Curriculum

About Our Curriculum

Each school is unique, each serving a community with a unique set of characteristics. As a result, it is only right that schools should tailor their curriculums accordingly, in order to meet the needs of their children. At Woodhall, we have reflected upon what should drive our curriculum, drawing upon what our children need most in order to become educated citizens.

Our curriculum aims to support children who attend our school by:

Widening their KNOWLEDGE of the WORLD because we believe children should have a wonderment and interest locally, nationally and internationally
Increasing their subject VOCABULARY because words convey meaning; this increases their knowledge and understanding
Developing their CURIOSITY and ASPIRATIONS because these are essential components that engage and connect children with the curriculum
Enhancing CRITICAL thinking skills because successful learners compare, analyse, sift, sort and ask perceptive questions
Encouraging ORACY skills and abilities because as we know words empower children to make sense of the world around them, put their emotions into words, socialise with people, imagine and wonder.

At its heart, our curriculum has been designed to enable children to respond proactively and positively to the challenges they may face.

This year our Curriculum has been designed a little bit differently. Below are the fundamental principles that underpin our Curriculum and the way we teach our children. Strategic long-term plans have been created so that subject coverage is planned sequentially and with a clear rationale for making connections with prior learning, therefore learning is blended and refined. The Long Term Overviews can be viewed in our attachments section on this page. There is also an informative curriculum guide for parents and carers to view from the attachments section.

Watch Our Curriculum Video

National Curriculum Coverage

At Woodhall we teach English, mathematics and science thoroughly, drawing on the National Curriculum for England for the essential knowledge children require in order to be educated citizens. Our curriculum introduces children to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.

To support teaching and learning across the school, we use a number of targeted improvement programmes. In English, we follow the Unity Schools Partnership Curriculum (CUSP). In mathematics, we follow the Mathematics Mastery programme.

Our wider curriculum is planned around themes that are well sequenced, engaging and expect children to connect previous learning to current learning and knowledge. More information can be viewed from the subject pages.

Knowledge to be taught

The content of our curriculum is age-related and matched from the National Curriculum, except in English, where children still follow the requirements of the National Curriculum, but are taught in stage groups. These groups are adjusted at regular intervals during the year, which is the key to distinguishing this approach from streaming and/ or setting by perceived ability.

We teach personal development through high quality, well-organised learning experiences. This is planned into classroom practice as well as being connected to the curriculum.

Spiritual, Moral and Social and Cultural education is connected to the themes of learning, and understanding is developed within the themes of learning for each year group.