Curriculum Overview

It is not just what you learn but how you learn; children need to become learners for life to reach their full potential.

Our rich and varied curriculum will provide opportunities to develop skills to be successful in the future, including Language, Literacy, Maths, Science and ICT as well as History, Geography, Art and Design, RE, PSHE, PE, Music and Modern Foreign Languages. As an Academy, we will follow the outline of the National Curriculum.

The emphasis will be teaching through engaging topics and real life experiences, where creative learning is linked through exciting and relevant contexts that meet the different interests and needs of all its children.

Teachers and Learning Assistants will support the children’s learning, using their knowledge and skill to make a difference to every child.

The school’s exciting curriculum takes pupils on a journey of discovery and learning. As a result, they are highly engaged and motivated to learn.

(Ofsted June 2019)

Curriculum Statement

The curriculum of the school comprises all the opportunities for learning which the child encounters during the school day.

There will be a focus on learning through living.

Learning about the environment and sustainability, being self-sufficient and resourceful. Developing life skills through exploring nature and science, design technology and economics.

For example, part of the new grounds of the school will be developed into a Community Orchard. Providing endless learning opportunities for the children, as well as providing a project for the wider Forge Wood development to be involved in.

Phonics

All children in Reception will have daily phonics lessons, based on the Read, Write, Inc programme.

Physical Education

All children will have 2 hrs of PE lessons as part of their timetable. Children will not be excused from regular PE lessons unless a letter is written to the class teacher.

Religious Education

The school follows the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Parents and carers who do not want their child to take part in Religious Education lessons or in collective acts of worship should express their wishes in writing to the Executive Headteacher.

Home Learning

Children should be encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility for their learning and to think independently. Home learning should provide a regular three-way link between child, parent or carer and teacher. Homework should enhance, consolidate and support the children's learning in school.

In Reception, the children will take home a reading book and a book to share with their parents or carers. It is recommended that all children spend between five and ten minutes per day reading.

There will also be some Maths games and topic-related activities throughout the year.

Highly effective teaching ensures that pupils learn exceptionally well. As a result, pupils are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their education, both personally and academically

The early years team provides children with an excellent start to school life. Children are happy, settled and excited about learning. They make very strong progress during early years and are well prepared for Year 1 (Ofsted June 2019)

To find out more about the school's curriculum you are invited to come along to our annual curriculum evenings, our newsletters are also a good insight into curriulum across the school.