Abbeywood Curriculum Rationale  

At Abbeywood, we are committed to delivering a curriculum which inspires our pupils to unlock their potential. All children are encouraged to challenge themselves in a supportive environment where they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in school and as responsible citizens in the modern world, alongside modelling our school expectations of Ready, Respectful and Safe. 

The fundamental INTENT of our curriculum is for children to confidently and effectively learn to engage with the world around them through our oracy focussed approach. This will empower our children to fluently articulate their ideas and reason with others whilst participating in meaningful discussions. Alongside this, the Knowledge, Skills and Experiences that children are entitled to at Abbeywood, and the conditions in which our core Attributes of character are nurtured, helps to develop exceptional learners who can thrive in an ever-changing world. We see each component of KASE as an entitlement for our children, thus our Curriculum is driven by the desire to create thoughtful, critical thinkers who know and remember more. 

KASE: Our entire curriculum (both academic and wider enrichment opportunities) is underpinned by the KASE Principles:  

• K is for Knowledge – a knowledge-based curriculum developing subject confidence and expertise 

• A is for the Attributes we endeavour to nurture and develop –resilience, confidence, reflection and empathy 

• S is for Skills – developing subject skills and vital communication/literacy skills including a focus on oracy as well as skills of problem-solving and collaboration 

• E is for Experiences – ensuring pupils can access engaging enrichment experiences within and beyond the classroom. 

 

The delivery of high-quality lessons, which are planned collaboratively and tailored specifically for the interests and needs of our children, is at the heart of Abbeywood’s curriculum IMPLEMENTATION. All staff have high expectations of our children’s achievement whilst challenging them to think critically and solve problems to deepen their knowledge, skills and understanding across a wide range of subjects. Learning has been planned and organised so that children will acquire and develop their knowledge through a wide variety of contexts - both within the classroom and across all other aspects of school life. We believe all pupils should have the opportunity to have a wide range of experiences that go beyond the National Curriculum, therefore, a broad range of immersive enrichment opportunities are offered across the school to enhance and embed learning. 

Lessons are designed to be engaging and purposeful whilst the sequencing of our curriculum ensures the logical ordering of ‘core concepts’ within each subject discipline. For each taught topic, there is explicit teaching of related vocabulary which we endeavour to enrich through oral responses and by making use of a range of methods to record learning, so that all pupils have their chance to shine and demonstrate their substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Teachers use a variety of pedagogical approaches to stimulate responses and challenge pupils’ thinking; using in-the-moment feedback ensures all pupils are aware of their progress. Staff training is delivered regularly by our expert subject leaders and focuses on teaching and learning, ensuring a consistent curriculum is received by all. 

At Abbeywood, children are motivated, engaged and take pride in their learning; they demonstrate a positive attitude towards school and a curiosity which they will take with them on the rest of their educational journey and beyond. They acquire a broad knowledge base and transferable skills such as confident communication, the ability to work collaboratively and an appreciation and respect for their peers and local community. 

Our curriculum equips children with the skills necessary to succeed and supports them in becoming well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of respect, tolerance and appreciation for the diversity which they will encounter in life after Abbeywood. Our IMPACT is that all children thrive, making strong progress across a broad range of subjects and acquiring a deep understanding of key concepts, leaving first school well-prepared for the next phase of their education. 

The intent, implementation, and impact of our curriculum work cohesively to provide an excellent education, enabling pupils to flourish academically, personally, and socially.  

 If you have any questions about our curriculum, please contact the office.

CRST Teaching and Learning Policy

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