Thomas Whitehead Academy

The National Curriculum

National Curriculum

The National Curriculum is a framework used to ensure that teaching and learning is balanced and consistent in key stage 1 and key stage 2. It seeks to build on the foundation provided by the areas of learning in the Early Learning Goals. In Early Years and key stage 1, phonics skills are developed through daily lessons, following the 'Little Wandle.' programme.  

The National Curriculum sets out the subjects taught as well as the knowledge, skills and understanding required in each subject. It also provides standards or attainment targets in each subject and these are used by teachers to help measure your child's progress and plan the next steps in their learning. In accordance with the law, the school curriculum meets all the requirements of the National Curriculum, plus the requirements for Religious Education set out by the local authority.

Core Subjects

• English
• Mathematics
• Science

Foundation Subjects

• Art and Design
• Computing
• Design and Technology
• Modern Foreign Languages 
• Geography
• History
• Music
• PSHE
• Physical Education
• Religious Education

Our Curriculum 

Intent

Over the past couple of years at Thomas Whitehead, we have reviewed and changed our curriculum to ensure that we are providing the best learning experiences for our pupils. We feel the best way to deliver the National Curriculum objectives for many subjects is through a creative topic approach that engages and excites the children. The school use the Cornerstones Curriculum with this aim in mind. We have used the Cornerstones Curriculum 2022 to form the basis of our curriculum, a curriculum which we believe will enable our children to grow - not only in knowledge, skills and understanding but also to flourish as learners in their own unique way. Our curriculum provides broad and balanced opportunities which aim to drive a life-long love of learning as well as positive learning behaviours which help our children to grow as individuals as well as learners. 

“Pupils benefit from the new, ambitious curriculum. This is helping them to build an increasingly secure body of knowledge so they learn well over time.” Ofsted February 2023

What is the Cornerstones Curriculum?

 The Cornerstones Curriculum is a creative and thematic approach to learning that is mapped to the Primary National Curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of national expectations. It is delivered through Imaginative Learning Projects (ILPs) which provide a rich menu of exciting and motivating learning activities that make creative links between all aspects of our children’s learning. 

It is based upon the belief that children learn better when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning to engaging contexts. The curriculum will provide lots of learning challenges throughout the academic year that will require children to solve problems, apply themselves creatively and express their knowledge and understanding effectively across the curriculum.

Cornerstones also provide a rigorous essential skills framework that outlines the end of year expectations in all subjects. These essential skills are tied to activities and are age related so that staff can track children’s progress and identify their individual learning needs.

Implementation

We recognise the need for a broader curriculum which allows our children to access knowledge and experience of the wider world so that they develop and possess the building blocks essential for becoming successful adults in the world in which we live today. We use the Cornerstones Curriculum to help us to achieve this aim.

The Four Cornerstones of Learning provides the structure for every ILP. We call these 'Engage', 'Develop', 'Innovate' and 'Express'. We believe this pedagogy reflects the best way children learn and is rooted in a variety of different educational approaches and research. 

Engage - hook children in with a memorable experience

Develop - allow children time to gather the skills and knowledge they need to develop a deep understanding.

Innovate - offer creative experiences that allow children to apply their skills, knowledge and understanding. 

Express - provide the space and time for reflecting, evaluating and celebrating learning.

We firmly believe children learn better when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning to engaging contexts. Our curriculum provides lots of learning challenges throughout the academic year that require children to solve problems, apply themselves creatively and express their knowledge and understanding effectively.

Our focus on curriculum development is carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression as well as providing our children with memorable  experiences, diverse and rich opportunities from which they can learn and develop a range of transferable skills. We aim to raise aspirations, develop positive learning behaviours and attitudes, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, provide a purpose and relevance for learning and ultimately to help every child to find and develop their own personal strengths and interests. 

Our curriculum balances the national expectations and an all-encompassing range of experiences allowing our children to flourish. Clear strategic planning, allows the curriculum to be dynamic and adapt to the context of the needs of a Thomas Whitehead child. We encourage our teachers to make cross-curricular links where possible within their lesson plans, so that children can draw upon knowledge from different subjects, making connections, and understand how each theme plays a part in everyday life. Age related expectations combine the acquisition of knowledge, understanding and the development of skills to create a purposeful and exciting learning journey for every child. Teaching and learning of our curriculum encompasses high expectations to combine transferable skills, demonstrate a breadth of vocabulary and develop strong cross curricular links. Quality classroom environments and resources stimulate and promote quality thinking and reasoning.

Impact

We review learning and the impact of teaching, evaluating pupil voice, tracking attainment and progress, celebrating and sharing effective practice proven to have an impact upon learning and continuing to improve the impact of the curriculum through highlighting areas of development. As part of this review process, the children have a voice through the Curriculum Committee, a selection of pupil voice children who meet together to discuss the strengths and areas of development for our school curriculum.

It is hoped that our children will leave us with a broad, rich and deep knowledge in line with age related expectations, or as appropriate, bespoke to their highly individual needs. They will be able to transfer the skills that they have mastered into wider contexts and they will be prepared for the next stages of their education. We will have planted the seeds of inquisitiveness and inspired them to always have their minds open to new learning.

“A key feature of the improvement (in school) is the revised curriculum now in place. This has raised expectations of what pupils will learn during their time in school.” Ofsted February 2023

For further information on the Thomas Whitehead Curriculum, please contact the Curriculum Lead, Mr Riggett-Roderick