Curriculum
We endeavour to ensure that our pupils aim high, and achieve high. We strive to ensure that our pupils have a happy educational experience, built through positive relationships and constructive practices throughout the school learning environment.
Quarry Hill Academy aim to tailor education to meet individual needs, interest and aptitude, so as to fulfil every child's potential. Through the curriculum we use at Quarry Hill Academy, every pupil will have access to a rich, broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum. However, it is recognised that every child has a different knowledge base and skill set, as well as varying aptitudes and aspirations; and that as a result, there is a determination for every young person's needs to be assessed, and their talents developed through diverse teaching strategies. This means that at Quarry Hill Academy teachers will use the flexibilities that already exist to allow high standards in the basics, with opportunities for enrichment and creativity.
Aims and Objectives
We aim to help pupils to:
- acquire knowledge and skills relevant to life in a rapidly changing world;
- use language and number skills effectively;
- understand the world in which they live, and the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations;
- develop lively, enquiring minds, the ability to question and argue rationally, and to apply themselves to tasks, and physical skills;
- appreciate and understand religions and moral values and show tolerance for other races, religions and ways of life;
- appreciate human achievements and aspirations;
Implicit in our view of the curriculum is the fact that we believe everything that goes on within the school, whether inside or outside the classroom, forms part of the curriculum. A summary of our curriculum follows:
English: We follow the National Curriculum for English. Synthetic phonics are taught systematically in Early Years and Key Stage 1 using the Read Write Inc. scheme. Additionally, children progress through the banded reading books in the book band library during Early Years and Key Stage 1. Then, soon after starting Key Stage 2, pupils begin choosing from a range of high quality and stimulating texts. Reading comprehension skills are taught weekly during a dedicated comprehension lesson, often based on an age-appropriate quality texts. Writing skills are taught systematically using a range of resources and stimulus covering a multitude of genres across the curriculum. Handwriting is taught using the Nelson handwriting scheme. Grammar, punctuation and spelling is taught daily within every English lesson.
Mathematics: We follow the National Curriculum for mathematics. Teachers prepare mathematics lessons using a range of resources following the whole school calculation policy. Pupils complete weekly homework activities using set tasks on Purple Mash for KS1, Mirodo for LKS2 and SATs Companion for UKS2. Problem-solving strategies are taught and practised weekly during dedicated problem-solving lessons.
Science: Pupils explore Science in a variety of ways, which includes whole days dedicated to the subject. Our lessons are prepared following our own personalised schemes of work.
Religious Education: RE lessons are based on SACRE, the locally-agreed syllabus.
History: Pupils explore, discover and investigate developments from British, European and World History, following our own personalised schemes of work.
Geography: Pupils develop knowledge, skill and understanding related to people, places and environments at different scales in the UK and overseas, following our own personalised schemes of work.
Computing: Computing lessons are based on the Purple Mash scheme.
Physical Education: PE lessons in gymnastics, dance, games and athletics are based on the Val Sabin schemes of work. Swimming is taught by specialist teachers at Impulse Leisure Centre.
PSHE/SRE: PSHE is taught using the curriculum from the PSHE association. It includes both health education and relationships education. Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is taught in all years using resources from the FPA.
Music: We follow the Music Express Scheme of work for all year groups. The children will perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. The children also have the opportunity to learn how to play the Djembe drums.
Art: In Art the children explore the history of artists and a range of mediums. Pupils learn about visual, tactile expression and communication.
Design and Technology: Pupils' lessons combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, functions and industry.
MFL: We follow the Language Angels scheme of work and resources for Year 3 to 6 to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. Our diversity is such that as a school, our pupils speak over 45 different languages and the varied social and cultural differences are keenly shared and celebrated through our Cultural Celebration Events.
More detailed information about our curriculum can be obtained on request at the school office, or you can contact us by clicking the ‘contact us’ link at the top of this page. Additionally, below are some links related to the above information: