We aim to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and to achieve. Our curriculum aims also to promote our children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and to prepare all pupils for the responsibilities and experiences of life. These two aims reinforce each other. The personal development of pupils plays a significant part in their ability to learn and to achieve. Development in both areas is essential to raising standards of attainment for all our pupils.

Which subjects do we teach at Key Stages 1 & 2?

Religious Education

We teach religious education for all our pupils although parents can choose to withdraw their children. We use the locally agreed syllabus which reflects the fact that the religious traditions in the UK are, in the main, Christian, while taking account of the teachings and practices of other principal religions represented in our country.

This area of learning helps to give our pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.

Sex Education

We teach sex education within the framework of PSHCE. Our policy on sex education is available to parents. Parents can choose to withdraw their children from all or part of sex education.

Promoting Skills

There are six skill areas, which help our pupils to improve their learning and performance in education, work and life. These key skills are embedded in our subject teaching. They are:

What happens in the Early Years?

The “foundation stage” is used to describe the phase of education from a child’s third birthday to the end of the reception year. The early learning goals set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the foundation stage. They are organized as six areas of learning: language and literacy; mathematical development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; and creative development.

What are the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies?

These two strategies are taught daily at Alderman Jacobs School . Frameworks for teaching literacy and mathematics have been published to support these strategies and we utilize these fully. Literacy and numeracy hours have structures involving whole class teaching as well as group, paired or individual work.

We interpret “inclusion” as a responsibility to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils. Teachers modify, as necessary, the National Curriculum to provide all pupils with relevant and appropriately challenging work whatever age they are. Teachers try to set suitable learning challenges, respond to diverse learning needs and to overcome barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of pupils.

In practice we include within our school pupils with special educational needs and we do our best to provide an excellent education. Sometimes our pupils may need access to specialist equipment and approaches or to alternative or adapted activities consistent with school-based intervention augmented by advice and support from external specialists.

Health and Safety

Pupils are taught about hazards, risks and risk control and to manage their environment to ensure the health and safety of themselves and others. In class this may mean safe use of scissors. In the wider environment we aim to complement what parents teach their children e.g. road safety.

Core Subjects

English

A core National Curriculum subject and one to which we stress huge importance. We teach speaking and listening, reading, writing, spelling, drama and handwriting.

Mathematics

Another core subject which is taught daily. We teach using and applying numbers, e.g. solving problems, numbers and the number system, calculations, solving numerical problems, handling data and shape, space and measures.

Science

Our third core subject and one which stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity about the world around them. During Key Stage 1 pupils observe, explore and ask questions about living things, materials and phenomena. They work together to ask and answer questions, evaluate evidence and consider whether tests or comparisons are fair. In Key Stage 2 pupils study scientific enquiry, life processes and living things, materials and their properties and physical processes.

Foundation Subjects

Design and Technology

Children learn how to plan and communicate their ideas, and work with tools, equipment, materials and components to make quality products. They are also taught how to evaluate the progress of their designs, make improvements and review finished products.

History

Initially we teach pupils about the distinction between present and past in their own lives moving onto recounting episodes and stories from the past. They learn about the past beyond living memory, the main events and people from years gone by – Vikings, Victorians, Egyptians, Greeks, Tudors, Saxons and the 2^nd World War.

Geography

Pupils learn about the locality and the features of the environment where they live. In Key Stage 2 children are taught about the physical and human features of places as well as studying a locality outside their own area.

Art and Design

Pupils learn a variety of techniques using a range of media, e.g. painting, collage, printing, textiles, sculpture. They learn about the role of art, craft and design in their environment and develop their creativity and imagination. We teach pupils to use a sketchbook, to develop their work and about artists, crafts people and designers working in different times and cultures. Children are taught to have pride in their work and to enjoy its exhibition in classrooms and in communal areas.

Music

We try to be a “musical” school and to celebrate the success of all our children as music makers. Children participate in class music lessons as well as weekly singing practices and all Key Stage 2 pupils have opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument – clarinet, recorder, guitar and violin. Keyboards are taught by arrangement with “Music for Schools”. Recitals by staff and pupils take place regularly and we celebrate music at every opportunity. We help children “to listen” to a range of music – past, present and from other cultures. Professional musicians are invited into school to perform for the children. Many extra-curricular music clubs operate at lunchtimes and after school.

Physical Education

Exercise is crucial for our health. We help children to develop their physical competences and confidence, to be creative and competitive. We try to develop positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles. All pupils have a weekly PE lesson and Key Stage 2 pupils have both PE and outdoor games lessons. During the swimming season we try to give all pupils two or three sessions every week. Dance and gymnastics are taught and we incorporate dance into as many class assemblies as we can so that children have an opportunity to perform to an audience. We have an extensive range of extra-curricular sports activities taught by our own staff and external specialists.

ICT

An exciting subject area and one where the children sometimes teach us! All children have access to computers. We teach skills but we also use information technology “across the curriculum” that is in all subject areas. For instance, in geography children may search the net (safely of course) for information on other countries or perhaps e-mail a school elsewhere in the world. Not only do we teach pupils to explore ICT and to use it confidently, we also use it in order to enhance our own teaching. The children enjoy lessons using our interactive whiteboard and multi-media projectors.

Collective Worship/Assembly

This takes place every day when we come together either as a whole school, a Key Stage, two year groups or a single group. Christianity features strongly but all faiths are represented in our collective worship. Typically collective worship at Alderman Jacobs School follows the familiar pattern of a welcome, a story or drama to support a theme, a prayer and a relevant hymn or song. Whilst our children are collected together we take the opportunity to celebrate success in class, in music, sports etc and to inform children of events and notices. We enjoy numerous visits from or local church ministers and have a very positive working relationship.

What Else

Health Promoting Schools

We aim to be a “ Health Promoting School ” and are working towards national recognition. Our themes involve both physical and mental well-being for pupils and their families, as well as our staff. We have good parental representation on our working party and take “pupil voice” into consideration through our School Council.

External Awards

Alderman Jacobs School holds a Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark for the teaching of literacy and numeracy. We are also an Investor in People, having received the award twice. This means that we give high priority to staff training and development and have a firm belief that appropriate training will have a direct and positive influence on the quality of our teaching.

Visitors and Visits

Every year group receivee visitors and participates in external visits. These are to enhance our curriculum stimulating the children and appealing to their interests and both social and educational development. Some examples of these are:

Residentials

Children not opting for residentials remain in school and whilst continuing to follow the National Curriculum will generally have an interesting and exciting programme of activities designed for them.

Across Year Working

We provide opportunities for pupils to work with other age groups in school. Typically a Year 6 class may work to support reading development. This not only develops skills for both age groups but fosters caring and understanding. We have found some partnerships continue for several years with teenage pupils still having an interest in their younger partners’ learning.

Parental Involvement in the Curriculum

Please be involved. You will most likely do this through supporting your own child or children but you can do more if you wish. We ask for parental support on working parties, for your views on developments, for your attendance at open sessions to observe in classrooms and for your participation in Curriculum Activities Evenings alongside your youngsters. All of these are advertised in our monthly newsletter “Noticeboard”. You may wish to come to your child’s class assembly held on Wednesdays and again always advertised in “Noticeboard”. Class assemblies are an excellent way of finding out more about what your child does during the school day. Our Website www.aldermanjacobs.cambs.sch.uk also provides information for you and your families.

Thank you for reading this booklet. If you wish to find out more please speak to your child’s teacher or to the Deputy or Head. We will try to answer your questions.

Our School Curriculum