Intent:
The curriculum has been designed to empower pupils with virtues that enable them to excel academically and spiritually inspiring them to serve humanity selflessly, with an abundance of love, compassion and forgiveness.
Our curriculum is constructed around our vision to ensure we remain:
Faith-inspired: learning from the wisdom of religion
At Primley Wood we aim to foster holistic growth and character development. We focus on nurturing compassionate, responsible human beings who aspire for excellence in all aspects of life. Exploring religious wisdom allows pupils to respect diverse faith traditions and the beliefs of those without faith.
Virtues-led: We aim to develop pupils to become compassionate, responsible human beings
This is done through promoting virtues which we believe form the foundation of all goodness and prepares children for lifelong learning. Our curriculum is carefully enriched to allow experiences where our pupils, teachers and parents alike learn to grow through a conscious focus on virtues. Our virtues-led education approach helps to provide guidance to enable pupils to understand their choices in order to help lead better lives. Our pupils become self-reflective and flourish; they are able to build strong, meaningful relationships and understand their responsibilities to the wider world.
Aspiring for Excellence: in all that we do.
Our pupils and staff alike aim to become the best human beings they can possibly be, in all aspects of spiritual, social, intellectual and physical life. We foster a school culture which inspires optimism and confidence, hope and determination for all to achieve their best possible. This is accomplished through a rich and challenging curriculum, along with excellent teaching to nurture awe and wonder. Pupils gain a breadth and depth of knowledge and a love of learning to achieve their full potential.
The curriculum at Primley Wood Primary School has been carefully crafted to be broad, balanced and stimulating, giving every pupil the opportunity to be knowledgeable, multi-skilled, highly literate, highly numerate, creative, expressive, compassionate and confident people.
The content of the school’s Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) programme of study aims to support the wider work of the school in helping to foster pupil wellbeing and develop resilience and character that we know are fundamental to pupils being happy, successful and productive members of society. Central to this is pupils’ ability to believe that they can achieve goals, both academic and personal; to stick to tasks that will help them achieve those goals, even when the reward may be distant or uncertain; and to recover from knocks and challenging periods in their lives.
Through this programme we seek focus on the development of personal attributes including kindness, integrity, generosity, and honesty. We have endeavoured to ensure the content is proportionate and deliverable. The programme of study outlines how the school delivers Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education along with our focus on virtues, British values and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The core themes of safety, health and well-being, and relationships are taught in accordance with the Relationships, Sex and Health Education statutory guidance. This element of the curriculum is designed to provide pupils with the knowledge to take active responsibility for their health and wellbeing, both now and in the future. The topics examined will explore the issues relating to sex and relationships, sexual exploitation, consent, drugs and alcohol, mental and emotional health and well-being, diet and a healthy lifestyle, and online safety education. The curriculum has been expertly designed to ensure that all topics are age-appropriate and address the needs of pupils at various stages of their development. The curriculum also promotes the importance of mutual respect, autonomy, personal boundaries and self-advocacy to encourage pupils to conduct themselves with confidence and integrity and respect the rights, safety and decisions of others.
Implementation:
At Primley Wood, PSHCE content is taught through a number of mediums. Central to this is our “Language of Virtues” which equips staff and pupils with a common language with which to explore complex issues.
All year groups are guided by the Kapow scheme of work for PSHCE. The scheme is a whole school approach that consists of three areas of learning in EYFS: Reception (to match the EYFS Personal, social and emotional development prime area) and five areas of learning across Key stages 1 and 2:
EYFS:
● Self-regulation
● Building relationships
● Managing self
Key stage 1 and 2:
● Families and relationships
● Health and wellbeing
● Safety and the changing body
● Citizenship
● Economic wellbeing
Each area is revisited to allow pupils to build on prior learning. The lessons also provide a progressive programme
Transitions:
Moving from EYFS to KS1:
Our learning journey starts in the Early Years where children are taught how to describe, understand and manage different feelings. They leave reception with an understanding of families and relationships and have learnt how to communicate effectively with others. The pupils understand how to keep themselves healthy and safe in different situations. Whilst allowing pupils to work successfully towards the Development Matters statements and Early Learning Goals, the PSHE elements taught in the EYFS provide a solid foundation of skills, knowledge and enquiry for children to transition successfully onto Key stage 1.
Moving on to KS3:
After exposure to our PSHCE curriculum, pupils will leave school with the ability to utilise their learning within their daily lives, from dealing with friendship issues to resilience to making healthy choices and knowing where and how to get help when needed. We make links with our local secondary schools asking teachers to come in and provide PSHCE, Citizenship and careers opportunities for our pupils.
Enrichment Opportunities:
Our curriculum extends beyond the National Curriculum and includes a wide range of enriching experiences and opportunities both within and beyond the school day. Pupils are provided with a rounded, culturally rich education through activities that enhance their learning.
PSHCE is at the heart of everything we do whether this is a specific lesson or as part of our wider daily curriculum or less structured times such as playtimes. Through PSHCE, we help our pupils to become well rounded individuals who are ready for the challenges and opportunities that life will bring them. We aim to deepen pupils understanding of the world by providing pupils with opportunities to apply their skills by engaging in community projects and world affairs.
Over the year, the school embraces key events in the calendar such as Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health Week and E-Safety week. Pupils complete home learning tasks and projects whilst exploring these themes. The School Council plays an active role in responding to pupil voice and supporting a number of charity events.
Outside of our Primary classrooms, we plan for pupils to participate in a range of workshops such as dentist visits, police talks and transport safety. Pupils are given an opportunity to complete a Bike Safety course with cycle experts on how to cycle on the roads. We work closely in partnership with our local PCSOs, who regularly come into school to speak to pupils about online safety (our identified contextualised safeguarding issue), road safety and stranger danger.
At Primley Wood, children learn about enterprise. They are given opportunities to learn about the importance of money and as a class can sell goods and activities at our seasonal fayres to try and make a profit. The pupils, along with the school council, can then make decisions about how they want to spend the money they have raised.
In Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils take part in residential trips at Nell Bank and Robin Wood where they learn important life skills, independence, collaboration and pushing themselves on physical challenges.
Member of Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust
Owlcoates MAT