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The curriculum to which each child is entitled has been laid down by the Government and published in its Handbook - The National Curriculum. New guidelines for what must be taught in all schools in England came into force in September 2000. These guidelines provide the framework to ensure the development of children’s education as they move through the school.
The basic requirements to be taught under the National Curriculum are:
w Three Core subjects: English, Mathematics and Science
w Seven Foundation subjects: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Design and Technology, DT, Art and Design, History, Geography, Music and Physical Education (PE)
w Religious Education. (Parents have a right to withdraw their children from this and also from any religious worship on notice to the Headteacher)
w All Saints also addresses wider cross-curricular issues such as citizenship, health, equal opportunities and multicultural education through Personal, Social and Health Education lessons (PSHE). Children in Years 5 and 6 will receive a sex education programme as part of the Science curriculum and parents have the right to withdraw their children from this on notice to the Headteacher. (Parents however, do not have the right to withdraw their children from the teaching of the biological aspects of human growth and reproduction)
The three core subjects are given more teaching time than the Foundation subjects, with Mathematics being allocated a daily “Numeracy Hour” and English a daily “Literacy Hour”. ICT is taught across the whole curriculum (except in PE).
The National Curriculum in Primary Schools is divided into two bands: Key Stage 1 for the 5 to 7 year olds and Key Stage 2 for the 7 to 11 year olds. At the end of each Key Stage the children will be formally tested on their achievements in the Standard Assessment Tests (SATS). The individual results are made known to the child’s parents whilst the school’s summary results (and the national comparisons) for each Key Stage appear in the governors’ Annual Report to Parents. The government may arrange for Key Stage 2 school and national results to be published by the local press and in national newspapers.
The education for children in the Reception Year (4 year olds) is not covered by the National Curriculum. Instead, these children take those learning steps which will enable them to begin their National Curriculum studies after they have reached their fifth birthday.
All Saints has comprehensive policy statements and schemes of work for each area of the curriculum which have been put together by the teachers to help them deliver the requirements of the National Curriculum to all of the pupils. These documents are available for parents to see on application to the School Office. Teachers will be pleased to explain the current work programme of your child. At the start of each term too, class teachers will send home a broad outline of what your child will be covering in that term.
ALL SAINTS aims in all curriculum areas are subject to regular audit by the governors.
As all classes are both mixed age groups and mixed ability, teachers will take account of this when delivering the curriculum and the work which is set will be appropriate to each child’s needs. Children may work individually, in small groups or as a whole class.
The school has separate policies for dealing with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and for more able children. Provision for children in these categories is given careful consideration when teaching is organised. |