Learn more about our primary curriculum subjects here
Our Primary curriculum has been designed as a spiral curriculum, with the following key principles in mind:
✓ Cyclical: Pupils return to the key knowledge and skills again and again during their time in primary school.
✓ Increasing depth: Each time a skill is revisited it is covered with greater complexity.
✓ Prior knowledge: Prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build upon previous foundations, rather than starting again.
This results in children knowing more, remembering more and doing more.
Phonics and Reading
Phonics
We use Little Wandle as our Systematic Synthetic Phonics programme (SSP) and follow it with fidelity, avoiding mixing methods in order to provide a clear path to success for learners. It is high quality and robust in its purpose. With a clear, structured progression through the programme, it allows all our pupils to meet or exceed the expected standard. The Little Wandle approach combines rigorous progression with engaging learning materials. We believe that pupils learn best when they are enjoying their learning and that this comes from a mix of bright, fun and engaging lesson resources within a clear and systematic approach that builds on pupils’ skills daily.
Reading
At Groveside School, we actively promote the development of reading skills through a positive reading culture embedded throughout the school. We are ambitious about teaching pupils to enjoy books and become successful readers, ensuring a carefully sequenced approach taking into account pupils’ individual strengths, weaknesses, profile of need and current knowledge and skills. Early reading has a high profile in the curriculum, ensuring sufficient time and emphasis is given to pupils developing pre-reading skills and learning to read effectively.
Pupils can access online reading through MyON – click the link below
Core Curriculum
The Groveside Core Curriculum includes the following lessons every week :
4 x English
4 x Maths
4 x Science
1 x Computing
English
The English Curriculum at Groveside School promotes a high standard of language and literacy, enabling pupils to gain the confidence to communicate fluently and purposefully through the mediums of speech, reading and writing. Pupils develop a passion for rich literature, a love of reading for enjoyment, a curiosity of vocabulary for meaning and a wealth of transferable skills which will equip them with the analytical and evaluative expertise paramount to the needs of a successful workforce and an ever-changing wider world.
English Curriculum Statement-Whole School
LTP KS2 English 2024
Maths
Maths at Groveside School offers pupils a relevant, broad and purposeful curriculum that will show the relevance of Maths in learning for life and puts our pupils’ needs at the heart of the curriculum. We deliver Maths through real life contexts and cross curricular topics. We are passionate about making learning fun, relevant and exciting. Our vision is that all pupils will be financially literate, gain cultural capital and a valuable awareness of the benefits and opportunity Maths can have.
Maths Curriculum Statement – Whole school
KS2 – Year 3 LTP 2024
KS2 – Year 4 LTP 2024
KS2 – Year 5 LTP 2024
KS2 – Year 6 LTP 2024
Science
Groveside School’s primary science curriculum aims to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena and an understanding of how the scientific community contributes to our past, present and future.
We want pupils to develop a knowledge of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, but also adopt a broad range of skills in working scientifically and beyond. Studying science allows children to appreciate how new knowledge and skills can be fundamental to solving increasing global challenges.
Our curriculum aims to encourage critical thinking and empower pupils to question the hows and whys of the world around them.
Science Curriculum Statement
KS2 Science Curriculum Plan
Computing
Groveside’s computing curriculum aims to instill a sense of enjoyment around using technology and to develop pupil’s appreciation of its capabilities and the opportunities technology offers to create, manage, organise and collaborate.
Computing – Curriculum Statement
KS2 Computing Curriculum Plan
The World Around Me
The World Around Me supports pupils to develop a secure knowledge and understanding of their local, national and global belonging.
The World Around Me Curriculum includes the following lessons every week :
1 x Geography and History on a ½ termly carousel
1 x Religion and Worldviews
KS2 – The World Around Me Curriculum plan
KS2 – Religion and world views Curriculum plan
Geography
Groveside’s Geography Curriculum aims to inspire pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world; in other words, to think like a geographer. We want pupils to develop the confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in various ways, and analyse and present their findings. Through our curriculum, we aim to build an awareness of how Geography shapes our lives at multiple scales and over time. We hope to encourage pupils to become resourceful, active citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.
Geography Curriculum Statement
History
Groveside’s History curriculum aims to inspire pupils to be curious and creative thinkers who develop a complex knowledge of local and national history and the history of the wider world. We want pupils to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence.
Through our curriculum, we aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history and recognise how things have changed over time. History will support pupils to appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Studying History allows pupils to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do, supporting pupils to develop empathy for others while providing an opportunity to learn from mankind’s past mistakes.
History Curriculum Statement
Religion and Worldviews
Groveside’s Religion and Worldviews curriculum aims to develop deep thinkers who are open-minded about Religion and Worldviews. We aim to ensure that our curriculum is relevant to pupils, reflecting and preparing them for life in modern Britain. Through the scheme, pupils will secure a deep understanding of concepts in order to be able to make connections, ask and respond to challenging questions, learn to respect and appreciate worldviews that are different to their own and consider their personal preconceptions, responses and views.
Religion and Worldviews Curriculum Statement
Creative Curriculum
The Groveside Creative Curriculum is formed of a half termly carousel of Art and Music subject areas taught once a week.
KS2 – Creative Curriculum plan
Art
Groveside School aims to inspire pupils and develop pupil confidence to experiment and invent their own works of art. The scheme is designed to give pupils every opportunity to develop their ability, nurture their talent and interests, express their ideas and thoughts about the world, as well as learning about art and artists across cultures and through history.
Art Curriculum Statement
Music
The Groveside music scheme is combined with art to create the “Creative Curriculum” and aims first and foremost to help pupils to feel that they are musical and to develop a life-long love of music.
We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that pupils need to become confident performers, composers and listeners. Our curriculum introduces pupils to music from around the world and across generations, teaching pupils to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.
Music – Curriculum Statement
Technology Curriculum
Our Technology curriculum encourages pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding of Design & Technology and Food Studies. Pupils are encouraged to tinker and experiment to find their way and apply prior knowledge and experiences to fresh challenges.
KS2 – Technology Curriculum Plan
Design and Technology
At Groveside School we believe that Design and Technology prepares pupils to look forward and deal with a rapidly changing world. It encourages them to think imaginatively and become problem solvers who can work well independently and with their peers.
Design and Technology Curriculum Statement
Food Studies
Through the delivery of Food Studies, we want to equip pupils with the knowledge, understanding, and skills required to plan, prepare and cook meals of their choice for themselves and others. We encourage pupils to explore a range of recipes with a strong emphasis on healthy eating as well as encouraging pupils’ creative ideas towards food content and presentation.
Food Studies allows all pupils to learn and develop transferable life skills that are suitable for use in and out of school.
Whole School Food Curriculum Statement
RSE and Social Thinking
The aim of delivering the RSE and Social Thinking curriculum is to ensure our pupils will leave Groveside School secure in who they are, why they are important and how they fit into the wider world; having the confidence in making informed choices and equipped with the knowledge, awareness, skills and vocabulary they need to stay safe in the world around them.
Our RSE curriculum is delivered in different ways across the Key Stages to ensure the appropriate delivery of information. Pupils at Groveside school may have complex SEMH needs and a range of adverse childhood experiences and/or trauma, therefore the delivery of our curriculum, whist planned in Key Stages, will be appropriate and adapted to the needs of the pupils.
RSE and Social Thinking is a spiral curriculum which builds in depth each year. It supports our wider range of curriculum areas allowing pupils the opportunity to reflect on topics within these subjects, considering how they might relate to their identity and behaviours within the school community and beyond.
The curriculum offers each pupil the opportunity to explore who they are, reflecting on the values of the school and society in helping them identify what is important to them in forming safe, respectful and constructive relationships with others. They will demonstrate feeling safe and confident in the school environment, at home and in the wider community and will be aware of how to seek support and advice if they need it.
GSP021 RSE and MHAWB Policy V2
Enrichment
Assessment and Progression
Primary assessment at Groveside School is seen as a vital component in support of high-quality teaching and learning. Assessment strategies need to cover a broad spectrum from EYFS through to the end of Key Stage 2. We assess pupils’ knowledge and skills using a programme called Evidence for Learning to track pupil progress, set targets, generate reports.
Evidence for Learning allows us to record all our assessment in one place and has the flexibility for us to shape our assessment system to align more closely with our teaching. It also enables us to include our target setting and undertake data analysis.
Evidence for Learning Assessment Handbook
