Here at William Barcroft, we provide our pupils with a broad, rich and balanced curriculum, which promotes the spiritual, moral, mental, cultural and physical development of pupils. It is planned to enable to enable our pupils to gain a breadth of essential knowledge, understanding and social skills; thus enabling our pupils to be ready for the next stage of learning. SMSC and the teaching of British Values are woven and intertwined through the curriculum.

Our bespoke, creative curriculum is designed to develop children as independent learners, to ensure that they are engaged and have a love for learning and is underpinned by The National Curriculum 2014. Cross-curricular links are exploited to show pupils how skills and knowledge can continuously be transferred from subject to subject. Throughout the year trips, visitors and experiences further enhance the curriculum.

We teach through a topic-based approach. Each year group has three main topic to focus on throughout the year. All year groups have a topic set in the past in the autumn term, the present in the spring term and the World Around us in the final term. All topics are planned to cover age related expectations for each year group, based on the ‘new’ National Curriculum.

Coverage of age appropriate objectives and key assessment criteria are monitored closely by subject leaders and this helps to provide continuity, progress and personalised learning experiences for children as they move through the school. Teaching uses a variety of strategies including whole class, collaborative group work, pairs and individuals. We place a strong focus on developing children’s basic skills and on the development of those skills.

We recognise that English, mathematics and science are fundamental to our pupils’ education. Where possible these core subjects are linked to the creative curriculum themes. However essential discrete skills and knowledge, at times, will need to be taught and learnt.