The Aims of our curriculum

At Abbey, we want all children to develop a love for learning, enabling them to become lifelong learners. We take pride in celebrating that we are learners and that every child can and should achieve their full potential. Through our rich, broad and balanced curriculum, we aim to make all learning opportunities real, motivating and engaging; ensuring we give children the very best start to the learning journey.

Curriculum Intent

Abbey Primary School holds the child central to everything we do. Our ambitious curriculum is designed to offer what our children need; broad and extensive opportunities to learn, grow and achieve. We are really proud to showcase a curriculum which nurtures learners educationally, socially, physically and morally whilst giving opportunities to consider local, national and current events. Our curriculum has been developed with an understanding of our children and their community; it encourages every child to enjoy curiosity, independence, resilience and success alongside developing a healthy respect for diversity.

Curriculum Design

Senior Leaders, teachers and governors are aware that we are preparing children for an ever changing world; many of them will embark on careers which don’t even exist yet. As such, our curriculum is constantly evolving and must remain exciting and forward thinking, whilst fostering a love for learning. We believe that by offering children a curriculum which is a blend of knowledge and skills which build on previous learning, with a range of methods for recap, review and consolidation, we are allowing children their best chance to achieve their potential.

All stakeholders were involved in our curriculum design, and where possible the views of pupils and parents were sought to inform policy and practice. We began with subject leaders carefully considering what excellence in their subject looks like. When designing our curriculum, the following factors influenced its development:

• Providing a coherent, structured and ambitious framework for teaching and learning, which is motivating, engaging and appropriate for all.
• Delivering a progression of knowledge and skills from nursery to year 6 to ensure all pupils achieve as well as they can.
• Ensuring new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and sets the foundation for future learning. Opportunities provided to recap, review and consolidate.
• Encompassing a wide range of subjects and opportunities for academic, technical, creative and sporting excellence.
• Supporting a culture of resilience and positive mental health and wellbeing, where every child is safe, healthy, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included.
• Promoting children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
• Strengthening children’s capacity as a learner and developing their independence, initiative, determination and love and learning.
• Equipping children with the knowledge and cultural capital they need for future success.

Curriculum Implementation

Knowledge underpins and enables the application of skill. We strive for children to learn new skills alongside knowledge, ensuring that both are explicitly developed.  Recognising that knowledge and skills are intertwined, we take opportunities where possible for cross-curricular learning to maximise links across subjects and to ensure teaching and learning is relevant and meaningful.

Using the EYFS Statutory Framework and National Curriculum, age-appropriate progression in knowledge and skills for each core and foundation subject has been identified and mapped out across the primary phases.  Priority is given to the development of English and Maths skills of all our pupils.  

Our vibrant and rich curriculum is designed so that the subject specific skills are scaffolded within a topic or theme each term. Topics are carefully designed to capture the interests and imaginations of our children and to build on prior learning.  In order to ensure that progression and balance is maintained, the programmes of study are developed into medium-term plans which clearly highlight the learning objectives, assessment opportunities, differentiated tasks as well as links to other subjects.

Within each topic, teachers explore a range of methods to engage and hook the pupils which aims to ignite their interest and motivation to learn. We use every opportunity to capitalise on connections between all subjects and in particular reading, writing, speaking and listening, and maths skills in a purposeful context. We are exploring different ways when at the end of a topic, key learning facts are revisited regularly to ensure as much as possible is committed to long-term memory.

Curriculum Impact

At Abbey, we want our curriculum to have the most impact possible and strive for all pupils to achieve their absolute potential, by having high expectations across the board. Children make rapid progress from Foundation Stage and, by the end of Key Stage 2, progress made is typically well above the national average. Our curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality-first teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes. The impact and measure of our curriculum is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the curriculum but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points. In shaping our curriculum this way, progress is measured and evidenced for all children, regardless of their starting points or specific needs. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and excellent behaviour.

When our children leave us, as well as being ready for a KS3 curriculum, they have a wealth of transferrable skills which have been developed throughout their time at primary school in an inclusive and nurturing environment. Our children enjoy lessons and we believe this early love of learning stimulates children to become life-long learners. Our work on promoting social skills and good mental health and wellbeing through our PSHE curriculum, which include resilience, responsibility, risk-taking, collaboration, curiosity and empathy, enables children to become excellent role models and aspire to be the very best they can be.  Developing their independence, motivation and attitudes as learners, and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.

We ensure quality-first teaching and opportunities for repetition enable our children to develop their long-term memories and define their progress as knowing and remembering more.  Teachers and staff work hard to plan a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum which is expertly delivered to ensure a child’s entire school experience enables them to develop a deep body of knowledge which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life in whatever pathway they choose. 

Subject Leadership

Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further.  All subject leaders are given access to training and CPD opportunities and encouraged to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and the professional practice of colleagues.

The role of the Subject Leader is to:

•  Provide a strategic lead and direction for the subject.
• Support and advise colleagues on issues related to the subject.
• Provide efficient resource management for the subject.
• Keep up-to-date with developments in their key area of learning at both national and local levels.
• Monitor how their subjects are taught through monitoring the medium and short-term planning ensuring that appropriate teaching strategies are used.
• Reviewing curriculum plans for their key areas ensuring there is full coverage of the National Curriculum and that progression is planned for.
• Lead sustainable improvement through supporting colleagues and others.
• Judge standards within their subjects so they indicate the achievements of children at each key stage and indicate expectations of attainment.
• Evaluate teaching and learning, and assessment within their subjects.
• Have a secure awareness of the schemes of work for EYFS, KS1 and KS2.
• Report to the Headteacher on the strengths and areas for development of the subject and the strategies for improvement
• Explore opportunities to raise the profile of their subject

Curriculum Drivers

Our curriculum drivers play a critical role in shaping the educational experiences of our pupils. These drivers provide a framework for teachers to design and deliver our curriculum that is both relevant and engaging for all. The importance of these drivers lies in the fact that they help pupils develop a range of key skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. By focusing on these drivers, we ensure that our children are well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century, including the rapidly changing job market and the increasingly complex world around them. Furthermore, our curriculum drivers help to promote a lifelong love of learning and enable our children to become active, responsible, and engaged citizens. Our curriculum ensures that all children have access to high-quality education regardless of their background or circumstances. We focus on creating a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for all children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, or ability. Our curriculum promotes empathy, respect, and tolerance, and include opportunities for children to learn about different cultures and traditions. Our curriculum is Coherent & focuses on progression of skills, which we believe is an essential and  meets the needs of all children, particularly those in disadvantaged areas. Coherence in our curriculum ensures that there is a logical and connected sequence of learning experiences that build upon each other over time, allowing children to develop a deep and meaningful understanding of key concepts and skills.

Our curriculum drivers are an essential component Abbey Primary schools’ curriculum, helping to ensure that children receive a high-quality education that equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the future.

Our four curriculum drivers are:

• Personalised and Active Learning: This driver focuses on meeting the individual needs and interests of each child whilst engaging children in hands-on, experiential learning activities that promote creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to develop their strengths and interests, as well as to receive support and interventions where needed. It also incorporates formative assessment, knowledge retrieval and ongoing feedback to help children set goals, track progress, and celebrate their achievements.
• Communication and Collaboration: This driver focuses on developing children’s communication and collaboration skills, which are essential for success in school and beyond. Our curriculum includes opportunities for children to work in pairs and small groups, participate in class discussions, and present their ideas to others. It also provides opportunities for children to develop their digital literacy skills and use technology to collaborate and communicate with others.
• Health and Wellbeing: This driver focuses on promoting children’s physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing. The curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn about healthy eating, physical activity, and mindfulness, as well as to develop social and emotional skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and resilience.
• Our Community & the World around Us: This driver focuses on promoting children’s understanding of environmental issues and their role in protecting the planet. The curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn about climate change, recycling, sustainable living and being responsible citizens in the community. Our curriculum offers a range of experiences that helps them develop into well rounded, resilient citizens.

Details on how to obtain further information on the curriculum can be made by emailing postbox@abbey.walsall.sch.uk, with a request for specific information.