Curriculum – The Horbury Way

The Horbury Way - Curriculum Statement

At Horbury Primary Academy, we firmly believe that the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum is key to developing the child as a whole. We want our children to leave our school as confident individuals, who are capable of achieving great things and have a lifelong love of learning. We have a diverse curriculum, which is interwoven with the key learning attributes embodied within our PRIDE words; perseverance, risk-taking, independence, determination and enthusiasm.

To achieve this, we have created a curriculum which engages and motivates children to want to learn, to solve problems, and to think critically and creatively. We endeavour to provide themed approaches to learning, encourage frequent educational visits and visitors into school in order to bring subjects and learning to life.

The primary purpose of our curriculum is to guarantee a successful learning experience for every child and as such is designed to:

• Develop strong characters in order to be resilient and to cope with adversity
• Develop creative individuals who collaborate and cooperate in order to solve problems and who see failure as an opportunity to learn
• Develop pupils who think critically and care about their learning so that they always do their best
• Develop pupils who care about their school, their community and the wider world; encouraging them to feel part of and contribute positively to fundamental British values
• Ensure all children have high aspirations
• Develop a thirst for learning for all pupils
• Enable pupils to communicate, read, write and apply mathematics sufficiently well in order to prepare them to be successful in the next phase of their education

The curriculum at Horbury Primary Academy has been completely redesigned to offer the best possible opportunities for learning for our children.  Our curriculum encompasses the National Curriculum objectives and these objectives are built upon year upon year, which provides clear sequencing and progress during the Horbury Primary Academy journey.  The curriculum has been carefully crafted to include local links including visitors and educational visits to ensure the children in our school are able to take full advantage of their surrounding environment.  In addition, the curriculum is bespoke to our school and has been created to offer a more topic style approach whereby clear links can be made across subject areas.  For example, the topic ‘It’s a Mystery’ in Year 4 links to the Greeks in History, a trip to Think Forensic for Science, Greek vases in Art and Pandora’s Box in English.

At Horbury Primary Academy, we have developed Progression Of Learning Objectives (POLO) documents for each subject area that illustrate the progress and skills that our children will acquire during their school journey.  This ensures that all children in all year groups have an interesting, challenging and stimulating learning experience.  These POLO documents demonstrate that many of our children’s learning experiences make links with the local area – ‘The Horbury Way’.  For example, in our Year 2 History topic, our children examine the role of Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War and make links with Nellie Spindler who was a nurse from Wakefield during World War I. Here are a selection of our POLO documents:

Art LKS2 POLO 2020-21

Geography KS1 POLO 2020-21

PE POLO KS2 2020-21

Science KS2 POLO 2020-21

Within lessons, children are provided with ‘Sticky Knowledge Mats’ which help to support their recall of ‘sticky’ knowledge.  During lessons, these ‘Sticky Knowledge Mats’ are used as a learning tool and referred to throughout the topic.  These ‘Sticky Knowledge Mats’ are displayed upon our Working Walls and placed into our children’s exercise books.  An overview sheet detailing key knowledge for parents is sent home at the start of each half term.  Please click on the links to view the documents:

Year 1 Science – All About Me

Year 2 History – Florence Nightingale

Year 3 History – Egyptians

Year 4 Science – States of matter

Year 5 History – Crime and Punishment

Year 6 Geography – Coasts

Overview of Year 5 – Autumn 1

As a whole school, we complete blocks of work, which may last a day or a week, to further develop a curriculum area or build additional cross-curricular opportunities for learning.  These include the ‘Take One Picture Project’, World Book Day, Design and Technology week and Sports Week.

All children across school take part in our ‘Take One Picture Week.’  Here are a selection of images from 2020/21:

The Horbury Backpack

At Horbury Primary Academy, our wish is for all of our children to leave our school with the skills to succeed in life.  During their time with us, we want them to take part in activities that will enrich their lives and provide key childhood experiences.  Our Horbury Backpack includes 50 activities that we want all of our children to take part in during their time at our school.  These activities include visiting the seaside, jumping in puddles, having a water fight, watch a Christmas pantomime and many more. Please see the images below.   To view the complete Horbury Backpack, please click on the link below.  All children are provided with their own paper backpack that is annotated during their school life.

Horbury Backpack

Phonics

Through our teaching of phonics, we support children to become early readers and writers. Children learn the skills they need to tackle new words. They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently and to read for enjoyment. By placing an emphasis on experience and application from an early age, children will make informed spelling choices.

Reading

As reading is the key to unlocking the potential of every child, it is at the heart of our curriculum. Reading is taught through a consistent yet engaging approach and our principal aim is to ensure that all children are competent, fluent readers who see reading as something to be treasured.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.”- Dr Seuss.

Writing

Our book-led writing curriculum ensures that children are engaged and stimulated when writing. As a school, we believe that writing must allow children to use their imagination and engage with a range of genres. We also believe that teaching children grammar concepts enables them to become proficient and accurate writers providing them with life-long writing skills. Our aim is for all children to be passionate and confident writers.

Maths

Maths is integral to everyday life and with this in mind, we want to ensure that all of our children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards this subject, one that will stay with them forever. The fundamental skills that children learn in maths today will prepare them well for the future. At Horbury Primary Academy, we want children to reach their full potential in maths and most importantly to understand that maths is fun and to be enjoyed!

Computing

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with a range of different curriculum areas, which collectively prepares our children to solve the problems of tomorrow. At Horbury Primary Academy, we aim to encourage and develop a confident and safe approach to computing and the use of ICT, with an understanding of the capabilities and flexibility of the resources that are being utilised.

Science

Our aim in science is to enable children to understand, enjoy and marvel at the natural world and beyond, through enquiry-based lessons. To develop a positive and practical approach to science, they are challenged to predict outcomes, solve problems and explain their own findings. The broad curriculum encourages the children to enhance their scientific understanding and knowledge both independently and collaboratively.

PE

We believe that high-quality teaching and learning of PE is an integral part of the whole curriculum. Each child will experience a wide range of sports delivered by both teachers and outside coaches, who work alongside staff, and will have the chance to develop their skills in competitive and fun situations. Moreover, we strive to educate the children to lead a healthy and active lifestyle and encourage children to have an enthusiasm for the subject. Furthermore, physical activity is a key part to their development and learning and this will then lead to life-long participation in sport and physical activity.

Art

At Horbury Primary Academy, we really value the creative curriculum. We want our children to be imaginative, creative and enthusiastic artists. Art and design enables children to communicate what they see, feel and think through a range of media. We provide all children with opportunities to develop their art skills in key areas such as drawing, clay, textiles, sculpture, painting, printmaking and collage. Within the art & design curriculum, we aim for children to reflect upon not only their own creations but also that of others including modern and historical artists.

“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

Design and Technology

At Horbury Primary Academy, we believe that design and technology encourages children to think creatively and solve practical problems. It allows pupils to make real-life links between their own work and the work of engineers, architects, and designers. We encourage our children to investigate, plan, adapt and evaluate their own work and that of others. Discussions and evaluations during the creative process lead children to think of improvements that could be made and suggestions of alternative methods.

“Design and technology is thinking made visual”.

Geography

At Horbury Primary Academy, we want our children to be keen to discover more about the ever-changing planet. We believe geography can inspire children with a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people, which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Children’s knowledge and understanding is enhanced through outdoor learning and first-hand experiences. Therefore, it forms an important part of the curriculum and is taught individually as well as being incorporated in other areas of the curriculum.

History

At Horbury Primary Academy, we believe that the teaching of history ignites children’s curiosity of historical events and teaches them about how the past (in both Britain and the wider world) has shaped our lives. Through a stimulating history curriculum of class-based lesson, homework projects, visitors and school trips, children have the opportunity to bring history to life and develop a passion for the subject. We encourage children to extend and develop their historical knowledge using a range of sources. We aim to develop critical thinking and reasoning skills through research and questioning in order to develop deeper learning. We seek to link many of our history topics with our local area.

MFL

We value the teaching of languages as this enables children to gain insight into other cultures and gain an awareness of the wider world. French is taught in Key Stage 2 and children are encouraged to use their knowledge of French in the classroom environment. In Key Stage 1, children are exposed to the language and culture of other countries through their topic work and have opportunities to learn aspects of basic French such as greetings and numbers. Across the school, children have the opportunity to take part in an extra-curricular club led by a specialist French teacher.

Music

Music is a unique form of communication that can change the way all pupils feel, think and act. Music brings together intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. Positive interaction with music can develop pupils’ wider skills as learners and increase their self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to face new challenges.

“Music is at the heart of life.”- Franz Liszt

RE

We aim to develop tolerant and open-minded individuals who are respectful and knowledgeable about world religions. The children develop inquisitive minds by asking questions and having the right to express their own opinions and views. At Horbury Primary Academy, we forge relationships with local community by visiting places of worship to engage our children. The children are provided with opportunities to develop their spiritual, moral, social and cultural wellbeing that equip them to play a meaningful role in society.