Curriculum

The Curriculum at Badgemore

In September 2014 the DfE implemented a revised National Curriculum for all maintained primary and secondary schools in England. 

In primary schools the National Curriculum is taught to pupils in Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6); in our Foundation Stage class, Laurel, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is taught.

You can find more information about the EYFS curriculum here.

You can find more information about the National Curriculum here.

We run a two-year rolling programme ensuring we have taken account of topics covered the previous year and referring closely to the objectives outlined in the National Curriculum. In this way we can ensure that all pupils cover the required curriculum within each key stage. Outdoor learning is an integral part of learning at Badgemore and, where appropriate, teaching and learning here at Badgemore will take place outside, where children demonstrate exceptionally high levels of engagement and motivation.

In our constant drive to raise standards, staff rightly place a great deal of emphasis on teaching key Literacy and maths skills throughout the broad and balanced curriculum. We teach writing primarily through text drivers where both fiction and non-fiction books form the foundation of our whole curriculum;  Phonics is taught daily across the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. A range of levelled reading schemes, including Oxford Reading Tree, Rigby Star and Collins Big Cat are used across the school to ensure that children are able to access different texts at an appropriate level.

Maths is taught using the Mastery Approach where children develop strong foundational knowledge and understanding before progressing onto more advanced topics. Deep learning is encouraged to ensure children develop a strong and lasting understanding of concepts that can be built upon. Staff follow the teaching sequence prescribed by the Letters and Sounds phonics scheme. 

Foreign language learning is statutory in Key Stage 2 where pupils are taught French, supported by Head of Languages at Gillotts, Madame Orlando.  However, here at Badgemore children in both the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 are regularly exposed to simple words and phrases from a range of foreign languages to reflect and embrace the many different nationalities within our school community.

Pupils are taught computing through various approaches; some of the concepts are taught across the curriculum, for example through maths or topic-based learning, but others are taught explicitly.

Our curriculum is designed to be flexible and will adapt to the needs of the children. If you require any further information please speak to your child’s class teacher. Links to further curriculum information can be found on the class pages.