Rednal Hill Junior School

Rednal Hill Junior School Curriculum Intent Statement

Intent Statement

At Rednal Hill Junior School our curriculum is driven by our key values, these are drawn from the fundamental British values of: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and for those without a faith. We aim to provide our learners with the appropriate support, experiences, skills and knowledge to develop as independent, confident, successful learners, able to play a full and active role in modern society.

We have shaped our curriculum into four key priority areas to achieve our goal, whilst responding to the particular needs of our learners and the community we serve. We prioritise learners being secondary ready in our approach to curriculum delivery. Alongside the key priority areas is an overarching desire for our curriculum to be enjoyable and to foster a lifelong love of learning. The development of effective communication skills is interwoven though each of our key priority areas.

Curriculum Implementation

RHJS engages all learning styles using a variety of resources: National Curriculum Statutory Guidance, Values Based Learning, Outdoor Learning and enhancement opportunities, which support the teaching of our curriculum.

The implementation of this curriculum is in its infancy. We have woven together: science, the humanities, the arts and English and used a thematic approach to deliver these. They are taught in 5 units over the course of the academic year. We have looked to find links with the following discrete subjects: mathematics, music, PE, PSHE, RE, MFL, computing and music and will continue this work over the course of 2019-20.

To support committing knowledge to long term memory we have introduced "Knowledge Prompt Cards" for the humanities and science, we intend to push this out to other subjects. The approach uses multiple testing moments for smaller pieces of learning. 

To ensure a focus on the foundation subjects and staff well-being, the school introduced “Foundation Friday” in 2018-19. Foundation Fridays are a Friday every fortnight where the focus of the day is our foundation subjects. Staff are encouraged to light mark and be out of the building by 4pm.

Research

RHJS recognises the benefits of utilising evidence based research to support our practice. Over the next two years we will be promoting and concentrating on elements of Rosenshine’s Principle of Instruction as a means to enhance classroom practice.

Values at RHJS

Our values are at the core of all we do. We use a rolling programme of values’ assemblies to promote these and look to further promote them through actions and activities in school.

Subject Leaders

At RHJS we have subject leaders who oversee, develop, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their subject within school. Staff are committed to delivering high quality learning experiences throughout the curriculum. Support staff have developed their strengths in order to further enhance the quality of learning.

English

At Rednal Hill Junior School, it is our intent to provide pupils with a language rich education in English which will teach pupils how to speak, read and write fluently, so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions effectively. Our intention is to build quality books at the heart of our curriculum in order to encourage pupils to read widely to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and of the world around them; establish an appreciation and love of reading; gain knowledge of the wider curriculum; develop good fluency and comprehension skills and become great writers. Writing is taught through a range of exciting stimuli which include books, film clips, visitors in school, real life experiences and the curriculum. Embedded within our English curriculum is also the teaching of spelling, grammar, punctuation, handwriting and vocabulary, in order to equip the pupils with the skills to become confident and fluent writers. Teachers model the writing process and demonstrate the high expectations of writing.

Mathematics

At Rednal Hill Junior School we teach for mastery, equipping children with the skills of fluency, reasoning and problem solving that they need in life beyond school. Pupils across a year group will usually move through the programmes of study at the same pace. There are opportunities for deepening understanding for rapid graspers and scaffolds to support struggling learners. Conceptual understanding is taught in tandem with procedural fluency in order to deepen mathematical thinking. Children will then apply their understanding through real life problem solving activities.

Science

Here at Rednal Hill Junior School we provide a progressive and continuous Science Curriculum in which our children are able to explore and discover the world around them. Our aim is to equip children with exciting and empowering: knowledge, skills, vocabulary and experiences for them to draw upon both today and for the future ahead of them.

History

History is delivered so that children are able to appreciate each era in a broadly chronological context. Learners will gain knowledge, understanding and vocabulary of British, local and world history.  The acquisition of knowledge is underpinned by historical enquiry skills that are progressive over the key stage. Alongside the development of the appropriate use of historical terms, critical questions will enable them to consider the society in which they live.

Geography

Our Geography curriculum aims to provoke and answer questions about the natural and human worlds, encouraging children to develop their vocabulary alongside a greater understanding of the world and their place in it.  Geographical skills are taught progressively over the key stage in order to reinforce ability to acquire locational and place knowledge. We seek to inspire in our pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Art and Design

To make art relevant to our children we endeavour to deliver it as part of a connected curriculum within a topic that encompasses other areas of learning. Throughout their learning children are exposed to and study a range of art work from different artists and time periods. The children look at the techniques and mediums used by these artists and are given the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that they have learnt to create their own art work. Children are taught skills progressively across the key stage, allowing them to master and achieve a degree of expertise in their own art work.

Design Technology

To make design and technology relevant to our children we endeavour to deliver it as part of a connected curriculum within a topic that encompasses other areas of learning. Throughout their learning children are exposed to and study a range of different products, their functions and the properties that make them fit for purpose. The children look at the skills needed to make these products and are given the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that they have learnt to create their own work. Children are taught skills progressively across the key stage, allowing them to master and work precisely within their own design and technology work.

Computing

At Rednal Hill Junior School, we believe that the teaching of computing and the use of technology, is pivotal in preparing children to be successful in the ever changing, digital world we live in. Our computing curriculum teaches children to safely and respectfully use devices, with the skills that are needed to use these technologies now, and in later life.

PE

At RHJS we aim to promote positive attitudes towards an active, healthy lifestyle by teaching all children a broad range of physical activities.  The children develop skills in movement and co-ordination through watching, listening and experimenting. They are given the opportunity to be creative and competitive, planning, performing and evaluating their work and the work of others.

Religious Education

At Rednal Hill Juniors we follow The Birmingham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2007). A new scheme of work was introduced in 2017, a diverse, theme-based approach, which was selected specifically to support our children at Rednal Hill Juniors and their needs (Route 1 of 3).

According to the syllabus summary, the curriculum for a maintained school should provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum which:

1. Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental (SMSC) and physical development of pupils at the school and of society
2. Prepares such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of adult life.

At Rednal Hill Junior School we also provide annual trips for pupils to different places of worship, across all main religions. Children are given the opportunity to experience different faiths, cultures and traditions, helping to consolidate their learning.

PSHE

At Rednal Hill Junior School we follow the PSHE Education Programme of Study. There are three overlapping and linked ‘Core Themes’ (Health and wellbeing, Relationships, Living in the Wider World). The overarching aim for our PSHE education curriculum is to provide pupils with:

• Accurate and relevant knowledge (PSHE Association)
• Opportunities to turn that knowledge into personal understanding (class journals)
• Opportunities to explore, clarify and if necessary challenge, their own and others’ values, attitudes, beliefs, rights and responsibilities (breadth of study)
• The skills and strategies they need in order to live healthy, safe, fulfilling, responsible and balanced lives. (spiral curriculum)

Our programme of study identifies the key concepts and skills that underpin PSHE education and to fulfil our statutory responsibility to support pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development and prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

Music

Music is taught with the aim of exposing the children to a wide variety of styles, genres and musical traditions. Musical experiences allow our children to develop as learners and there is a focus on promoting a love and curiosity of music, which the children build on throughout the key stage.

Modern Foreign Language

MFL is taught with a focus on promoting an interest and increasing confidence in a variety of different languages. Children are encouraged to be inspired by the cultural diversity in which we live and value the learning opportunities that this gives.