Art
At Berkswell C of E School, we believe that high-quality Art lessons inspire our children to think innovatively and develop creatively. Our Art curriculum provides children with opportunities to develop their skills and understanding using a range of media and materials. Children learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, 3D form and digital art. They are given the opportunity to explore and evaluate different creative ideas.
Children are introduced to a range of works and develop knowledge of the styles and vocabulary used by famous artists. The skills they acquire are applied to their cross-curricular topics, allowing children to use their art skills to reflect on and explore topics in greater depth; for example, by sketching historical artefacts in detail or using art as a medium to express emotion and thought to enhance their personal, social and emotional development enabling pupils to develop a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them. Many areas of art link with mathematical ideas of shape and space; for example, when printing repeating patterns and designs and thinking about 3D shapes to support structures. It is paramount that art work be purposeful; be this as a means of expression or to explore the styles of other artists that inspire our own work. Pupils should be clear what the intended outcomes are and have a means to measure their own work against this.
In Art, children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and keep improving. This should be meaningful and continuous throughout the process, with evidence of age-related verbal and written refection in sketchbooks. Children are encouraged to take risks and experiment and to then reflect on why some ideas and techniques for a particular piece of work are successful or how these can be improved upon for next time.
Computing
“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”
J.K. Rowling
It is imperative to equip pupils with the skills needed to be receptive to changes in technology and to react safely as they grow into computer-literate users. We want them to embrace new ideas with curiosity, resilience and with sound judgement. Pupils will be able to choose appropriate technology to present their creations and ideas for their work and to use it as part of the solution, sometimes as a stepping-stone to accelerate learning.
Design and Technology
Design and Technology is an inspiring, purposeful and practical subject. Using their creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Whilst considering their own and others’ needs, they draw on a range of disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. This process helps them to acquire a broad range of subject knowledge.
Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative and capable individuals. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of our nation.
Regardless of gender, ethnic origin or ability, we specifically aim to ensure that all pupils:
- Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.
- Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
- Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook to an age appropriate level.
In order to deliver on these aims, Design & Technology is taught in all year groups, with one project being completed per term. This covers all areas of the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Curriculum with a clear progression of knowledge and skills to build on each child’s prior learning. We encourage a clear process from brief through to evaluation so that all children can engage fully from start to completion. These projects are topic linked to both inspire them and enhance confidence in real life problem solving.
Geography
To develop children’s experiences and understanding of Geography, inspiring and igniting their curiosity about the wider world. Through an enquiry-based approach, we aim to provide an exciting Geography curriculum ensuring a good progression across school, encouraging independence and a good coverage of practical skills. Our pupils will gain a knowledge and appreciation of a wide range of countries and cultures.
History
We aim to offer a high-quality history education that will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.
Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups.
Modern Foreign Languages
Modern Foreign Languages is the development of children’s linguistic competence, extending their knowledge of how a language works. It should be seen as a life-long skill.
At Berkswell School, the learning of a foreign language offers a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for the pupils. All pupils learn through independent work and collaborative activities. The curriculum provides creative opportunities of communication and exploration through questioning as well as promoting, encouraging and instilling a broader cultural understanding. It encourages curiosity of the multilingual and multicultural world and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning, giving them an insight into their own culture and those of others through real life scenarios.
The learning of a foreign language at Berkswell School provides a medium for cross-curricular links and for reinforcement through sequencing and layering of knowledge, skills and understanding developed in other subjects.
Music
We are committed to ensuring the delivery of a high quality music curriculum that inspires our children to have an enthusiasm for and enjoyment of music in all its forms. It is our intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, creating, evaluating, analysing, composing and performing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres including the works of the great composers and musicians.
We believe that music is a unique way of communicating that motivates children giving them an opportunity for personal expression. It plays an important role in the personal development of the individual.
We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children, reflecting a variety of cultures, enabling a better understanding of the world they live in.
Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. Through singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music. Children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm and encourage children to discuss music using these terms. We develop musical skills and knowledge by engaging children in musical experiences offering opportunities to develop understanding, attitudes and attributes that can support learning in other areas as well as developing life skills.
Physical Education
It is our intent at Berkswell CE Primary School to develop the children’s competence in agility, balance and coordination to enable them to excel in a broad range of physical activities and competition. We aim to teach children how to cooperate, collaborate, develop resilience and problem solve as part of a team. To embed the lifelong values of honesty, determination, passion, respect and self-belief. We intend to motivate a lifelong enjoyment and understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.
Personal and Social Development
At Berkswell CE Primary School, we recognise the importance of a high quality PSD curriculum in developing the mental health and well-being of our children.
PSD enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. It is designed to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
Our aim is to develop children with high levels of self-esteem and confidence, with the knowledge and skills to be able to assess risk and make informed decisions in life. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society, British values is threaded across the curriculum.
Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.
The teaching of Christian Values is at the heart of our work; our children are encouraged and rewarded for displaying these values in everyday life.
As a KiVa school, we work with our community to promote anti-bullying though a programme aimed at preventing bullying, including intervention and strategies to support children.
Religious Education
Religious Education at Berkswell CE Primary School provides a safe space for children and adults to explore their own religious, spiritual and philosophical ways of living, believing and thinking. With a focus on Christianity, as well as a range of religions and world views, we nurture respectful attitudes through meaningful, informed dialogue. With inclusivity at its heart, children of all faiths and none, develop a strong sense of belonging. Through varied and wide-ranging curriculum experiences, our children have the opportunity to take hold of the treasures of faith. Our children become inquisitive, analytical, resilient and reflective learners as we lay the foundations for their continuing spiritual journey.
Science
At Berkswell School, we intend to nurture children’s curiosity and interest in Science so that they have a life-long enthusiasm and love of this subject. We provide a rich, creative Science curriculum, which ensures that children develop a strong understanding of fundamental scientific concepts, whilst having skills to engage fully in practical work and solve problems. We will provide our children with the opportunity to meet real life scientists, from a range of fields, promoting the idea that Science is accessible to all.
It is our intent to prepare our children so that they are confident and equipped for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world. We also to empower our children, as future citizens, to feel they have a responsibility for the world around them and that their actions have a consequence, be it positive or negative. We hope children will leave Berkswell desiring to study this subject further and to pursue science-based careers.