Intent

Our Vision 

At Horbury St Peter’s and Clifton Primary School, we intend to instill the “St Peter’s and Clifton School Spirit”  in all our children. Our curriculum throughout school does this by:  

• Service – Providing the children with opportunities to learn about things that important to our local area of Horbury. Serving the community with church services led by our children. Serving our local residents by our Year 4 children singing carols to people in a residential home. 
• Perseverance – We never give up! We ensure every child is challenged and engaged in all our aspects of learning within the curriculum.  
• Inquisitive - Children are taught a broad range of curriculum areas to develop inquisitive minds. Questions are strongly encouraged. RE topics are led from questions.  
• Respectful- We respect each other in everything we do, helping one another to be the best we can be. We respect our local environment and are taught about the importance of recycling and looking after our planet.   
• Inspirational – We are inspired by the significant individuals we learn about. We are inspired to become a scientist, or artist, or designer through the engaging learning we do.  
• Trust – We trust each other and build strong relationships, so that our learning opportunities are the best.  

Our curriculum is designed to ensure coverage and progression through exciting, broad and balanced learning. Our curriculum provides pupils with memorable experiences, outdoor learning where appropriate and rich opportunities from which children can learn and develop a range of transferable skills for future life. It is important that the curriculum considers the development of the whole child and doesn’t only concentrate on academic success.

Implementation

Early Years

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) The Foundation Stage makes a crucial contribution to children’s early development and learning. We provide children with a rich variety of teaching and learning experiences that are appropriate to their needs. The Foundation Stage is about developing key learning skills such as listening, speaking, concentrating and learning to work and co-operate with others.  
 
Three areas are seen as particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These three areas, the prime areas, are:  

• Communication and language;  
• Physical development; and  
• Personal, social and emotional development.

We also support the children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:  

• Literacy;  
• Mathematics;  
• Understanding the world; and  
• Expressive arts and design. 

 
We provide a balance of adult led and child initiated activities in order for children to develop effectively and to give them the best chance of obtaining good level of development at the end of Upper Foundation. The outdoor environment is a very special part of the Foundation Stage curriculum and both the Lower and Upper Foundation classes use the specially equipped outdoor areas which are planned for and in constant use. 

Key Stage 1 & 2

In Key Stage 1 and 2 we encourage children to learn in an exciting, creative and supportive environment. Each child is treated as an individual and encouraged to take control of their own learning. Being a team player and working collaboratively within class enables children to build important social skills.

The children are taught the core subjects of English, Maths, Science and Computing, as well as Physical Education, Religious Education, Design and Technology, Art, Music, History and Geography (French in key stage 2). Furthermore we incorporate JIGSAW- the mindful approach to PSHE which aims to prepare children for life, helping them to really know and value who they are and understand how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world. 

Years 1 and 2

In Years 1 and 2, children learn through different adventures that are explored through a topic area. We create hooks into books and new topics to excite the children in their learning. Outdoor environments are used to allow children to explore and learn.

There are many opportunities for learning out of school like a visit to the Sculpture Park, to learn about a local artist and a visit to Pontefract castle in year 1 to support the learning of history.

Years 3 and 4

In Years 3 and 4, children are met with new challenges and are expected to work with greater independence and concentration. We make all aspects of learning fun, creating a vibrant environment for the children to learn in.

The children at St Peter's and Clifton love to learn and that is created through many different opportunities that they are given. In Years 3 and 4 the children take part in several school visits, for example in year 3 a visit to Whitby and in year 4 a local visit to the coal mining museum. There are also several themed day, which excite the children and aid their learning.

Years 5 and 6

As the children move up into Years 5 and 6 we expect them to develop their role and set good examples to the younger children in school. As they are now the oldest, we encourage the children to take on different roles of responsibility such as, house captains, cloakroom monitors to name a few. They are also encouraged to take part in the school council, electing a chair, treasurer and secretary.

During the course of Year 5 and 6, the children are given the opportunity to experience many fun activities both in and out of school. As part of our topic work we hold several themed days, for example a carnival day when studying Brazil, where children make and then dress up in their creations, ready for our carnival celebration in the afternoon with samba music (created by the children) and samba dancing.

The children take part in visits to places such as, Eden Camp Museum located in Malton to enable them experience the sights, sounds and smells of those dangerous years of the 1930s. In year 5 as part of the Topic on Tudors a visit to Oakwell Hall in Birstall is organised, the children and staff arrive at the hall dressed in costume for the period they are learning about.

When the children are in year 6, their final year, the children have the opportunity to visit Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales where they take part in a residential, staying at the Youth Hostel. Whilst there, they get the experience of caving, rock climbing, abseiling and problem solving.

Impact

As a result of our carefully planned curriculum you will see:

• Pupils developing the requisite skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education and with a sense of responsibility as future citizens.
• Links in different subjects through a topic area, which develops vocabulary and increases enthusiasm for learning.
• Engaged, enthusiastic learners, who are given the opportunity to learn in different environments: outdoor environment, in the local community, on school trips and themed days in school.
• Pupils who have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based and external exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools.