Curriculum

Developing independent, confident young people

The aim of Grace Darling Primary is to provide opportunities for children to develop into independent and confident young people who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. Developing children’s moral, spiritual, social and cultural understanding is woven into school life; everyone is encouraged to ‘Let their Light shine’.

Building knowledge and understanding

The Grace Darling Primary curriculum is designed around well-crafted enquiry questions, within which our children build knowledge, understanding and skills systematically and cumulatively. Subjects are carefully considered for inclusion within each enquiry to ensure relevance and coherence. Our curriculum provides children with memorable experiences from diverse and rich opportunities, allowing everyone to learn from a knowledge-rich approach. The children’s own communities, their heritage and traditions are frequently used as a starting point for engaging interest. The curriculum is intended to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for learning.

The curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of quality first teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. As a result, positive impact is seen on pupil outcomes.

Curriculum intent

Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the children of this community. It is coherently planned and sequenced to ensure that the knowledge and skills required to succeed in each subject, at each stage, are clearly defined.

The children are encouraged to explore the world through reading and to develop a love of reading.

Our carefully-crafted lines of enquiry are designed to stir up curiosity and promote discussion and questioning. Children are encouraged to explore the history and geography of the local area as well as venturing further afield to explore the wider world. They feel safe to explore new things.

With these foundations, starting in our 2-year old provision and continuing as the children journey through to year 6, it is our intention that the children will go on to confidently take up their places in society and live happily, healthily and successfully.

Primary teaching through the pandemic

This year, our curriculum remains broad and ambitious, while also meeting the needs of the current national challenges, presented by Covid 19. By incorporating a structured programme of pre-teaching and the use of detailed memory strategy resources, we will ensure children build on their learning and cover the most important missed content, filling the gaps in core knowledge.

Skills for success

Our curriculum has a focus on skills and knowledge, direct focused teaching and child-led exploration, literacy and numeracy and a broad and balanced curriculum. Teaching through enquiry allows children to make connections between subjects and learning.

Developing a love of reading lies at the heart of our curriculum. It is our ambition that every child can read by the end of Year 2. In key stage 1 we use use Read Write Inc. to support the delivery of phonics. Listening to stories and choosing books for interest and pleasure encourages our children to start a lifelong interest in reading. You can find out more about reading for pleasure in our dedicated Reading Corner!

Musical opportunities are extensive; all children in Key Stage 2 have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument individually, as part of a small ensemble and as a whole class.

Grace Darling Primary promotes physical health and wellbeing. A range of sporting events gives children opportunities to access a wide variety of sports after school hours and during lunch times.

More information

Please use the links below to access further information about our curriculum. Alternatively, if you have any specific questions about your child’s learning in a particular subject area, contact the school office on 01670 812019 and a member of staff will be happy to assist you.