Curriculum - Intent

Curriculum Intent statement:

 As a Church school, the teachings of the bible guide and influence our practice. Being part of the Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy trust, we, like the other schools within our Multi-Academy Trust, work towards ensuring that pupils we serve experience, ‘life in all its fullness.’ (John 10:10).

At Hawkesley, our Local Academy Board, Leaders and Staff are committed to achieving this through empowering our children to ‘Let your light shine’ (Matthew 5:16). Our curriculum's purpose is to develop the children's understanding, personality and gifts bestowed upon them by god in order for them to let their light shine.

Every aspect of school life, including the curriculum, has been constructed around our school vision (Let your light shine – Matthew 5:16). This vision is underpinned by the four key tenants, pictured below.

We have constructed a curriculum which prepares the children of Hawkesley academically, emotionally, socially and spiritually to be active and successful participants of British and Global society.

Our sequential knowledge curriculum begins in EYFS, so that students can successfully access a broad and balanced curriculum throughout their education at Hawkesley Church Primary Academy.  This is underpinned by structured phonics, writing and mathematics lessons in EYFS to ensure core procedural knowledge is secured and that transition into KS1 is successful.

During KS1, focus is placed on reading, writing and mathematics. We ensure all students are reading by the age of six so that they can successfully access a broad and balanced curriculum. Through the Mathematics Mastery programme, we ensure core mathematical knowledge is mastered and practised. Music, PE, creative arts, humanities and science are carefully planned with specialist support to ensure students are making links across and throughout the curriculum. 

Throughout KS2, we seek to carefully develop subject knowledge and build clear sequences in our students’ minds, allowing them to begin to think more coherently, critically, and creatively.  Working with subject experts curriculum leaders are equipped to design carefully crafted sequences of learning.

Learning Community:

As teachers and leaders of our Learning Community, we ensure that our curriculum and teaching is informed by the latest evidential research from cognitive science about memory, knowledge retention and practice in order to help students remember, and apply, the best of what has been thought and said. We make knowledge stick for all learners so that all children are equipped to let their light shine.

Our curriculum is driven by the principle that knowledge empowers children. Our curriculum is uniquely challenging and provides coherent subject matter, developed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable subject leads, to ensure that children develop broad and deep subject understanding.

 We develop a school community with learners who have an infectious desire to acquire new knowledge. Through the prioritisation of a knowledge rich culture, we ensures that all children have broad enough understanding about the world that they can transform it in the future. In our school, we believe all pupils, regardless of background or needs have the right to access the best that has been said and thought.

 The Golden Rule:

At Hawkesley we follow our Golden Rule: “We treat others the way we would like to be treated.” This rule is underpinned by our school’s 18 Christian values and this feeds into our collective worships and SEL curriculum. The purpose of our school’s values is to equip us with the knowledge of how to treat others in the way we want to be treated.

These values guide us as a learning community and help us to develop the individual characters within our school to become successful, active and prepared citizens of British and Global society.

Our values cement the different strands of our curriculum together.  They allow the children to explore the importance of living a life with values, such as perseverance and hopefulness.  Our curriculum also supports children’s understanding of the consequences of not following shared values.

Same but different:

Our curriculum is adapted to empower all learners to understand, retain and build-upon the best of what has been said and thought. Specific needs are met through differentiated curriculum provision, evidenced based interventions and environmental adaptions. We have shaped our curriculum to encourage and celebrate differences. We want our children to value, respect and support others with their specific and individual needs.

Our curriculum focuses on and draws upon inspirational people who represent global citizens with a range of disabilities as well as members of the BAME and LGBTQ+ communities. These inspirational people have overcome adversities by applying our school values and developing a strong and secure knowledge base. We believe they demonstrate some of the best of what has been thought and said throughout time – they provide a concrete real-life example for our children to be inspired by and aspire to be like.

Our children will develop emotional intelligence and awareness, becoming confident and independent learners. They are given opportunities to debate, discuss and explore the social, cultural and ethical diversities our society has to offer. Growing a knowledge of our local and global communities which enables our learners to become responsible and independent thinkers.

It enables our children to work effectively with others, valuing the different contributions they and others make – they also begin to recognise the limitations of their own work and those of others as they build an understanding of how different people play different roles within a team.

Greatness:

In everything that we do, we strive for greatness, and our curriculum is no different. In order to achieve this we believe it must be informed and shaped by expert subject matter and evidenced informed research. Therefore, our curriculum will never stand still.  Year after year we will work hard to create new experiences and new ways of imparting knowledge, which are tailored to the individual needs of our context and up to date with the world.

Hawkesley’s curriculum will not cap aspiration, it will drive it. Giving pupils and staff the tools to live a good life and change their own world and the world around them. Whilst at all times knowing that they are loved, valued and strengthen by God.

Our non-complacent attitude to curriculum improvement is driven by the following approach:

Own it.      Shape it.      Sculpt it. 

• We own our curriculum because it is UNIQUE to us, our area and the context of our school.
• We shape our curriculum because it is always advancing, based on research and what OUR children need, when they need it.
• We sculpt it by ensuring it is aspirational, engaging and enables our pupils to be the very best and have the very best!

We believe that a knowledge-rich and values focused curriculum is central to our pupils’ future success. Once our children have acquired the knowledge from our carefully sequenced curriculum, they will then be ready to lead a successful and happy life – letting their light shine.