Curriculum

Our curriculum intent

At Sheering CE Primary School, we provide a vibrant, ambitious and coherently planned curriculum that goes beyond the experiences of the classroom to nurture each child's passion for learning and love of knowledge. Our curriculum is carefully designed and sequenced to meet the diverse needs of all our learners, building systematically on what pupils already know and can do, while fostering their individual interests and enhancing their overall learning experience.

Rooted in our Christian vision that "Everyone Matters" and guided by our AWESOME values (Aspiration, Wisdom, Empathy, Service, Openness, Motivation and Endurance) alongside British values, our empowering curriculum cultivates resilient, independent, confident and successful learners. We equip every child with the knowledge, skills and cultural capital they need to succeed in life, make lasting positive contributions to their community and flourish in the wider society.

Our curriculum implementation

A knowledge-rich, sequenced curriculum

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils build their knowledge systematically over time. We recognise that:

Knowledge is the foundation of learning - pupils need to know and remember more over time to think critically and make connections across the curriculum
Foundational knowledge comes first - we prioritise securing strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, which unlock access to the wider curriculum
Learning builds progressively - each year builds on prior learning, with clear progression pathways in every subject
Retrieval strengthens memory - we plan regular opportunities for pupils to revisit and apply their learning, embedding knowledge in long-term memory

High-quality teaching across all subjects

Our teachers have strong subject knowledge and use effective pedagogical approaches to:

Present information clearly and promote appropriate discussion
Check pupils' understanding systematically and identify and address misconceptions quickly
Ensure that pupils embed key concepts and knowledge in their long-term memory
Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils

Reading at the heart of our curriculum

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils become confident, fluent readers who read widely and often. We achieve this through:

A systematic, synthetic phonics programme (Little Wandle) from Reception onwards, ensuring all pupils learn to decode quickly and accurately
Early intervention for pupils who fall behind, so they catch up rapidly and access the full curriculum
A rich culture of reading across the school, with carefully chosen texts that broaden pupils' vocabulary, knowledge and understanding of the world
Regular opportunities for pupils to read for pleasure and develop a love of books that will last a lifetime

Our curriculum impact

Preparing pupils for their next stage

Our curriculum ensures that pupils:

Achieve well across all subjects, developing detailed knowledge and skills that prepare them for the next stage of their education
Make strong progress from their individual starting points, with any gaps in learning identified and addressed quickly
Develop as well-rounded individuals with the knowledge, skills, qualifications and personal qualities they need to succeed in life
Are ready for secondary school with secure foundations in literacy, numeracy and a broad knowledge base across the curriculum

Supporting the whole child

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that:

Academic excellence is achieved through:

Ambitious expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
A broad and balanced curriculum that gives pupils the knowledge and cultural capital they need
Regular assessment that informs teaching and ensures pupils remember what they have learned

Personal development is fostered through:

Spiritual development – opportunities for reflection, prayer and understanding of Christian values and other faiths
Moral development – understanding right from wrong and developing strong moral principles
Social development – working collaboratively, respecting others and contributing positively to the school community
Cultural development – appreciating diversity, understanding British values and engaging with the cultural richness of our community and beyond

Physical and mental wellbeing is prioritised through:

High-quality PE and opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day
A curriculum that promotes healthy lifestyles and positive mental health
Teaching pupils how to keep themselves safe, including online

Character and resilience are built through:

Opportunities to develop problem-solving skills, creativity and critical thinking
Experiences that build confidence, independence and perseverance
Celebrating effort, progress and achievement to foster positive attitudes to learning

Our curriculum breadth and balance

Our curriculum:

Fulfils all statutory requirements

The National Curriculum for all subjects at Key Stages 1 and 2
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in Reception
The Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education
Relationships and Health Education as part of our PSHE curriculum

Embraces diversity and inclusion

Draws on the skills, knowledge and cultural richness of our school community and the wider world
Ensures all pupils, including those with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those who face barriers to learning, can access and succeed in the full curriculum
Celebrates difference and promotes equality, preparing children for life in modern Britain

Goes beyond the classroom

Enrichment opportunities including educational visits, visitors, clubs and special events
Links with our local church and community
Opportunities for pupils to develop their interests and talents
Experiences that broaden horizons and build cultural capital

Subject-specific curriculum design

Each subject in our curriculum is carefully planned to ensure:

Clear intent - what we want pupils to know and be able to do by the end of each key stage
Coherent sequencing - knowledge and skills build systematically, with each lesson building on previous learning
Appropriate challenge - all pupils, including the most able, are stretched and supported to achieve their potential
Regular assessment - teachers check what pupils know and can do, adapting teaching accordingly
Meaningful outcomes - pupils produce high-quality work that demonstrates their learning

Curriculum for pupils with SEND

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils, including those with SEND, can access and succeed in our ambitious curriculum. We achieve this through:

High-quality, inclusive teaching that meets the needs of all learners
Early identification of pupils who need additional support
Targeted interventions that help pupils catch up quickly without missing curriculum content
Adaptations and scaffolding that enable pupils with SEND to access age-appropriate learning
Close partnership with parents, external agencies and specialists
Regular review of provision to ensure it is having the desired impact

Our aim is for pupils with SEND to achieve well and be fully prepared for their next stage of education.

Curriculum for disadvantaged pupils

We are determined that disadvantaged pupils achieve as well as their peers and have access to the full breadth of our curriculum. We ensure this through:

High expectations for all pupils, regardless of background
Targeted support to address any gaps in knowledge or skills
Enrichment opportunities to build cultural capital and broaden experiences
Removal of barriers to learning, including financial barriers to trips, clubs and resources
Close monitoring of progress and rapid intervention where needed

Monitoring and evaluation

We continuously evaluate the impact of our curriculum through:

Regular assessment of what pupils know and can remember
Work scrutiny to evaluate the quality and progression of pupils' learning over time
Learning walks and lesson observations to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning
Pupil voice to understand pupils' experiences and attitudes to learning
Subject leader monitoring to ensure curriculum intent is being realised in practice
Governor scrutiny to hold leaders to account for curriculum quality and impact

This ongoing evaluation ensures that our curriculum remains ambitious, coherent and effective in preparing all pupils for success.

Curriculum leadership and development

Our curriculum is led by:

Executive Head/Head of School - overall curriculum vision and strategic leadership
Subject leaders - ensuring high-quality curriculum design, implementation and impact in each subject
The SENCO - ensuring the curriculum is accessible and ambitious for all pupils with SEND
Governors - holding leaders to account for curriculum quality and impact

We invest in ongoing professional development for all staff to ensure they have the subject knowledge and pedagogical expertise to deliver our ambitious curriculum effectively.

Our curriculum in action

To see our curriculum in action, we invite you to:

Visit our school - contact the office to arrange a tour
Explore our website - view individual subject curriculum statements and examples of pupils' work
Attend our curriculum events - we regularly invite parents to see what their children are learning
Speak to our pupils - they are proud of their learning and love to share what they know

At Sheering CofE Primary School, our curriculum is designed to ensure that every child, regardless of their starting point or background, receives a high-quality education that prepares them to flourish in the next stage of their education and in life.

"For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." Ephesians 2:10