Curriculum
"The curriculum is broad and balanced and enriched by a very good range of extra-curricular activities, particularly in music. Accommodation is very good and pupils have access to very good resources for learning." OFSTED June 2006.
Edge Hill complies with its statutory requirement to teach the contents of the National Curriculum and also the Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. The National Curriculum consists of:
CORE SUBJECTS
English (Literacy), Mathematics (Numeracy), Science
Numeracy is taught in ability sets across the year group. Children may be moved from set to set in order to assure that they are being given the maximum opportunity to improve. Literacy and Science are generally taught in mixed ability class groups with differentiation being built into planning.
FOUNDATION SUBJECTS
History & Geography (Humanities), Music, Art, Technology, Physical Education, ICT.
These subjects are generally taught in mixed ability class groups with differentiation being built into planning.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
This follows the Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. It is based broadly on Christian principles but also looks at other religions particularly Judaism and Islam. Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE and Collective Worship may do so.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL and HEALTH EDUCATION (PSHE)
This is a subject set up to deal with the variety of problems and difficulties children may face as they move through Key Stage 2. It is aimed at making them more skilful in dealing with Life.
SEX EDUCATION
This forms part of the normal programme of work in topics. A programme of Sex Education designed specifically for Year 6 pupils about to move to Secondary school is delivered by the School Nurse in conjunction with the school staff. Contact is made with parents prior to this. Parents may remove their children from this activity if they feel the activity is inappropriate. They may also arrange to see the materials that are being used.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
At various times during the School Year, staff give freely of their own time to provide Extra Curricular activities. These have included:
Netball, Soccer, Hockey, Cricket, Chess, Orchestra, Band, Choir, Pottery, Drama, Keyboard, Recorder Club, Technology, School competitions/matches.
These activities usually take place at lunchtime or immediately after school and are voluntary.
HOW THE CURRICULUM IS ORGANISED
Each Year Group is divided into parallel, mixed ability classes which generally stay together for all 4 years. These children are placed into sets for Numeracy soon after they arrive at Edge Hill. These sets are based on ability from SAT test results received from the Infant School and teacher assessment on entry to Year 3. There is movement between the sets and you will be informed when this is likely to take place. All other subjects are taught either by the class teacher or a teacher with a particular specialism. All this teaching is done in a mixed ability class which is grouped flexibly to suit the activity and the individual child. At the end of Y6 children transfer to Secondary school taking with them the results of their end of Key Stage 2 SAT results. Every 3 years the school will be inspected by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) and a report on its findings will be published. The school was inspected in October 2008. Additional information on the curriculum can be obtained from the school who regularly update policy statements on the curriculum, copies of which may be read in school. Also the Department for Education regularly send out circulars that parents might find useful.
ENGLISH CURRICULUM STATEMENT
We aim to provide our children with a range of opportunities in order to develop both their confidence and ability in all forms of communication. Our curriculum endorses the structure and framework of the National Literacy Strategy in order to achieve these aims. Children have a 30 minute reading, handwriting or comprehension session each morning. This enhances the work they do during the Literacy hour each day.
Speaking & Listening
Pupils are encouraged to develop a full range of skills through focused discussion, group work, debates and drama in all areas of the curriculum.
Reading
Children are encouraged to develop an interest in books through the study of a wide variety of genres that incorporates both fiction and non-fiction. They are introduced to a wide range of strategies through which they are encouraged to broaden their knowledge of genre and language as well as develop their comprehension and analytical skills. Children are encouraged to continue to develop their reading skills at home through shared experiences and to read for information as well as pleasure.
Writing
Children's writing skills are promoted in all areas of the curriculum. They are provided with many opportunities to use differing styles in order to write in both factual and creative forms for a variety of audiences.
Spelling
Children are encouraged to become independent spellers through a range of strategies designed to meet the needs of all children.
MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM STATEMENT
The school follows the Numeracy Framework. This framework provides teachers with a highly structured syllabus, where children will be able to develop to their fullest potential, and still enable teachers to use a variety of teaching styles. Built into the framework are opportunities for the children to solve problems, check results, carry out open ended investigations and develop their mathematical language. We will continue our policy of "setting", where each year group is divided into 4 ability groups. This enables us to challenge all children, whatever their ability, in Maths
SCIENCE
The aim of our Science Curriculum is to present broad, balanced, progressive and active learning experiences, which are practical, appropriately challenging and where applicable are firmly rooted in first hand experience. Our Science Curriculum aims to help pupils develop scientific concepts, skills, and methods of investigation, thus enabling them to make sense of things that happen and of the world around them. Children will be encouraged to develop and practice the skills of the scientific process e.g. questioning, predicting, observing, recording and concluding and will be taught how to apply these skills. Children will be encouraged to take every precaution to ensure safety. All children will work from the school Science Scheme of work which is supported by a wealth of resources within school. We aim to provide learning opportunities which will stimulate and encourage the children to reach their full potential in Science.
HISTORY
Through the study of history we aim to investigate the human past. The children will study important episodes and developments from the past in the local area, the UK and the world. They will be helped to develop a chronological framework of events by making links across the different units studied. Studying history will enable the children to build up a knowledge of the past by using and interpreting sources that remain. They will begin to ask questions, find out about the periods studied and make their own interpretations of history. These ideas will then be organised and communicated in a variety of ways. In order to collect information the children will have the opportunity to explore a variety of sources of information such as reference books, historical artefacts and the local area.
GEOGRAPHY
Through the study of geography we aim to encourage the children to develop an interest and knowledge in their surroundings and those of the wider world. It takes the children out of the classroom into their locality and contrasting environments. It provides a setting for topical investigation and comparison and the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of the subject. Geography will introduce the children to natural processes, such as the effect of rivers on their landscape and how weather varies between places and over time. They will also study human processes and investigate settlement patterns and how environmental change. It will also offer ways of viewing these through the use of maps, aerial photographs and CD-ROMS.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information technology is concerned with communicating and handling information, as well as modelling, measuring and controlling external events, by electronic means. It is a tool which involves solving problems, using a variety of information sources to support learning and understanding the implications of IT for society. Pupils have the opportunity to use IT purposefully, to communicate their ideas and information, and to process data. They also make use of the CD-ROMs to support their learning in other areas of the curriculum. They have the opportunity to use a variety of programmes and systems. The world of IT is constantly changing. More importance and value is being placed on IT in the curriculum and it was recently made a Core Subject. We aim to keep up with the current IT trends. We are planning a new IT Resource suite that will house a library area and a computer area with enough CD-ROMs to teach whole class lessons. Each machine will have access to the internet and it is our intention that each child will have their own E-mail address. We aim to ensure that the children become confident in the use of IT in an increasingly technological society.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
In Design Technology we aim to teach children a broad range of knowledge and skills to enable them to tackle a variety of challenges in the designing and making of quality products. The teaching of Design Technology is structured throughout the year groups so as to ensure progression in designing and making with a variety of materials, such as wood, clay and card. Children also apply knowledge and skills to the use of gears, levers, pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical components. Within each year group children take part in Product Analysis (evaluating existing products), Focused Practical Tasks (where they learn and practise particular skills), Design and Make Assignments (where they utilise their knowledge and skills to design and make quality products) and Evaluation (where the children analyse their work against their own initial design criteria). Whenever possible the children are taught and encouraged to use specialist language during the designing and making of their products. We also aim to provide the children with quality components, materials (in addition to recycled materials from home and local industry), construction kits and tools to enable them to select from a range of resources in their designing and making.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
In PE the children are able to make use of our extensive grounds and large indoor sports hall. Activities are undertaken by both boys and girls and include traditional games such as football, hockey, cricket, athletics and rounders, along with activities such as dance and gymnastics. Children in Year 6 are encouraged to attend courses which are organised at outdoor education centres, whilst all year groups have the opportunity to use our own orienteering course.
Children attend swimming lessons at the Meadowside Leisure Centre. Each class has two P.E. lessons per week. All the staff at Edge Hill are qualified to teach Physical Education and a number are enthusiastically involved in extra curricular activities including girls and boys football teams, netball, hockey and kwik cricket.
ART
The Art Curriculum at Edge Hill will foster the individual child's creative ability. Children will develop the skills necessary to bring them to their full potential. Children will be given the opportunity to develop their aesthetic awareness and this will enable them to respond to their own work and that of other artists. Children will investigate the elements of shape, form, space, texture, colour, pattern, line and tone through the study of drawing, painting, textiles, sculpture, collage and printing.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE)
Religious Education is the only subject not covered by the National Curriculum. All our work is taken from The Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education issued by Staffordshire Education Authority. The children are taught in mixed ability groups and are encouraged to consider thoughts and ideas from Christianity and the other major religions of the world. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE in consultation with the headteacher.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PSHE)
PSHE is taught at Edge Hill School as part of the Curriculum. It concerns the children thinking about and discussing together a variety of issues which they may encounter. It usually happens in class groups during "Circle Time" or during Year Group Assemblies. Topics have been allocated to the 4 Year Groups.
MUSIC
Music will be accessible to all pupils. It aims to develop the aesthetic sensitivity and the artistic ability of all pupils. Children are given opportunities to undertake a balanced programme of composing, listening and performing. Our musical activities are designed to encourage an exploration of sound - through instruments (both percussive and melodic) and through the voice. Listening to a variety of live and recorded music performed by others also enables the children to form links between their own ideas and those of others. Music derives from and contributes to culture and society. It is an important mode of communication and understanding.
Throughout the curriculum we aim to develop independence, co-operation and a sense of responsibility and respect for others.
HOW DO I COMPLAIN ABOUT AN ASPECT OF THE CURRICULUM?
The Education Committee of Staffordshire County Council has established procedures for hearing of complaints made against delivery of the Curriculum by a school. These are available from school.
CURRICULUM OUTLINE
Each term every year group follows a set curriculum. Click on the links below to view the curriculum plans for Autumn 2011 and Spring 2012
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