The curriculum is the whole learning experience offered by the school. It follows, therefore, that it includes all lessons and planned activities and, additionally, the tone, standards and quality and discipline of the school and the attitude and values it presents.
How learning takes place is as important as what is taught. The curriculum should be seen as much in terms of experience spiritual, social, aesthetic, physical, linguistic, mathematical and technological, as of the knowledge and skills they should have. It should also be concerned with personal qualities, behaviour and conduct. For these reasons we should encourage:
- High moral standards and qualities of good character and behaviour.
- Good personal relationships, a sense of responsibility, teamwork and loyalty.
- Social awareness, courtesy, consideration for others and sensitivity to one's surroundings.
Such qualities such as inventiveness, curiosity and imagination which can lead to self-fulfilment and the best use of leisure time. Self-awareness, knowledge and reliance, and elementary knowledge of health and safety and the ability to care for oneself. An understanding of how to contribute to, and benefit from living in a community.
The National Curriculum
The National Curriculum lays down in detail what should be taught at each Key Stage. These documents are available for parents to look through. All children at Hillside, including those in our Reception groups, work within the National Curriculum. Our planning shows what will be taught to each year group. The effectiveness of the implementation of the National Curriculum learning targets depends that maintaining high quality teaching is their main priority.
The learning programme for our school is divided into three stages. The first stage, known as the Foundation Stage is for children in Reception Year aged up to 5. From ages 5-7 years, children move on to Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum. The next stage is for children from 7-11 years and is known as Key Stage 2.
All children will be taught the following National Curriculum subjects: Core Subjects
These are very important subjects in the National Curriculum and they form a major part of what children are taught. Their importance at Key Stage 1 and beyond is reflected in the proportion of time given to them in the planning forecasts of the class teacher. The subjects are:
English | Mathematics | Science | ICT | History and Geography | Art | Music | PE | Early Years
The following subjects are not part of the National Curriculum but are studied at Hillside:
Religious Education
Religious education and Collective Worship are required for all our pupils except those whose parents have chosen to withdraw them. All pupils take part in a daily act of collective worship and the majority of these acts in any one term are broadly Christian in character. Our Key Stage One children have collective worship separately from the Key Stage Two children each Wednesday and Thursday morning. Class Assemblies are very special and we are pleased to welcome parents to join us on these occasions.
Health Education
We believe that the school can have a powerful impact on the development of healthy lifestyles but is only one influence among many. We believe also that parents are key figures in helping children to cope with the physical and emotional aspects of growing up and in preparing them for the challenges and responsibilities which they will meet in adult life. Sex education and the broader issues of human relationships, moral issues and decisions are taught within the context of our Health Education programme. The school ensures that 'where sex education is given to any registered pupils at the school it is given in such a manner as to encourage those pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life.' |