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Bredgar CEP School Curriculum & Assessment
The Department for Education defined a new National Curriculum to be taught from September 2014. Schools have been given greater freedom in their interpretation of this curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils. Bredgar School Staff worked collectively to devise Bredgar School’s Curriculum with the additional input of a specialist curriculum consultant.
We are very excited by the new learning opportunities and projects that are planned, and will continue to ensure practical expression of our status as a Church of England school. For example, activities relating to charity and community work will enable children to learn in a project-based way, exploring our core Christian values in action. Throughout the design and delivery of the Curriculum the School will continue to maintain high aspiration for pupil progress and attainment, and this sense of ambition will be extended through a diverse range of learning experiences featuring visits from professionals across a wide range of sectors of employment; visits to local places of interest; and the cultivation of relevant enterprise skills to support children’s personal and educational development. Increasing an awareness of the wider world will also feature within our curriculum through the study of different cultures, countries and religions. As the Bredgar School Vision Statement says, “Our aim is to develop and educate the whole child, preparing them for the future.” The Bredgar School Curriculum has been devised to ensure that this vision is brought to reality so that our pupils are preparing for a successful and rewarding life in modern Britain.
There are 5 broad themes around which each academic year is planned. The themes are:
Diversity World Faith Enterprise Going for Goals Cherish
Linked to each of these broad themes is a Christian value. They are:
Diversity – Respect World Faith – Community Enterprise – Endurance
Going for Goals – Hope Cherish – Thankfulness
Each year, a project has been devised linked to these broad themes. Projects will be shared with Parents and Carers on a termly basis.
In each year group, one enrichment project will be led by the interests of the children. Teachers will respond to their class’s particular interest through the devising of a project, whilst still ensuring that the key skills, knowledge and understanding outlined by the National Curriculum objectives are taught and developed. During the enrichment project, the Christian value is usually Forgiveness
The 2014 National Curriculum is what is called a mastery curriculum, and clear objectives to be achieved at the end of each year group have been set out by the Department for Education. Therefore, the levels such as 2b, 3a or 4c will no longer be used – and instead a child will be evaluated at an ‘emerging’, ‘expected’ or demonstrating learning at ‘greater depth’ for their particular year group.
The vertical grouping of the year groups is addressed by having a 2 year plan of curriculum coverage. The long term plans for each class are available below:
The following powerpoint was used at the Curriculum Information evening to introduce the Bredgar School Curriculum to Parents.
Bredgar CEP Curriculum presentation
The Bredgar CEP School curriculum has been designed specifically for our school. Should you wish to find out more, please contact the school office who will be happy to arrange an appointment with a teacher.
Our approach to the teaching of reading.
At Bredgar School, our overarching aim is to foster a love of reading that carries on into adulthood. Reading is given high profile within the school on a daily basis with children reading to themselves, individually to an adult, in small groups or adults reading to them. We are very lucky to have extremely supportive parents and local residents who volunteer to hear children read throughout the school. As a result of all of these approaches, the vast majority of our children leave our school being confident and fluent readers.
All classrooms have a class library with a diverse selection of books which the children have access to throughout their school careers. The main reading scheme used in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One is Oxford Reading Tree but the range of books is also extended by other reading books from schemes such as Rigby Star, PhonicBug, Project X and Lighthouse books. Children are heard to read in school as frequently as possible depending on their level of need and ability. A book from the scheme is brought home for parents and carers to share with their child.
Once a child has grasped the foundation skills of reading and can read a text with some independence, they will continue to practise their reading skills with the support of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program as well as with their class teacher. The AR program enables the children to choose a book of their choice from a range of suitable texts that are accessible but still extending their reading skills. After each book, a short quiz assesses their comprehension and grasp of vocabulary. The AR program gives both the children and teachers valuable information about reading progress as well as helping to identify any potential problems. Parents and Carers can also be informed of their child’s success in the quizzes by signing up to the Home Connect facility on the AR program. For more information about AR, click here.
Each day will incorporate a guided reading session so that across the week, all children will have discussed a text at depth with an adult. These sessions will extend the children’s understanding of literary techniques, extend their vocabulary and expose them to a wide range of different texts and authors.
Promoting the children to become good at spelling – phonics and beyond.
At Bredgar School, the teaching of phonics is based around the programme, Letters and Sounds which was produced by the Department for Education and Skills for the Primary National Strategy. It approaches the teaching of phonics through a systematic synthetic approach. Children work in small groups at their level of ability on a daily basis. Once the children have progressed through this programme, they move onto the ‘No Nonsense’ spelling programme. This programme aims to allow the children to become accurate spellers and helps them become fluent and effective writers.
Assessment Information
The following power point was used during the Parents’ Information Evening on the new Assessment System.
Bredgar CEP School’s Assessment System
The following letter accompanies school reports and explains the assessment system in more detail
Report letter for Years 1, 3, 4 and 5
Reaching the ‘expected’ standard for each year group.
The national curriculum identifies what skills, knowledge and understanding a child needs to have demonstrated by the end of an academic year in order for them to have reached the expected standard. Click on the links below for more information.
Year 1 expected maths skills Year 1 Expected Reading Skills Year 1 Expected Writing Skills
Year 2 Expected Maths Skills Year 2 Expected Reading Skills Year 2 Expected Writing Skills
Year 3 Expected Mathematics Skills Year 3 Expected READING skills Year 3 Expected WRITING skills
Year 4 Expected Mathematics skills Year 4 Expected READING skills Year 4 Expected WRITING skills
Year 5 Expected Mathematics skills Year 5 Expected READING skills Year 5 Expected WRITING skills
Year 6 Expected Mathematics skills Year 6 Expected READING skills Year 6 Expected WRITING skills
British Values Statement
At Bredgar CEP School we take very seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain. We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and lessons provide excellent opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. Here are some of the ways in which we help children to understand and live out the British Values:
Democracy:
- electing members of the school council
- parents are elected to help govern the school
- voting process used to make decisions ie prefect roles, name of school dog
- pupil, parent and staff surveys are conducted with their results influencing future decisions for the school
The Rule of Law:
- following the School’s Golden Rules and class rules so that everyone can learn
- adherence to the School’s Behaviour Trial and the related consequences
- children’s awareness of civil law enhanced through visits from the local Magistrate
- children’s awareness of the role of the Monarchy
- opportunities to celebrate the lives of inspirational people who have influenced the course of history
Individual Liberty:
- being able to express views, likes and dislikes without risk of consequence
- developing a ‘Growth Mindset’ and encouraging children to take charge of and take risks within their learning
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs:
- learning about different world faiths
- learning that some people choose not to follow any faith
- learning about different cultures
- valuing and caring for everyone within the Bredgar CEP School community
- showing good manners
- challenging stereotypical comments
- mixing and learning how to interact with different ages and groups of people
Learning
