Children are admitted to Heronsgate at the start of the school year following their 7th birthday. They enter one of our year 3 classes. Children are taught in single year group classes with the number of classes depending upon the number of children in each year group. The classes are made up of children covering all ranges of ability. The class teacher, as well as being responsible for the general welfare of the children in the class, is also responsible for teaching a broad and balanced curriculum which can draw on the National Curriculum but, as an academy, we have the freedom to tailor the curriculum as we feel is right for the pupils.  Teachers are supported by the Year Manager and subject curriculum co-ordinators.

 


Heronsgate School – Curriculum Intent Statement

Curriculum Rationale

  • The curriculum at Heronsgate is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all pupils and gives them the skills, knowledge and understanding to prepare them for their future lives.
  • It ensures that academic success, creativity and problem solving, reliability, responsibility and resilience, as well as physical development, well-being and mental health are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning.
  • The curriculum celebrates the diversity and utilises the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of the community while supporting the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Curriculum Statement

Here at Heronsgate School we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through each year group. The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the pupils in our school. The aim of our curriculum is for pupils to have the requisite skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education. It is important that the curriculum considers the development of the whole child as well as concentrating on academic success. Cultural capital gives our pupils key knowledge that they need to become successful students and then later in life, valued members of our community.

Implementation

Our curriculum

Our curriculum incorporates Cornerstones Curriculum and consists of a creative and thematic approach to learning that is mapped to the 2014 primary national curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of national expectations. It is based on a child-centred pedagogy called The Four Cornerstones and is delivered through Imaginative Learning Projects  and Knowledge Rich Projects (KRPs), which provide a rich menu of exciting and motivating learning activities that make creative links between all aspects of children’s learning. We believe children learn better when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning to engaging contexts. Our curriculum provides many learning challenges throughout the academic year that require children to solve problems, apply themselves creatively and express their knowledge and understanding effectively. Cornerstones also provide a rigorous skills and knowledge framework that outlines the end of year expectations in all subjects. These skills and knowledge are tied to age related activities so that staff can track children’s progress and identify their individual learning needs.

The more able are challenged further in their learning to deepen their knowledge and understanding and children who find aspects of their learning more difficult are appropriately supported so that they too are enabled to experience success. National requirements and school requirements are mapped out as a whole school and then individual year groups plan the curriculum for their pupils accordingly. The curriculum is underpinned by the school’s Core Values, (Friendship, Trust, Honesty, Happiness, Positivity, Respect, Responsibility, Equality, Kindness and Teamwork.) There is a focus on each value each month over the course of the school year where these are taught in other areas of the curriculum, including assemblies. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and their understanding of the core values of our society are woven through the curriculum.

The English curriculum is interwoven into our topics and strategies from Talk for Writing are taught, which develop children’s writing skills through imitation, innovation and independence. Alongside this children experience lessons on grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting. Guided reading is taught through our ERIC programme (Explain, Retrieve, Interpret and Choice) where children are encouraged to read and interpret a wide variety of materials.  Through a range of activities such as comprehension tasks, language investigation, paired, individual and whole class reading sessions, we aim to develop children’s acquisition of language and the ability to read with fluency, understanding and confidence.  Through the development of these skills we hope to encourage a life-long love of reading for pleasure and purpose.

The mathematics curriculum is delivered through a mastery curriculum, Maths No Problem, which incorporates White Rose Maths and enables children to develop their reasoning, investigative and problem solving skills.  Children are taught to improve their fluency and accuracy of number through the use of daily fast maths activities. MyMaths is an online resource we use both as interactive homework and as an intervention for gap-closing.  In this instance, children have work set which meets their individual needs.

In all year groups there are small group interventions in order to support pupils in gaining the key skills to become successful readers, writers and mathematicians.

Specialist teachers and instructors support the teaching of music, physical education and modern foreign languages.

PSHE is taught through our whole school PSHE scheme, Jigsaw, which combines PSHE, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. Through using Jigsaw our children acquire knowledge, understanding and the skills they need to manage their lives now and in their futures. It develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society and the global community. Jigsaw aims to help children know and value who they really are and how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world.

Relationships & Sex Education

An important part of the Jigsaw PSHE programme is delivered through the 'Relationships' and 'Changing Me' topics which are covered in the summer term.

There are four main aims of teaching RSE:

  • To enable children to understand and respect their bodies
  • To help children develop positive and healthy relationships appropriate to their age and development
  • To support children to have positive self-esteem and body image
  • To empower them to be safe and safeguarded.

Theme weeks, whole school activities and opportunities within and outside school all enrich and develop the children’s learning. After school clubs and events extend these opportunities further.

Impact

Aside from Maths and English which are taught daily, other subjects are taught weekly and in some cases through a themed week. Attainment and progress are assessed over the academic year.  Ongoing assessment and the comparison of work over time in Maths and English ensures teachers are able to identify where children are achieving or exceeding expectations, where further support is required for individuals and also to inform future planning.

Lesson observations, learning walks and book scrutinies are used to see if each stage of learning matches the age-related expectations. Summative assessments are completed termly and at the end of KS2 (SATS).


Music -please click here for music link

Physical Education - please click here for PE link

Religious Education - RE Statement and link

PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education)- Jigsaw PSHE - 

click-here-for-PHSEE-link.docx

PSHE-policy-September-2022

Relationships & Sex Education - please click here for relationships & sex education

Modern Foreign Languages -This link is currently being built - please come back soon.

Computing - This link is currently being built - please come back soon.

Wider Curriculum 2022/23 

Heronsgate School Curriculum overview 2022/23
Autumn 1Autumn 2Spring 1Spring 2Summer 1Summer 2
Year 3Mighty MetalsCook Well/Eat WellRocks, Relics & RumblesThrough the AgesGods and MortalsPredators
Year 4 Invasion (Saxons & Vikings)Misty Mountains, Winding RiversPotionsBlue AbyssDigestive SystemRoad Trip USA
Year 5 PharaohsOff With Her Head!Earth and SpaceSow, Grow and FarmProperties and Changing MaterialsForces and Mechanisms
Year 6 Britain at WarEvolution and InheritanceElectrical Circuits and ComponentsLight TheoryCirculatory SystemOur Changing World