Our School Curriculum

Intent

Children are at the very centre of our school. We aspire to create independent, active learners, who are able to think critically and overcome barriers. Throughout their learning journey at Exeter a learning community, we aim to grow and nurture thinkers who have a genuine love of learning and the confidence and courage to question their beliefs and pursue their dreams, knowing that nothing will stand between them and their goals.

Our school is built on enjoyment, nurture and compassion, enabling children to engage in a rich, bespoke curriculum that is innovative, creative and stimulating and equips them with the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life and be the best that they can be. A curriculum, which is inclusive, celebrates diversity and guides our children to become responsible citizens of the future.

Our Curriculum Roots

 

At Exeter a learning community, our curriculum roots firmly underpin all areas of school life and this ensures our curriculum offer is enriched and personalised to our children, their families and our developing community.

Integrity

Creativity

Aspirations

Responsibility and respect

Empathy

“We are not defined by our wealth, we have nothing to fear because our integrity allows us to make the right choices that affect positively on those around us.”

“Yesterday has passed. Tomorrow will come. Today… is our beginning.”

“We are team Exeter and we work hard to overcome our challenges and achieve our goals – making memories and dreams come true.”

“We are responsible for our actions and respect each other’s unique qualities, regardless of gender, race or background.”

“We only look down on people when helping them up. We are one set of eyes, one set of ears and a single heart that beats as one.”

At Exeter a learning community we want our children to learn to be honest and have strong moral principles. From this, the children will learn to make the right decisions for both themselves and all those around them

At Exeter a learning community we want our children to be creative and to think ‘outside the box’. We encourage and support all our children to challenge their own and others thinking, to push the boundaries and try new experiences.

At Exeter a learning community nothing should get in the way of all our children achieving their best. Regardless of their starting point, we expect all children to strive to be the best they can in all aspects of their school life and journey.

At Exeter a learning community we see ourselves as the ‘beating heart’ of our community. A place where children learn and understand the importance of how communities can bring people together. Through our diverse community, we want to broaden the children’s horizons so they learn how to be tolerant and respectful of others.

At Exeter a learning community we teach our children how to be empathetic and accepting  - to have the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position

Together we believe, we will achieve

Progression in knowledge and skills

Knowledge underpins and enables the application of skill. We strive for children to learn skills alongside knowledge, ensuring that both explicitly are developed. At Exeter a learning community we see knowledge and skills as intertwined. The curriculum is about how we can ensure that pupils can achieve both knowledge and skill. We do this by having an emphasis on cross-curricular teaching. We believe that this is important for making the curriculum relevant and meaningful to pupils and for putting knowledge into context.

We believe it is our responsibility to develop the literacy and numeracy skills for all our pupils. Using the Early Years Foundation Stage Strategy and National Curriculum as a basis, age-appropriate progression in knowledge for each core and foundation subject has been identified. This has been mapped out to ensure coverage of identified knowledge is secured across KS1 and KS2. We carefully select the sequence of when, what and how knowledge is taught and subject leaders work actively to review this aspect regularly.

Curriculum content is grouped into a series of topics. Each topic begins with an inquiry question, designed to engage the children and frame the learning journey through to identified outcomes. Initial reflection on this question supports formative assessment of pupils’ starting points and gives an opportunity to pupil voice to lead the topic in directions relevant to the specific cohort.

During the learning journey, a range of objectives in several curriculum subjects are addressed. This content is sequenced to ensure that components of knowledge lead to conceptual learning. This analysis is supported by strong subject knowledge from staff and aims for both depth of learning and breadth of coverage. Opportunities to practise knowledge and skills are built into the curriculum to secure deep understanding of each discipline. The curriculum planning ensures a layering of knowledge and concepts so that all pupils can make progress. Key vocabulary is taught through each topic and revisited from previous topics were relevant so children can transfer skills, knowledge and vocabulary between year groups.

The length of each topic depends upon the identified learning and outcomes.

Values

Our core values are explored and recognised through our Learning Muscles. These are fundamental to our behaviours and attitudes towards learning in conjunction with our creed. We celebrate these throughout school to encourage children to develop a positive approach when learning, becoming self-motivated and successful learners.

 Strength

Curiosity

Reflection

Collaboration

Ambitious

Resilient

Courageous

Independent

Confident

Inquisitive

Proud

Honest

Humble

Respectful

United

Inclusive

British Values at Exeter a learning community  

At Exeter a learning community, the British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs are rooted in our curriculum and the way in which we treat each other.

Pupils learn about these values through assemblies, class PSHE/circle time sessions and through our themed weeks across the school calendar. Through these sessions, children are given the opportunities to share their ideas, listen to others and vote themselves; allowing them to stand up for what they believe is right.  This also gives them an understanding of governance and law.

Through these opportunities we aim to teach the children to formulate their own opinions based on what is right and wrong and to feel confident in expressing these opinions with others. Our bespoke and varied curriculum promotes independence and develops the children’s self-confidence.

Exeter Creed

Exeter – A Learning Community

Yesterday has passed. Tomorrow will come. Today… is our beginning.

We are not defined by our wealth; we have nothing to fear because our integrity allows us to make the right choices that affect positively on those around us.

We only look down on people when helping them up. We are one set of eyes, one set of ears and a single heart that beats as one.

We are responsible for our actions and respect each other’s unique qualities, regardless of gender, race or background.

We are team Exeter and we work hard to overcome our challenges and achieve our goals – making memories and dreams come true.

Together, we believe!  We will achieve!

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

Year 1

Art: What makes a good superhero logo?

D.T.: What do I need to make the best moon buggy?

 

D.T.: How can I make a healthy salad?

Geography: What does a map show?

Art: How can art be created?

History: How do we know so much about dinosaurs?

 

History: What was school like in the past?

Geography: Where in the world am I?

Year 2

Geography: Where is Corby in relation to the rest of the world?

D.T.: What makes a healthy salad?

 

D.T.: How can we make the best toy castle?

History: What was it like to live in the Medieval Era?

Art: How can art represent the natural world?

History: Who was Mary Seacole?

Geography: How has the physical and human geography of Hunstanton Beach changed over time?

Year 3

Geography: Where are settlements located around the world?

History: How did life in Britain change from the Stone Age to the Iron Age?

History: How did the Roman invasion impact British life?

Geography: What causes a volcano to erupt?

Art: What can art tell us about popular culture?

D.T.: What local ingredients make the best savoury dish?

 

D.T.: How can we transport food effectively?

Year 4

History: What happened after the Romans left Britain?

D.T.: How did the design of the Roman shield help make the Roman Army so powerful?

 

D.T.: What makes a great Christmas snack?

Geography: Is our planet more blue or green?

History: Were the Ancient Greeks more influential than the Ancient Romans?

Art: What does music look like?

Geography: Would you rather live in the U.K. or the U.S.A.?

Year 5

History: How did the Black Death affect society?

Art: Can art show the passing of time?

Geography: What is the geography of Egypt?

History: What was life like in Ancient Egypt?

Geography: Can I grow an apple anywhere in the world?

D.T.: What makes the best rocket launcher?

 

D.T.: How does seasonality effect the taste of food?

Year 6

Art: How can different art movements inspire us to use a variety of techniques in our own work?

History:

What makes a leader great?

Geography: Why is the Arctic largely uninhabited?

D.T.: How can effective design contribute to survival in the Arctic?

Geography: How is climate change impacting life in Mexico?

History: How did the Mayans develop into such an advanced civilisation?

To find out further information regarding our school curriculum, please contact the school office on info@exeteralc.com or visit our year group pages to find knowledge organisers for each topic.