Curriculum

Our curriculum Statement of Intent

Smallwood Academy instils the love of learning into all who enter its doors; with God, Church and Faith at the centre of its values.

We want each and every member of our school community to understand we are all lifelong learners and we continually learn from each other as well as use formal ways.

Everyone has the right to learn and it is about more than gaining formal qualifications; it is to deepen our knowledge of the world around us.

At Smallwood CE Primary Academy the curriculum is designed to: recognise children’s prior learning, provide first hand learning experiences, allow the children to develop interpersonal skills, build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers. As well as this we aim to foster confidence, independence, co-operation and self-esteem; all skills needed to prepare our children for life in 21^st Century Britain. The basic curriculum of the school comprises the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2, together with Religious Education. The school also provides experiences and activities that deepen and widen children’s cultural, aesthetic and intellectual development.

Every child is recognised as a unique individual. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values with a vision to prepare them for life beyond primary school. We constantly provide enrichment opportunities to engage learning. The innovative practice offered at Smallwood provides a strong foundation for learning and creates opportunities for children to work in teams and develop social skills both indoors and out. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on pupil outcomes. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and excellent behaviour where children feel safe to try out new experiences. We promote positive attitudes to learning which reflect the values and skills needed to promote responsibility for learning and future success.

Community involvement is an important part of our curriculum, inviting families and visitors to facilitate learning new skills and sharing experiences such as assemblies, curriculum outcomes, Do Something Different Week and STEAM week.

Sport has a high profile at Smallwood, and pupils are introduced to a huge variety of activities to promote physical health and wellbeing. A range of clubs gives learners an opportunity to access a wide variety of activities after school hours and during lunch times. Traditional sports such as netball and football are complimented by yoga, tag rugby, dance, gymnastics and weekly swimming sessions.  

Implementation

Our curriculum has developed and continues to develop over time.   The Headteacher oversees this work and reports to Governors regularly. We evaluate the knowledge, skills and understanding that the pupils have gained against the expectations agreed and evaluate our topics from this.  This ensures that we are constantly striving for improvement and ensuring that our curriculum is the best it can be.   

Impact

Children leave Smallwood with the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.

Files to Download