Curriculum

Our Curriculum

Curriculum Statement

As a Church of England school, our curriculum is rooted in our Christian vision and values. We want every child to flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually, developing the knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to live life in all its fullness.

Our Christian Values of Joy, Celebration, Hope, Friendship, Forgiveness, Love and Trust are woven throughout school life and underpin our attitudes, relationships and approach to learning.

Above all, we want every child to Let Their Light Shine (Matthew 5).

Our BOOKS Approach

At Tarporley CE Primary School, we place high-quality books and reading at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that rich literature, language and vocabulary provide children with the foundations they need to understand the world, develop their ideas and become confident communicators and lifelong learners.

Our BOOKS approach provides a shared language for our curriculum:

B – Bravery

We want our children to be brave learners. Our teachers have high expectations of every child and create a culture where children are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, make mistakes, persevere and learn from them.

We want children to develop resilience, confidence and a strong desire to learn, enabling them to become the best they can be.

O – Outward-Facing

Our curriculum looks beyond the classroom and beyond our school.

We encourage children to understand and value their local community while developing an awareness of the wider national and global community. Through our curriculum, children encounter different cultures, faiths, perspectives and experiences and learn to celebrate difference and respect the world around them.

We encourage children to ask and answer Big Questions, develop their own ideas and recognise that they can make a positive difference through courageous advocacy.

O – Opportunities

We want every child's time at Tarporley to be filled with memorable experiences that spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn both within and beyond the classroom through educational visits, visitors, outdoor learning, the creative arts, sport, performance and practical experiences.

We value the importance of cultural capital and aim to give every child experiences that broaden their horizons, develop their interests and prepare them for life beyond primary school.

K – Knowledge & Skills

We believe that knowledge matters.

Our curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced so that children build a strong foundation of knowledge and develop the skills they need to understand and make sense of the world.

We deliberately revisit important concepts and vocabulary so that learning is embedded over time. Children are encouraged to make connections between different areas of learning, apply what they know and use their knowledge to think critically, solve problems and make informed decisions.

S – Spirituality

Our Christian vision and values underpin our approach to developing the whole child.

We nurture children's social, moral, cultural and spiritual development and provide opportunities for them to reflect, wonder, ask questions and consider their place in the world.

Through our curriculum and wider school life, we encourage children to develop a sense of awe and wonder, recognise what is special and meaningful to them, and explore what it means to live well with others and with God.

Throughout our BOOKS approach, high-quality books and reading remain at the heart of our teaching and learning.

Implementation

Our curriculum is carefully designed to provide breadth, balance, progression and challenge for every child.

Our long-term curriculum planning is built around high-quality English texts and meaningful learning experiences. We make purposeful connections between subjects where this enhances learning, while ensuring that each subject retains its own knowledge, vocabulary, skills and disciplinary understanding.

We recognise the importance of a spiral approach to learning, where important knowledge, concepts and skills are revisited and developed as children move through the school.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that children have opportunities to:

develop a love of reading and literature;
build a rich and extensive vocabulary;
investigate, explore and ask questions;
develop knowledge and understanding of the world;
solve problems, reason and think critically;
research, discover and find things out for themselves;
work collaboratively with others;
develop independence and resilience;
communicate their ideas through speaking, writing and creative expression;
use technology purposefully and effectively;
learn through practical experiences and fieldwork;
develop their creativity through the arts;
participate in sport and physical activity;
experience educational visits and learning beyond the classroom;
debate, discuss, present and articulate their ideas;
design, create and make;
reflect on their learning and consider how it connects to the wider world.

We recognise that children learn in different ways and therefore provide a range of teaching and learning approaches. Our teachers adapt their teaching to meet the needs of all learners, ensuring that children are supported, challenged and encouraged to achieve their full potential.

Our curriculum is underpinned by our commitment to inclusion, equality and high expectations for all.

Detailed information about the content and progression of our curriculum can be found on the individual subject pages and in our curriculum maps.

Impact

Our curriculum aims to ensure that every child leaves Tarporley CE Primary School with the knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to flourish in the next stage of their education and beyond.

We want our children to:

achieve their full potential and recognise their own strengths;
become confident, resilient, resourceful and independent learners;
develop a genuine love of books, reading and learning;
have a secure foundation of knowledge and vocabulary;
think critically, ask questions and make informed decisions;
be creative, curious and imaginative;
communicate confidently and effectively;
build positive and respectful relationships with others;
understand and respect different cultures, beliefs, identities and perspectives;
appreciate and contribute positively to their local community;
understand their place within the wider national and global community;
develop a strong sense of right and wrong and a commitment to making positive choices;
recognise that they can make a difference through courageous advocacy;
develop spiritually, socially, morally and culturally;
grow into positive, responsible and compassionate citizens.

We monitor the implementation and impact of our curriculum carefully so that we can celebrate strengths, identify areas for development and ensure that our curriculum continues to meet the needs of our children.

Find out more

Our curriculum is continually reviewed and developed to ensure that it remains ambitious, relevant and responsive to the needs of our children.

Please explore the individual subject pages to find out more about what your child will learn throughout their time at Tarporley CE Primary School.

Parents and carers are always welcome to contact the school if they would like to find out more about our curriculum.

Religious Education

Religious Education is an important part of our curriculum and reflects our identity as a Church of England school. Further information about our RE curriculum can be found on our Religious Education page.

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education. If you would like to discuss this, please contact the school.