Curriculum coverage includes all aspects of the 2014 National Curriculum, but is enriched with further topics relevant to developing young people who are keen and ready to play a part in today’s society. Our curriculum considers the needs of, and can be accessed by, all our children.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum for children in our Nursery and Reception classes comprises 7 areas:
Prime areas of learning

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Specific areas of learning

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

During these two years the majority of teaching is completed through play, where the child learns about subjects and other people during games and practical activities. During the Reception year children are introduced to short sessions of whole class or group teaching for mathematics and for phonics, using the Read, Write, Inc. Programme.

Children in Years 1 to 6 are taught all areas of the National Curriculum:
Core subjects

• English
• Mathematics
• Science

Foundation subjects

• Art and design
• Computing
• Design and technology
• Language
• Geography
• History
• Music
• Physical education

An overview is available on the St. Aidan’s long term curriculum planner 2019

In addition all children study Religious Education (R.E.) and Personal, Health and Social Education (P.S.H.E.).

We deliver the curriculum through half termly themes, referred to as ‘connectors’. Connectors are  words or phrases, often with an abstract or multiple meanings, which serve to link much of the learning during the half term. This provides several benefits for learning including stimulating interest during the initial investigation phase, providing a more holistic understanding of the world by developing conceptual and concrete links and supporting memorisation of knowledge through meaningful connections. Whilst the content of the majority of subjects taught (with the exception of mathematics) relates to the connector, children know which discipline is being taught during each lesson. Detail of the connector and the half term’s curriculum is communicated to parents via a class booklet. Each term the classes have the opportunity to share and celebrate aspects of their learning with the school community including their parents through a class assembly

Educational visits and visitors into school are an important aspect of our curriculum and are used to broaden the children’s enthusiasm for and understanding of the topics we teach.

The curriculum is further enhanced in KS2 during the weekly enrichment afternoons where children, vertically grouped into one of 6 houses, develop their knowledge of the world.  Over the course of each half term the groups attend a series of food, art, Forest school, music composition, charity work or sport sessions. Each half term is themed around a country and culminates in a sharing assembly where completed work is celebrated.