Our School approach to the Curriculum 

Learning is at the heart of everything we do and our curriculum encompasses every part of the child’s school day.  We believe our curriculum is engaging and relevant to today’s children and offers challenge and support to all in their learning.

Bishops Lydeard Curriculum Statement

The aim of Bishops Lydeard Church School is to provide opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident, successful learners with high aspirations who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society.

There is a high focus on developing children’s moral, spiritual, social and cultural understanding. Our school ensures that children are well prepared for life in modern Britain.

We aim to provide a highly inclusive environment where virtually all learners enjoy their education and most make very good progress in most subjects and areas of learning. Pupils at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through appropriate extension activities. Those who struggle are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.

Bishop Lydeard’s focus on curriculum development is always carefully designed to ensure coverage and progression. It provides pupils with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which children can learn and develop a range of transferable skills.

The children’s own community, its heritage and traditions are frequently used as a starting point for engaging interest. A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, and providing a purpose and relevance for learning.

Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review. The innovative practice across the school provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to work in teams and develop social skills both indoors and out.

This curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on pupil outcomes. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality visits and visitors into Bishops Lydeard enhance the curriculum and provide opportunities for writing for a purpose.

Curriculum and Learning Progressions

Click on the links to see each progression:

Art and Design Progression

Geography Progression

History Progression

Maths Progression

Modern Foreign Languages Progression

Music Progression

PE Progression

Phonics Progression

PSHE (Jigsaw) Progression

Reading Progression

Science Progression

Spelling Progression

Writing Progression

We have looked at a progression of skills and learning entitlements we want for our children. We have linked these with the community and immediate and wider environment.

First hand Experiences in our school, community and the wider environment

Experiences we want to offer our children

Skills we would like our children to develop

Nursery and Reception Children follow the Early Years Curriculum and we use The National Curriculum to plan sequences of learning for children from Y1 – Y6. The coverage and knowledge being taught is routinely checked to ensure an enriching curriculum is being taught.

The curriculum consists of core subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Computing and Religious Education.

Foundation subjects such as Art, Design Technology, French, Geography, History, Music and PE are also taught as well as Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE- Jigsaw).

We teach in phases and have a two year rolling programme for the curriculum. (EYFS, KS1, LKS2, UKS2).

Further Information about our Curriculum

If you would like more information on how we teach areas of the curriculum or the curriculum itself please speak to your child’s class teacher or for English and Maths Mrs Harvey and for all other subjects Mrs Culverhouse (foundation subject curriculum lead).

You can also look at our class pages and website gallery to see the curriculum in action.

We also have open classroom afternoons and presentations of learning for parents and the community to join us and celebrate the learning happening in school.

In September 2014 a new statutory curriculum was introduced- please follow the link below for information on the National Curriculum

The New 2014 Curriculum