Curriculum
The Primary Curriculum cover three Key Stages of development
Foundation Stage
Children in Year Reception will be continuing to work on Foundation Stage experiences started at Playgroup or Nursery. They will be assessed as part of the Foundation Stage Profile at the end of their first year.
Key Stage 1 (The infant years)
Children in Years 1 and 2 will be working on Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum and will be assessed by Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) at the age of 7 in the core subjects of English and Maths.
Key Stage 2 (The junior years)
Children in Years 3,4,5, and 6 will continue through Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum and will be assessed by Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in the core subjects of English, Maths and Science.
There are 8 levels of attainment within the National Curriculum's four key stages and children develop at their own pace as they progress through their schools. Teachers access their pupils continuously as they cover the National Curriculum programmes of study and careful records are kept.
At Key Stage 1, we expect children to achieve between levels 1-3, with 2 the average.
At Key Stage 2, we expect children to achieve between levels 2-5 with 4 being the expectation.
Government league tables at Key Stage 2 are based on level 4's and above, and we strive for the majority of the children to achieve this target, with your support being very important.
The majority of the time is spent on the three core subjects of English, Maths and Science.
Children will normally work in classes with their class teacher, but specialist teaching is incorporated where appropriate.
We base our curriculum on the national QCA National Curriculum and are working to make natural subjects link so that arbitrary subject barriers do not spoil the children's view of learning as a whole.
A brief outline of our curriculum aims
(full details can be seen in our school prospectus)
Literacy
The school's aim is to make sure that every child can use language correctly and effectively when reading, writing, speaking and listening.
In our Reading programme we follow the National Literacy programme. We aim to develop enthusiastic and competent readers, who enjoy reading fiction and non-fiction and develop well beyond the ability to cope with the text, but develop more analytical and critical reading skills. We teach phonics in a structured way, particularly in Key Stage 1 and to those needing it in Key Stage 2.
Spelling is considered very important and practice given weekly. We use the Literacy Strategy development and the 'THRASS' scheme where children are taught spellings in families of sounds.
Handwriting is taught as an important skill. Good presentation is valued and expected. We use the Christopher Jarmen scheme.
in Writing we aim to give children a wide range of different contexts and ranges to write about as well as the skills to use punctuation and grammar correctly.
Mathematics
We aim to create a positive attitude towards Maths and do this by developing a thorough competence with basic skills and operations. This will enable the children to use them in every day situations and later in their working life. We also teach the other areas of maths - handling data, shape and space, measurement and algebra and pattern, which will also be structured and based on the child's rate of progress. Our children are also provided with various opportunities to use their skills in problem solving and investigations in real life situations.
Science
Much importance is placed upon the development of scientific ideas and skills, from early close to hand experiences to the more advanced ones, demanding experimentation, observation, theory making and testing, devising schemes for recording their work, leading to their own conclusions and problem solving.
Information Technology
By the time they leave school the children will be expected to be able to undertake word processing, use and recall from a database, use information retrieval programs and work through a variety of simulations in their subject work. They will also have used art packages for graphic work.
We have recently been awarded the National ICT Mark for our standards in ICT.
Design Technology
Design Technology involves the children in producing designs and plans and then making them and finally evaluating their effectiveness. They will learn the skills of handling and using tools correctly, working with a variety of materials and apply these to the design.
Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education
We have a new scheme of work encompassing these areas, covering topics such as rules, co-operating, decision making, relationships and myself.
History
History is about people in the past and how they lived. At their own level, children are given opportunities to learn about the past and to make sense of what they learn, and how it affected daily lives then - and today - by asking questions and analysing information in an historical way.
Geography
geography is concerned with giving children a sense of place and their environment, which shapes them and the people who live in them. It helps children to make sense of their surroundings and the wider world.
PE and Games
PE is about body management, finding out how it responds to activity and to develop habits leading to healthy and active life styles. It helps children to channel their energy through positive experiences, helping them and others, also to give them experience and involvement in our sporting heritage.
Our elements are Gymnastics, Dance, Swimming and Games Skills. Each area follows a structured programme and allows for children's different abilities.
We have recently been awarded a second Sport England Active Mark for our commitment to sport.
Religious Education and Worship
The RE programme follows the Exeter Diocesan syllabus and links to the Torbay Agreed Syllabus for RE. We study Christianity and its links with Judaism as our major faiths, except in Year 6 where we will prepare the children for another major faith.
In Worship we hold a daily act, mostly at the end of the day. Church Services are also held to celebrate important days in the Church's year. Our Vicar David Treby, frequently visits and is always available to talk to parents and children if needed.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE and/or Worship. However as you have chosen a Church School for your child, we hope that you will allow them to benefit from the full way in which our school has its distinctive character, so that withdrawal will not be necessary.
Art
Children are given the opportunity to experiment, investigate and create pieces of art in 2D and 3D. They will also increase their knowledge and understanding by studying a range of periods and styles through the work of great artists, learning to evaluate critically and reflect upon their work.
Music
Our programme of work is based on the Silver Burdett scheme, linked to the National Curriculum. There is specialist teaching in Years 5 and 6. The scheme centres on children experiencing, creating and appraising music of a very wide variety.
We encourage peripatetic teaching and have close links with an increasing number of instrumental teachers, and have at present a scheme for peripatetic teaching in keyboards, drum, wind and guitar. We have a range of instruments for loan.
Any parent interested in their child learning an instrument should talk to the Music Co-ordinator, Mrs Cutcliffe.
Special Educational Needs
This term covers a wide range of children, who, it is believed, will benefit from additional help because they are gifted, physically disadvantaged or are experiencing difficulty in a particular learning area- particularly Literacy and Maths. There is an established support structure for such children and individual programmes of work and support are devised to assist particular area of concern. This also includes our work with gifted and talented children.
Mrs. Cutcliffe our SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) is always available from 2.45pm to discuss this area of work.