Our Curriculum
INTENT
At West Witney Primary School, we are an inclusive community where limitless aspiration is nurtured for all. We value each child as an individual with a unique potential for learning. Their natural curiosity is fostered through a creative and ambitious curriculum that excites and challenges, enabling all to be independent, resilient and successful learners and people generally. Our curriculum nurtures and prepares children academically, emotionally, socially, morally and physically for their continuing learning journey. This engenders respect to people, and the environment, around our pupils, encouraging the mindset to always meet situations with kindness. We want doors to be opened to future prospects, giving all our children equal opportunities and therefore provide a springboard to future success. Supported by a culture of equality and aspiration and a fostered environment that actively promotes diversity, we aim to remove disadvantage so that every child believes in themselves and can thrive. Through the curriculum, children develop an understanding of citizenship and are empowered to make valuable contributions locally and globally.
The Five Core Principles of Our Curriculum at West Witney Primary School
- Driving Scholarly Success, Lifelong Skills and Enriching Experiences
- Inspirational Learning and Powerful Knowledge
- Confident Communicators
- Reflective Learners, Thinking Deeply
- Ready and Equipped for the Future as Global Citizens
Our curriculum content is mapped around four fundamentals that clarify our vision (FACS). This is to ensure a structured and progressive framework for the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the development of skills which leads to maximum progress for all children and long-term learning:
• Focus: Teaches the most important knowledge (in all its forms), skills, and key concepts.
• Appropriateness: Matches learning to each pupil’s knowledge and skill level, motivates and engages all.
• Coherence: Explicit connections between subjects, units of work and experiences.
• Sequential: Carefully sequenced concepts, clear progression of knowledge and skills to ensure all pupils achieve well. New knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and sets the foundation for future learning.
IMPLEMENTATION
Knowledge acquisition is crutial to, if not the very essence of, learning. Knowledge hangs from key strands that run through each of our curriculum areas. Substantive knowledge is the driver of our curriculum. The West Witney cutticulum is planned and delivered so that skills can be acquired and applied because of the knowledge taught.
Subjects
IMPACT
At West Witney Primary School our belief is that all children can, and will, achieve; we have the highest aspirations for all. For this to happen, we have high expectations across all aspects of school life. Our aim is for all children to make very good progress from Foundation Stage and, by the end of Key Stage Two, do extremely well when compared with national and local results across all subjects at both the expected standard and at greater depth.
The impact and measure of our curriculum is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the curriculum but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points. In shaping our curriculum this way, progress is measured and evidenced for all children, regardless of their starting points or specific needs. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence, and excellent behaviour.
Curriculum Impact Overview: The Difference Our Curriculum Makes
Art
‘Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to explore what is possible.’ MaryAnn Kohl
We believe that our Art curriculum develops creativity, sets challenges, engages and inspires children and equips them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design.
Including drawing, painting, 3D designs, collage and print making, our high-quality bespoke art planning will inspire, engage and challenge children enabling them to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form and pattern.
|
Curriculum Information Art | [pdf 227KB] |
|
Computing
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, the Computing curriculum has been designed so that our learners gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of technology in the world around them and develop an enthusiasm and curiosity to know more about computing and technology. Using the National Curriculum as a basis, the computing programme of study has been mapped with focus, appropriateness, coherence and sequentially. At West Witney, we use the National Centre for Computing Education’s (NCCE) scheme of work which is innovatively sequenced to ensure both breadth and depth of learning.
|
|
Curriculum Information Computing | [pdf 295KB] |
|
Design & Technology
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, we believe that Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and a practical subject. Through our Design and Technology curriculum, pupils are encouraged to become independent, creative thinkers and problem solvers who can work autonomously, as well as part of a team. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
Lessons are planned so that pupils follow a process where evaluation and communication are key. Design and Technology lessons allow pupils to apply learned skills from various other subjects such as mathematics, science, computing and art. A broad range of subject knowledge comes together in their projects in which the children design, make and evaluate products that solve real problems, in a variety of contexts.
|
|
Curriculum Information DT | [pdf 152KB] |
|
English
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, the English curriculum has been designed so that our learners gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of the English language, to develop high standards of language and literacy and a real passion and enthusiasm for reading, writing and the spoken word. Using the National Curriculum as a basis, the English programme of study has been mapped with focus, appropriateness, coherence and sequentially. There is a clear progression of substantive knowledge, Tier 3 vocabulary and links between genres of reading and writing, to ensure all pupils achieve well. New knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before, setting the foundation for future learning. Enriching experiences are planned to ignite the children’s passion for English and help them gain episodic and semantic knowledge. A strong command of the spoken and written word is secured, developing the children’s love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment and purpose. The effectiveness of English teaching determines the success of the whole curriculum.
|
|
English Policy | [pdf 1MB] |
|
|
|
Curriculum Information English | [pdf 963KB] |
|
Financial Education
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, we believe that financial education is an essential life skill. It supports pupils in developing confidence, responsibility, and informed decision-making about money, contributing to their overall wellbeing. Our approach reflects our commitment to ensuring children know more and remember more over time.
|
|
Curriculum Information Financial Education | [pdf 330KB] |
|
French
At West Witney Primary School, we aim to introduce children to an additional language which fosters curiosity and deepens children’s understanding of the world. Children learn to communicate in speech and writing and respond to the speaker’s thoughts and ideas. We aim to provide the foundation for further learning of languages. While learning another language, children access ideas and experiences from other cultures and communities, which in turn encourages children to have an understanding and appreciation of diversity in society. The experience of learning and using a foreign language makes its unique contribution to the whole curriculum by taking children out of the familiar environment and allowing them to explore the life-style and culture of another land through the medium of its language. This in turn provides a satisfying, enjoyable and intellectually challenging experience for children in coping with a different linguistic medium.
|
|
Curriculum Information French | [pdf 234KB] |
|
Geography
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, we believe that Geography helps children to develop their understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place within it. We aim to inspire children to have curiosity about our planet through enquiry-based learning, instilling in them the skills they need to become global citizens.
Children will learn about the physical and human environment on a local, national and global scale, with their knowledge and skills growing and strengthening each year. As they build on their prior learning, they will deepen their understanding of physical and human processes and the connections between these. They will become explorers who use geographical skills and field work to not only develop their interest and understanding of diverse places, but also becoming critical thinkers with a strong sense of belonging within our diverse, fascinating and ever-changing world.
|
|
Curriculum Information Geography | [pdf 188KB] |
|
History
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, we have designed our History curriculum so that our learners, foster an enthusiasm and curiosity about history and learning about the past through an engaging and varied curriculum; developing skills and understanding which can be applied to any area of history. We ensure our children are taught skills and concepts progressively across the school in line with the National Curriculum. A secure sense of chronology is secured, acquiring an understanding of time, events and people through the passing of time and the impact of events and time periods. At West Witney, we use research skills to pose questions and investigate the past by making inferences and drawing conclusions.
Understanding how events have occurred concurrently in different locations worldwide is planned for in order to compare and contrast and ensure depth of learning, which is at the heart of our whole curriculum. We study a variety of significant historical figures and events that underpin the diversity of Britain and the wider world.
|
|
Curriculum Information History | [pdf 186KB] |
|
Maths
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery, we recognise that maths is essential in everyday life. With this in mind, we ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards mathematics that will prepare them for the next stage of education and stay with them throughout their lives.
At West Witney, we take a mastery approach to maths, supported by our use of materials from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). This means all our children progress through the learning together. We use concrete and pictorial resources to break down the learning into smaller steps to support and scaffold the learning and when children are secure with concepts, they have the opportunity to explore these in greater depth.
|
|
Teaching for Maths Mastery Policy | [pdf 1MB] |
|
|
|
Curriculum Information Maths | [pdf 176KB] |
|
Music
Our aim at West Witney Primary School is, first and foremost, to help children to feel that they are musical and to develop a life-long love of music. We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need to become confident performers, composers, and listeners. Our curriculum introduces children to music from all around the world and across generations, teaching children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.
|
|
Curriculum Information Music | [pdf 203KB] |
|
RE
RE is “a major contribution to the education of children and young people. At its best, it is intellectually challenging and personally enriching. It helps young people develop beliefs and values, and promotes the virtues of respect and empathy, which are important in our diverse society. It fosters civilised debate and reasoned argument, and helps pupils to understand the place of religion and belief in the modern world”. (RE: realising the potential, Ofsted 2013)
Jigsaw RE brings together learning about and from religion, questioning and spiritual development in a comprehensive scheme of learning. Teaching strategies are varied and are mindful of teaching and learning theories and the need for adaptive teaching. Each enquiry starts from the children’s own life experiences using these as a bridge into the investigation of the religion being studied. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE.
|
|
Curriculum Information Document RE | [pdf 247KB] |
|
PE
At West Witney Primary School and Nursery we believe that a high-quality PE curriculum inspires children to succeed and excel in physically demanding activities and competitive sports, which in turn, will help them to build important life skills such as resilience, tenacity and determination. We wish to support our pupils’ health and fitness and provide them with opportunities to become physically confident. It is our aim to inspire our pupils to be involved in competitive sport and other activities to help build character and embed values such as good sportsmanship and respect.
|
|
Curriculum Information PE | [pdf 193KB] |
|
Science
We are passionate about instilling a love of science from an early age which will encourage continued curiosity and fascination with the world around them. We want the children to experience as much practical ‘hands on’ science as possible and to realise its importance in everyday life. It is important to us that children learn about the significant work of famous scientists in the past, both men and women, to help inspire the next generation of budding scientists.
|
|
Curriculum Information Science | [pdf 228KB] |
|
If you wish to find out more about our curriculum, please contact the school office.