children to further explorer areas statutorily required within Primary School teaching.

 Adventure

We recognise the responsibility we have for the physical development and well-being of our children. We believe that a curriculum rich in sport, adventure and physical activity along with participation in positive competition develops confidence and resilience. We want our children to know that life exists outside the virtual and digital world and we will allow them to manage real risks by having fun and experiencing a little danger! We model our learning based on the adventures of many famous explorers such as Ed Stafford, Tim Peake and Amelia Earhart.

Singing

Throughout each individual journey at Withnell Fold, all children experience various opportunities to expand their learning and wider experiences through singing. We provide regular opportunities both within curricular learning, as well as extra-curricular activities, in which children can work together to celebrate, acquire skills and be a part of wider communities.

With these priorities in mind, staff plan topics that engage their pupils. Staff may change the learning that is taking place, if, for example, a local or world event occurs that sparks an interest with the pupils. Intentionally, topics are not over-planned so that there is time to explore the interests of the children or even the staff themselves. We make best use of the outdoors and the local and wider environment. There are visits out of school and visitors coming in to school, that extend and enrich teaching and learning opportunities for all. Children are given opportunities to represent the school in the local community and further afield through events that take in many aspects of the curriculum.