Intent

We deliver an ambitious curriculum which is designed to give all learners the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. To do this, the curriculum needs to extend beyond the academic. We provide for learners’ broader development; aiming for all children to develop and discover their interests and talents. We aim to prepare learners for future success in their next steps, whatever that might be. We have high expectations of our pupils’ behaviour and conduct both inside and outside of school. We know there can be challenges within our community, and we aspire to shape responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society.

Implementation

Each year group has a Community Curriculum project which they complete during the year. 

Year 3 - Outdoor Environmental Learning

Year 3 classes have the opportunity to learn outdoors in our Forest School area in terms 1, 3 and 5. Lessons promote the holistic development of every child, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. Embracing the outdoors is an essential part of a child’s learning experience and our children are encouraged to take managed risks through experiences such as cooking outdoors, enjoying a group fire and using real tools. 

Year 4 - Social Action 

This project is in collaboration with our local secondary school (OIEA) and three local primary schools: together we aim for each child to complete 25 hours of youth social action. This project encourages pupils and families to enjoy the great outdoors. Pupils design and take part in orienteering and geocache routes. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS handheld navigation devices. Pupils navigate outdoors to a specific set of GPS co-ordinates, and then attempt to find the geocache (a small sandwich box-sized container) hidden at that location. This project also focuses on personal development by developing pupils’ confidence, resilience, and knowledge so they can keep themselves physically and mentally healthy.

Year 5 - Mini-Police

Every Thursday afternoon, officers from the Derbyshire Constabulary work with Year 5 pupils to help them become responsible, respectful, caring citizens. Pupils learn about the role of the police and the values of the police force. Children learn about cyber safety, pedestrian safety, fire safety and water safety. Pupils also learn about anti-social behaviour and crime prevention. Each topic taught has an educational input, a community session and then a reward session. Where possible, the community and reward sessions are linked to the educational input, for example the crime input includes a walk in the community near the school looking for any anti-social behaviour like graffiti or litter and has a reward where the children get to solve a mini crime in a crime scene investigation session.  

Year 6 - Inspire and achieve 

Year 6 visit Nottingham Trent University for a tour of the campus and have the opportunity to ask questions to university students about university life. Children are asked to think about their future, and potential career goals. Leading up to the trip, pupils research different careers and are encouraged to set short and long term goals. We have a variety of visitors to the school throughout the year who share with the children knowledge about different careers and help inspire pupils to envision the future they want to have. 

Impact

Our learners are ready for the next stage of education. Their attitudes to education are positive, and pupils are committed to their learning. Pupils demonstrate resilience to setbacks and take pride in their achievements. School leaders engage effectively with all members of the community including parents, carers, employers and local services. Pupils engage with views, beliefs and opinions that are different from their own in considered ways. They show respect for the different protected characteristics as defined in law and they understand that discrimination is not tolerated in school.