The school curriculum is all the planned activities and experiences that the school provides in order to promote children’s personal development, growth and learning. It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the enrichment programmes, community events and range of extra-curricular activities that the school organises in order for children to achieve well, develop character and be well prepared for the next stage in their education. Furthermore, it includes the ‘hidden curriculum’, or what the children learn from the way they are treated and expected to behave. The curriculum has been designed to support children to engage with their learning and remain committed to learning throughout their lives and grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others while developing knowledge and skills.
Ten Curriculum Strands
Alongside the school’s values, the Highgate Primary Curriculum builds on ten underlying principles:
1. Joyful, meaningful and purposeful learning
We encourage children to appreciate the enjoyment that can come from learning the key skills of reading, writing and maths. We ensure that the application of these skills comes through purposeful activities which are connected to the wider learning taking place both within the class topics and beyond.
2. Investigative and collaborative approaches to learning
We aim to provide children with opportunities to pursue an enquiry, including discussion around what is already known, formulating questions as to what they want to find, carrying out independent or group research and presenting their findings to a range of audiences using a variety of media. Great emphasis is put on providing opportunities for children to work collaboratively.
3. Learning takes place everywhere
We aim to provide opportunities for children to learn in a variety of settings, including the classroom, specialist areas, home and on trips and visits. Great emphasis is given to learning in an outdoor setting including opportunities for outward-bound activities and Forest Schools.
4. A chance to shine
We aim for children to have opportunities to develop their unique skills and talents, and provide opportunities for these to be shared with others.
5. Thinking skills
We aim to provide children with opportunities to develop their thinking skills, including problem solving, logic, critical thinking and philosophy. The curriculum is also designed to promote children’s personal development including the key skills and qualities of adaptability, resilience, thoughtfulness, co-operation and respect.
6. Knowledge is power
We recognise the importance of knowledge and understand how it can be motivating and liberating, supporting children to communicate, engage with the world around them and overcome fear.
7. Local, global and green
We aim to provide children with opportunities to develop their understanding of their place within the world. This includes developing their understanding of their locality, and its relationship with contrasting localities both in the UK and internationally. We want children to develop a sense of their national identity at the same time as developing an understanding and interest in other parts of the world. Internationalism is embedded in the curriculum, helping children develop a coherent international perspective. We want to develop children’s understanding of issues relating to sustainability and the impact of human action on others.
8. Child-initiated learning and play
We fully support the principle that learning through play is an essential part of a child’s development. A play-based curriculum is provided in The Family Centre and Early Years Foundation Stage, which is extended into Year 1, however children in older year groups are also provided with opportunities within the curriculum to play. The curriculum also provides children with opportunities to extend their learning through carrying out research and project study in the areas of learning beyond the curriculum in which they have a particular interest.
9. An Inclusive Education
We understand the importance of supporting children to develop a pride and understanding of their individual identity, including their gender, ethnicity, faith and cultural heritage. The curriculum is planned to ensure strong and positive representation of different groups, with a focus on those represented within our school community. The curriculum promotes respect and positive attitudes towards individuals identifying with all such groups (including the Deaf community and children with special educational needs and disabilities) and an understanding of difference as both natural and a source of enrichment.
10. Classrooms rich in talk
We recognise the importance of children having the ability and confidence to communicate effectively with one another, the adults with whom they work and a range of audiences, using different registers as appropriate to the context, including Standard English. Oracy is promoted in a range of ways including collaborative group work, drama, debating and performance. Children are taught to speak audibly, clearly, concisely and in complete sentences, as well as to listen actively to others, responding with sensitivity and respect.
The Highgate Primary Curriculum
The school views the curriculum in the widest sense and, to reflect this, has developed the following areas of learning:
A topic-based approach to learning
The Highgate Primary Curriculum provides a cross-curricular, thematic teaching structure designed to engage children of all abilities.
It comprises a range of units of work, each planned to last for half a term. These units of work, or topics, are designed to provide continuity and progression in children’s learning and for children to learn the essential knowledge, skills and understanding of a broad range of curriculum subjects.
Each unit begins with an ‘in-day’ in which an activity is planned to introduce the children to the topic. These activities are designed to motivate and generate interest in the topic and allow children opportunities to think about the lines of enquiry they would like to pursue.
Learning within each topic is delivered through a range of linked activities, which are planned to deliver clearly defined learning objectives within the context of the topic. Great emphasis is given to creating real-life links through different activities including enrichment activities, trips, visits and invitations to visiting experts to come into school.
Wherever possible, all subjects with the exception of maths, are delivered through the topic. In literacy, the skills of reading and writing, including handwriting, punctuation and grammar, will be taught explicitly but the chosen texts and related writing genres are linked to the topic.
Each topic is concluded with an ‘out-day’ which is a rounding off of the topic, and includes a celebration, evaluation and opportunities to reflect on the learning which has taken place.
Forest Schools and Outward Bound Curriculum
The school believes that children benefit significantly from learning in an outdoor setting. The Forest Schools Curriculum is a skills-based curriculum with a commitment for children to work in a woodland setting for one session each fortnight. This curriculum is delivered in partnership with Highgate Woods to children in Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3.
In addition, the school curriculum incorporates residential trips for children in three year groups. Children in Year 2 complete an overnight camp at school, children in Year 4 visit Tolmers Activity Centre for 3 days in the Summer Term and children in Year 6 visit Pendarren Outward Bound and Activity Centre for one week in the Autumn Term.
Community Curriculum
The school understands that important learning takes place outside of the topics, through planned events and activities. This range of learning opportunities, called the Highgate Community Curriculum, comprises the following:
Assemblies
A programme of high quality assemblies is planned to support curriculum aims. Each week this includes:
Each half term the Headteacher leads an assembly in partnership with the Primary leader of Blanche Nevile School for Deaf Children that will focus on one aspect of partnership work.
Performances and Concerts
The school provides a full schedule of performances and concerts throughout the year including:
Celebrations, Festivals and Themed Days
The school acknowledges and celebrates a range of festivals each year through special assemblies including a multi-cultural harvest celebration. In addition, the school participates in a variety of special days and events each year, which typically include World Book Day and World Maths Day. The school also participates in different national initiatives to promote inclusion and recognise difference, such as Black History Month, and Autism Awareness Week.
Visitors to the school
The school has a programme of inviting inspirational visitors to school to talk to a range of audiences about their areas of expertise, experience and achievements. This includes regular visits from authors, musicians and experts from a variety of other fields. The school recognises the power of positive role models from diverse backgrounds to share what is possible.
PSA
The Parents’ School Association (PSA) organises a wide range of events each year from which the children benefit significantly. The programme includes:
Extra-curricular clubs
The school provides a very wide selection of lunchtime and after-school clubs in order to enrich children’s learning. These include specialist clubs for arts, crafts, sports, languages and cookery. In addition, the school’s Breakfast Club (Early Birds) and After-School Club (Night Owls) are designed to support children’s personal development, wellbeing and learning.
