Curriculum Overview

Marlfields Primary Academy Our Curriculum Intent

At Marlfields Primary our engaging broad and balanced curriculum keeps the school’s vision at its heart. We believe it is the entitlement of all our pupils to: open their minds, find interests, talents , thrive in their learning, strive for excellence and develop a life-long love of learning.  As an IQM flagship school our inclusive curriculum is accredited for challenging and engaging all our learners.

Our subject leaders and teaching team have ambitious expectations for our pupils. Staff use their expertise to ensure a balance of knowledge and skills, which meet the needs of all our pupils, providing all learners with the opportunities to deepen their learning. Our curriculum helps pupils build knowledge over time by making links with prior learning. Pupils learn through a wide range of experiences and as such become : naturally inquisitive, confident questioners, problem solvers and critical thinkers. When necessary a bespoke or specialised curriculum is devised for pupils.

Pupil’s wellbeing is at the heart of our curriculum and alongside academic subjects, we nurture and build life skills such as; respect, resourcefulness, resilience, readiness, reflectiveness and responsibility. Within school life, pupils become well equipped for their futures through an outstanding blend of cultural and social experiences; embedding British values and global education. Our wider curriculum excites our pupils and provides purpose and direction to their learning. The children’s views are valued greatly and used to personalise each classes learning experience. For each topic pupils share their areas of interest with their teacher, and these are used to motivate and encourage deeper learning opportunities.

A full overview of the curriculum at Marlfields is contained in our booklet “Curriculum @ Marlfields”

This document is shared with parents to present the details of the curriculum in an accessible and interesting way.

curriculum

Download the pdf version, please click here

From September 2014, British Values was introduced into our taught curriculum:-

BRITISH VALUES

At Marlfields Primary Academy we believe in and teach our learners about the fundamental British Values of:

  • Democracy
  • Rule of Law
  • Individual Liberty
  • Mutual Respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

These values are actively promoted through collective worship, our school golden rules, electing and running our school council.  They are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE), Citizenship and Religious Education (RE). We also teach British Values through planning and delivering our broad and balanced curriculum, which includes real opportunities for exploring these values.

British values are reinforced regularly in the following ways:

Democracy

  • Democracy is richly embedded within our school. All children in our school have a voice through the School Council and pupil interviews .The election of School Council Representatives for each class (Years 2-6) are based on pupil votes.
  • Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and sanctions runs through all aspects of school life and is shared with parents and carers.

The Rule of Law

  • The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, school, or the country are constantly reinforced.
  • All children follow the school Golden Rules, these are reinforced regularly throughout the day. Children are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us,the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broke. Visits from authority, e.g. PCSO and fire service help reinforce this message.
  • To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work we have a whole Dojo point reward system. Children are awarded Dojo points for following any of the school golden rules at any point during the school day. We are also committed to praising children’s efforts (behaviour, achievement and general) through verbal praise and Good to be Green award certificates awarded every week during our celebration assembly.

Individual Liberty

  • Children are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
  • Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety and PSHE lessons.
  • Children are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs.
  • Children are encouraged to stand for our School Council where they are responsible for gathering pupils opinions

Mutual Respect

  • Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.
  • All members of our school community treat each other with respect.
  • Respect is a theme running through all of our golden rules.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

  • Congleton is situated in an area which is not culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children.
  • Assemblies are planned to promote cultural diversity either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures.
  • RE and PSHE teaching reinforces tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

By doing this curriculum we will be developing our children to ensure that they:-

  • Know right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
  • Children are able to contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely:
  • Children develop tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions and to respect their own religions;
  • Children show respect for democracy including the democratic system and how laws are applied in England.

We would like to point parents to our individual class pages where the parents of partners leaflets can be found for each of our year groups.  These leaflets are done each term and give parents clear guidance on the curriculum the children will be covering each term and how they can support at home.

Please also visit our blog page regularly which celebrates our work regularly with you all.

To further support our pupils we are a ‘KiVa school’ – for further information please see our leaflet for parents on this part of our curriculum available from the school office.

Pupil Enterprise

All children in our school are involved in enterprise activities throughout the year. Each year group has a specific week to focus on raising as much money from a £10 loan from Mrs Isherwood our Principal.  It is part of our creative curriculum. Pupils are  involved in making decisions about a product or service to sell, performing market research, marketing, publishing and promoting and then selling our product or service to other classes in school and our parents. Enterprise projects include; making art work to sell to the highest bidder, designing and making chocolate bars to sell, undertaking a sponsored spell and many more. All the profits generated from the pupil’s enterprise goes into their class bank account and the class are then responsible for how the money will be spent. In addition, we have local businesses coming into school to work with us to help us gain a knowledge and understanding of the world of work and enterprise.  Each year the winning class members receive a medal and the trophy to hold for a year.

Each subject within school has a subject leader and for 2020-21 the vision for the subject is shown below:-

Subject Leaders Vision

For English & Maths – shown on their dedicated website pages.

Science Subject leader’s vision:

(i)   To maintain and the increase the status of science within a curriculum that enhances the learning and enquiry skills of children throughout the school.

(ii)   For all children to have opportunities to gain scientific knowledge and skills through an inclusive, creative and broad curriculum that incorporates practical experiences and investigation linked to ICT and Numeracy links.

(iii) To gain the Primary Skills GOLD Quality Mark by Summer 2022.

RE Subject leader’s vision:

(i)   To raise the profile of R.E across school making R.E teaching and learning an enjoyable, creative and stimulating experience for everyone.

(ii) To involve children in creating a stimulating school environment and teachers to use R.E to support standards in writing.

PHSCE Subject leader’s vision:

(i)   For all children to experience an education in PSHE which places the child at the centre of planning, learning and assessment; taking into account local and global needs, valuing diversity, views and experiences.

(ii) To provide a balanced curriculum that facilitates learning and supports the development of the child as a whole.

(iii) To develop children who are responsible members of the community.

DT Subject leader’s vision:

(i) To raise the profile of D.T making D.T teaching and learning an enjoyable, creative and stimulating experience for everyone.

Art Subject leader’s vision:

(i)  To raise the profile of art across school making art teaching and learning an enjoyable, creative and stimulating experience for everyone.

(ii) To involve children in creating a stimulating school environment.

(iii) To renew Arts Award moving onto Arts Mark. Introduce art champion to school.

Geography Subject leader’s vision:

(i)   To raise the profile of Geography making geography teaching and learning an enjoyable, creative and stimulating experience for everyone.

(iii) To involve children in creating a stimulating school environment and teachers to use geography to support standards in writing.

History Subject leader’s vision:

(i)   To raise the profile of History making Teaching and learning an enjoyable, creative and stimulating experience for everyone.

(iii) To involve children in creating a stimulating school environment and teachers to use History to support standards in writing.

Music Subject leader’s vision:

(i) To develop the confidence of our children through participation in the arts.

(ii) For the children in this school to be excited by Music.

(iii) To develop Marlfields Primary along the lines of being a recognised “Creative Arts” school by Arts Mark criteria.

MFL Subject leader’s vision:

(i) To provide children with an understanding of another language, culture and country.

(ii) To broaden their horizons and encourage them to become confident global citizens.

For PE/English/Full learning opportunities, please visit their designated website pages.  Thank You