Curriculum Subjects
Intent
Our curriculum is designed to provide pupils with powerful knowledge and skills through a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum. Key concepts are carefully sequenced so that pupils build knowledge over time, make meaningful connections and develop a deep understanding across subjects. Enrichment opportunities further enhance learning and support pupils’ wider development.
Concepts
Each subject is underpinned by clearly identified key concepts, knowledge and skills. These are sequenced progressively to ensure pupils build on prior learning and develop a well-organised schema, enabling them to connect new knowledge to what they already know.
Sticky Knowledge
Each unit identifies key “sticky knowledge”, including important subject-specific vocabulary, that pupils are expected to know and remember. This vocabulary is explicitly taught, revisited and used regularly to support pupils in articulating their understanding.
Sticky knowledge is shared with families through curriculum letters and is revisited frequently in lessons. Teachers also revisit key learning from previous units and year groups to strengthen long-term retention and help pupils build a secure schema.
Retrieval practice, including low-stakes quizzes at the end of each unit, is used to reinforce knowledge and ensure pupils remember more over time.
Skills Development
Pupils develop subject-specific skills alongside knowledge. These are revisited and built upon over time, enabling pupils to apply their learning with increasing independence.
Learning Journeys, Purpose and Progression
Learning journeys are clearly mapped so pupils understand what they are learning and why. Teachers make the purpose of learning explicit and ensure pupils know how current learning builds on prior knowledge and supports future learning.
Assessment
Pupils are assessed regularly to ensure they are making progress in their learning.
Assessment is based on:
- Teacher assessment
- Retrieval of sticky knowledge, including key vocabulary
- End-of-unit quizzes
Pupils are assessed termly using our POP assessment system:
- Practising – pupils are developing their understanding
- Owning– pupils can confidently use and apply their learning
- Processing – pupils can apply their knowledge in more complex and independent ways
Enrichment
Enrichment opportunities are carefully planned to enhance the curriculum and provide pupils with memorable experiences. These include trips, visitors, clubs and themed events, which deepen understanding, broaden experiences and support pupils’ personal development.
Implementation
The curriculum is delivered through well-structured lessons which build on prior knowledge. Teachers use modelling, questioning and guided practice to support understanding. Learning journeys are shared so pupils understand the purpose and progression of their learning.
A strong emphasis is placed on the teaching of subject-specific vocabulary, enabling pupils to articulate their understanding clearly. Key “sticky knowledge” is revisited regularly, including learning from previous units and year groups, to strengthen long-term retention.
Regular retrieval practice, including low-stakes quizzes, is used to help pupils remember more over time and develop a secure schema. Enrichment opportunities further support learning by providing meaningful and memorable experiences.
Impact
The impact of the curriculum is seen in pupils’ ability to know more, remember more and do more. Pupils can confidently recall key knowledge and use subject-specific vocabulary to explain their understanding.
They make connections between current and prior learning, demonstrating a secure and well-developed schema. Pupils are able to apply their knowledge across subjects and in different contexts, including through enrichment experiences.
Over time, pupils show increasing independence and depth in their learning and are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
Subject Overviews and Progression of Knowldge and Skills