Welcome to our curriculum
At Cotmanhay Junior School we deliver learning based on the national curriculum. Our curriculum is rich in knowledge to ensure learning develops over time and children retain information in their long-term memory. Our students experience a wide breadth of study, leaving Key Stage 2 with an ambitious body of knowledge that prepares them for their next phase of education.
It is vital that our children reach their potential in reading, writing and maths.
We know that if children leave primary school with a strong reading ability they are more likely to succeed in secondary education and beyond. Our school has a strong reading culture. Pupils who need to catch up with phonics are helped to do so through use of the Little Wandle Rapid Catch Up synthetic phonics scheme. Pupils with more complex SEND needs may access the Little Wandle SEND Programme. Reading pervades all subject areas but dedicated time is given to pupils reading to themselves or to an adult. Adults will also read quality texts to their class. The school focusses on improving pupils' reading fluency, stamina and ability to understand age-related texts.
Writing: We use The Power of Reading to inspire imaginative and creative writers.
White Rose Maths is a high-quality scheme which supports the teaching of maths mastery. Learners are fully supported through accessing concrete equipment and use of visual models to support understanding. Confident learners will be challenged through exposure to unfamiliar problems, development of reasoning skills and by exploring multiple ways to manipulate numbers and solve problems.
The physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of every pupil in our care is essential in our school culture and the curriculum. Our established Jigsaw program delivers weekly high-quality PSHE sessions. Pupils learn about healthy eating and fitness and have an age appropriate understanding of healthy relationships. It is important to us that our children are confident in staying safe from abuse and exploitation, and they have an excellent understanding of how to stay safe in person and online.
Foundation subjects are taught using a range of planning materials and purchased schemes.
Curriculum feedback
Feedback from the children is used to reshape and modify the curriculum in order to maintain its quality and relevance.
Assessment
We assess maths, reading and grammar using tests which produce a standardised score for each pupil each term. Writing is assessed by class teachers. For those pupils who are working below the ability range of the tests, we use teacher assessment with knowledge of the Key Stage 1 curriculum and Derbyshire's Formative Footprints (below the level of the KS1 curriculum) to ascertain small steps in progress. Foundation subjects are assessed using topic quizzes in order to evaluate the knowledge and understanding pupils have gained against expectations. Assessment information is used by subject leaders to evaluate progress and drive improvement. Knowledge is revisited by class teachers using different techniques at the start of each lesson. This allows knowledge to be committed to the long term memory. It also gives frequent opportunities to tackle gaps in knowledge, in order that pupils leave key stage 2 with a full understanding of the entire national curriculum content.