Curriculum

Our curriculum is built around ‘Learning Challenges’ within which, linking to our values, we use a question based approach to structure our delivery of the National Curriculum.

By providing high quality learning opportunities through our broad, balanced and challenging curriculum we: 

Encourage - all children to be active participants in their learning.

Challenge - all members of our school community to strive for high standards.

Inspire - everyone to enjoy learning.

The Curriculum at our school is relevant to the needs of our pupils and our locality whilst being flexible and accessible for our mobile population. Through our curriculum design, subjects are linked together within a 'Learning Challenge' where there are clear, relevant and strong reasons for doing so, other subjects are taught separately.

Opportunities to extend children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are woven into our school curriculum - as are British values, which are explicit and implicit in the life of the school. For example: 

• Our house system, elected responsibilities and choice of praise child are all evidence of democracy in action. This is further evidenced when learning challenges are being developed. 

• Mutual respect is embedded in everything we do and the language linked to our code of RESPECT is common place to praise behaviour and point out where choices could be better. 

• Our relationships with the local police, fire brigade and armed services are excellent and the children are used to seeing and interacting with these authority figures within the school and community. In addition, the school’s understanding of the rule of law is further enhanced through attendance at events such as Crucial Crew and discrete topics within personal, social and health education.

• Through acts of collective worship, challenging topics and themes such as WW1, the children and staff share and empathise with those who fought for our liberty and those whose liberty has been taken away. 

• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs is a key driver within our RE curriculum and in the work of HMS heroes who actively support the children of deployed parents. 

Across all curriculum areas children have purposeful opportunities to use and apply their core skills (maths, reading and writing). Our curriculum is designed to ensure that, through a wide range of activities, children are progressing in their skills and understanding and extending their subject knowledge.

Helen Appleton

Deputy Headteacher

The following table includes some useful information about our curriculum.

Holy Trinity CE Junior School Curriculum 2018-19

Science

To ensure that our children have secure science skills and understanding we teach science as a discrete subject. Within science the children use their core maths and literacy skills to help them to ask questions, record observations and draw conclusions. Children experience a variety of practical activities using an increasing amount of equipment and recording methods to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding. Developing children's understanding of the different ways of working scientifically is key to our science curriculum. In addition to this, guided by ideas from our Science Reps, we hold science competitions throughout the year as well as a science themed day.  

Computing

Children have discrete computing lessons each week in which they have access to netbooks and chromebooks. During this time they develop skills which enable them to become digitally literate, understand the fundamentals of computer science and be confident users of technology.

Each year, the first topic for all year groups is E-safety. We have a joint PSHE and computing unit designed to look at the practical ways in which children can keep themselves safe online as well as supporting children to understand their emotional responses to online content. E-safety then continues to be woven into the curriculum and is discussed both implicitly and explicitly.   

Alongside these lessons, children use ICT in the wider curriculum to develop their skills and present, publish and organise their learning.

History and Geography

These subjects are based on a ‘Learning Challenge’ approach in which topics begin with a ‘big question’. This question is then broken down into subsidiary questions which are used to focus the learning for the topic. Each Learning Challenge begins with a ‘WOW’ to enthuse and inspire the children and ends with a ‘reflection’ which draws together the learning that has taken place.

Each Learning Challenge has either a history or geography focus. During the school year, each year group completes four Learning Challenges plus an additional whole school unit. The whole school unit gives us the flexibility to address key events and helps us to ensure the curriculum remains relevant. This year our additional unit is based on World War I and will coincide with Remembrance Day.

Expectations for knowledge, skills and understanding are attached to each challenge to ensure coverage and progression. Within each Learning Challenge there are relevant links to maths and literacy to ensure that core skills are used and applied throughout the curriculum.

Design Technology and Art

Design Technology and Art are both linked to the Learning Challenges. To ensure coverage and progression, one or both subjects are present in every challenge with a development of knowledge, skills and understanding.

Music

Music lessons are taught by a specialist music instructor. In each unit the children develop and extend their musical knowledge, skills and understanding. In places, music is also linked to the Learning Challenge which extends the children’s musical experiences. Music is a valuable asset to our school and children have an opportunity to develop their own skills and interests through choir and piano and guitar lessons. 

Physical Education (PE)

Physical Education is taught as a discrete subject and is delivered by both a specialist PE teacher from Nidderdale High School and class teachers. Using our sport funding to access the skills of a specialist teacher has raised the standard of PE and sport in our school and has provided our staff with a great opportunity to share practice. Children also attend swimming lessons for one term during year 3, the aim being to be able to confidently swim at least 25 metres. Children can also join sports clubs which change on a termly basis as well as having the opportunity to represent the school in a wide variety of area sport competitions.

We believe it is essential to support children in developing a healthy lifestyle so all classes are active participants of the daily mile. We also hold regular House Competitions which are designed to enable opportunities for both participation and competitiveness.  

Religious Education (RE)

Each year group completes five RE units based on the North Yorkshire Agreed Syllabus 2013 (statutory document). During the year each child will participate in the statutory 60 hours of Religious Education with 60% based on Christianity and 40% based on other world religions. The main focus for the other world religions is Judaism and Islam.

In the lead up to Christmas and Easter all years groups focus on an aspect of these main Christian festivals. In addition to this we have Christmas and Easter themed days held during Advent and Lent respectively.

 French

Our children benefit from having a specialist French teacher in school who works closely with our French instructor. All classes have language lessons where they enjoy learning French through a variety of songs, games and spoken language. As the children progress through school, they also learn to read and write in French.