By delivering our curriculum, we aim to provide opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident, successful learners with high aspirations who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society; to be the best that they can be.

We are a small, rural village school. Our constantly evolving curriculum is planned over a two-year cycle. The curriculum responds to the needs of learners and their interests by enhancing learning experiences and raising awareness from the local area to national and global arenas. Thus, we will develop outward looking pupils who are able to engage in learning about themselves and have an understanding of the wider worlds and its complex cultures.

Through quality teaching of knowledge, skills and vocabulary across core and foundation subjects, all children will be challenged to be compassionate and courageous learners who are able to persevere in order to achieve their true potential. They will be able to influence their own learning through age appropriate and progressive themes and topics. As well as the teaching of vocabulary, oracy skills will also be a focus; and along with enrichment opportunities and developing pupils’ understanding of diversity, will drive teaching and learning.

The quality texts that drive our English Curriculum (and permeate through other subject areas), are chosen with great care in order to demonstrate our commitment to these aims.

The importance of D.O.V.E. for our children

Diversity, Oracy, Vocabulary, Enrichment

Diversity

We want our children to be aware that diversity/variety exists within our own school and local area (though it may not be immediately apparent), and how this is a positive thing that adds value and strength to the community.

We want our children to learn about diversity that exists nationally and globally, in a positive light, to engender empathy and understanding for the benefit of all.

Oracy

Oracy education matters for all children and young people. EEF research demonstrates that Engaging in high-quality oracy practices deepens understanding and is linked with greater knowledge retention, vocabulary acquisition and reasoning skills. For Children and young people experiencing disadvantage and poverty (around 50% of the children in this school), a greater focus on oracy can enable fulfilment of potential and narrowing of the attainment gap between them and more advantaged peers.

With this in mind, we undertook the “Voice 21 Oracy Project” last academic year (September 2023 - July 2024).

Vocabulary

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that vocabulary knowledge is crucial for pupils’ success” Alex Quigley. As is the fact that Oracy plays a specific role in vocabulary acquisition. We believe that vocabulary acquisition drives a curriculum as students need to possess and be able to appropriately apply a wide vocabulary to be able to understand and access the curriculum.

Enrichment

We aim to provide as many curricular experiences as possible that enable children to extend their learning and to improve or enhance skills, knowledge, and well-being; experiences that develop resilience, motivation and encourage them to pursue wider goals.

(see “D.O.V.E driving the curriculum” document)

Our children will have a confident set of skills, knowledge, and Christian Values which can be used to get ahead in education and life more generally. In short, they will learn more, remember more, enjoy more and develop more spiritually, socially and emotionally. Thus enabling them to be ready for the next stage in education.

 

 

 

D.O.V.E. Driving the curriculum

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