Curriculum
Spring Term 2022 theme for Connected Learning.
Connected Curriculum Approach
At St Oswald's, alongside our core English and Maths basic skills, we teach through a thematic, topic based approach focusing on transferrable key skills. This ensures that our children are able to apply their knowledge and draw meaningful links between different areas of the curriculum. We involve our children in planning and choosing exciting topics that will ensure they are fully engaged in their own learning.
Our strong commitment to educational visits, extra curricular activities and enrichment opportunities reflects our belief that these ‘first hand experiences’ make learning more memorable, ensuring that the children enjoy a stimulating, creative and exciting curriculum.
The school is organised into 5 classes: EYFS 1, EYFS 2, Infants, Lower Junior and Upper Juniors. Our teaching is focussed on the needs of the individual child; we tailor our teaching to ensure every child makes excellent progress.
The EYFS 1 class is taught in a bright airy conservatory, and EYFS 2 in a purpose built mobile classroom; both link to the Infant area and have a dedicated outdoor learning environment. The nursery and reception children follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum which is planned carefully by our EYFS staff .
The Infants are taught in our new classroom by our Key Stage 1 leader and Senior Teacher, Miss Dutton. The Lower Juniors are taught by Mr Goodwin and Mrs Agnew. Our Upper Key Stage 2 children are taught by Miss Ramage. Classes are also supported by our Teaching Assistants based on the needs of the children.
We are committed to providing specialist teaching where this benefits the children. We employ specialist French, music and PE teachers and also provide swimming tuition seasonally. We also welcome parents and friends of St Oswald's in school to support our activities.
The quality of our Curriculum was recognised by OfSTED in during our last inspection (July 2014):
"The curriculum on offer meets pupils’ needs very well. There is a core focus on numeracy and literacy skills with other subjects organised into themes that are often driven by pupils’ ideas and choices. Leaders make sure that skills and knowledge are built up in carefully sequenced progression and plan extra activities and trips to enrich pupils’ learning and experiences. The ‘University of St Oswald’s’ Friday activity sessions, for example, give pupils the chance to try their hand at learning new skills, such as learning Japanese or gardening.
The most able pupils are also pushed to do their best and to make the most of their abilities and the opportunities on offer to them. The standard of work produced by some of the brightest pupils is superb...In all classes, pupils’ work is marked with thorough attention. The guidance and feedback given to pupils is excellent. Mistakes and misunderstandings are picked up and teachers make detailed comments that highlight strengths and provide advice about what to do next. Pupils know how well they are doing and can refer to many examples in their work where teachers’ marking has helped them to improve their understanding and to learn more. Much of the work in pupils’ books is impressive."
For further information about the National Curriculum please click on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum.
