Curriculum design - a narrative-based approach

Our curriculum is conceived with real-life experience and narrative at its heart. We want every child to thrive, achieve as highly as possible and be fully prepared for the next stage of their education. 

National curriculum outcomes are mapped out in this context, incorporating the knowledge and skills to be gained in every year group. For core curriculum subjects, high quality schemes such as Maths No Problem, Pathways (reading and writing) and Kent (science) are adapted by teachers. All subject leaders continue to work with specialists regularly, accessing high quality CPD to enhance long term plans and progression maps.

Reading at the heart of the curriculum

Our approach is, 'Read wherever possible, rather than tell.' When we want to direct the class, present a problem, offer information, issue an instruction...wherever possible, we do this by reading rather than speaking. Choral reading plays a major part in all learning - maximising the amount of purposeful reading experienced by every child, every day.

Story has always been the ultimate teaching vehicle. Whether it be in the form of a parable to explore right and wrong, a story problem to launch a maths lesson or the exploration of a deep theme through a powerful novel, we use story to make learning, and life, meaningful.

Our school uses the Little Wandle (Letters and Sounds revised) Phonics programme.  The reading scheme is used so that books are carefully matched to the pupil's phonic development.  Online reading books plus reading schemes work in tandem to develop phonic decoding, fluency and comprehension skills.

Impact

Impact can be seen in every classroom at every moment of the day and is measured against national markers.  We know that progress in learning means 'knowing more' and also 'knowing how to know more'.

Children know more and remember more because the narrative curriculum supports revision of key concepts. Children are taught to add to their knowledge bank through reading and simple research.

What is my child learning?

Click on the year group tab on the right to find out what your child does in school every day.

For more detailed information about each subject of the curriculum please look at Curriculum Subject Statements.