Curriculum

Our Curriculum Statement

At Cummersdale School, we have worked hard with teachers, parents and pupils to develop a unique curriculum, bespoke to our school to inspire children's thirst for knowledge and life long learning. We recognise the importance of a rich and varied learning journey for all our children to support our academic outcomes.

Intent

Our creative curriculum, developed by Cummersdale School, for Cummersdale School has been designed in order to nurture and encourage natural curiosity. It is our aim to provide exciting and inspiring learning experiences which challenge children appropriately and allow them to explore a way in which they can excel and prepare them for the next steps in their education.

We encourage our children to be effective learners who seize opportunities to demonstrate the qualities which we believe will help them in all areas of life, both now and in the future. These qualities include being:

• Independent
• Organised
• A risk taker
• Creative
• Enthusiastic
• Confident
• Committed
• Reflective
• Curious
• Articulate
• Driven
• Happy

We want the children to enjoy their time at school and take with them 'magical moments and pockets full of memories'.

Implementation

We implement the curriculum by allowing our pupils the opportunity to:

• develop new skills through a variety of interesting contexts
• understand the purpose of their learning and see its relevance to their past, present and future
• see clear links between different aspects of their learning
• follow their own interests
• develop and demonstrate creativity
• work in a range of groups and settings

Throughout the school, foundation subjects are taught through engaging topics. These vary in length and key stills are taught through topics such as 'Tunnel 29 - the fall of the Berlin Wall', 'Saturday Night at the Movies', 'Superheroes' and 'Scrumdiddlyumptious'.

The whole school comes together for a theme week in the third week of each half term. These weeks have included Dragon Week, Science Week, Numbers Week and Pirate Week.

The school uses a variety of fresh and innovative materials to implement the curriculum. Curriculum Unity Schools Partnership (Alex Bedford) and Kapow are used and provide a connected, cumulative and coherent approach which ensures that previous knowledge is built upon and there is a progression of skills. 

All children from Y1 - 6 have their own I-Pads. This has changed the style of teaching considerably with numerous apps and programs like 'Showbie' allowing children to learn, improve and reflect effectively as well as gaining in independence.

The Cummersdale learning experience is enriched by a number of well-planned trips and carefully chosen visitors. We draw on our locality to visit Cummersdale Village, The River Caldew, Watchtree Nature Reserve, Croft Farm, Aglionby, Carlisle Castle, The Cinema, The Cathedral and Tullie House. Further afield, classes have visited Hadrian's Wall, The Life Centre, Whinlatter Forest, Hawse End, Beamish, Allonby and Maryport Aquarium. In Y5/6, children get the opportunity to experience a City Visit (Liverpool) and an Activity Centre (Lockerbie Manor). We have also welcomed a number of performers, musicians, artists, authors, sportsmen and women into our school to inspire and educate our children.

We know that many children have special talents and skills and we provide as many experiences and opportunities as possible for children to excel. These include football, cricket, gymnastics and athletics; chess, geocaching, climbing, musical tuition, handwriting and reading competitions and productions. It is our aim to organise events which are inclusive to all, but allow those who excel the opportunity to showcase their talents either internally or by competing against other schools.

Impact

The impact of the curriculum is measured regularly using a variety of tools:

Phonics are regularly assessed allowing the school to provide effective small groups in order to teach, Read, Write Inc. effectively. 

In EYFS, children are observed frequently and this information is shared with parents and helps to provide the EY Profile

Topics are followed up with mini quizzes which assess the children's knowledge in a non threatening way.

Our half termly pupil feedback sessions allow the pupils to show other members of staff and governors what they have learnt. 

NFER tests are used to produce standardised scores for Maths, Reading and SPaG from Y1 - 6. Writing samples are collected each half term and discussed and moderated at staff meetings.

Pupil Progress Meetings take place each term when each child's performance is reviewed between the class teacher, teaching assistant, SENCo and Headteacher. Targeted support and interventions can be set up and reviewed.

Perhaps the best measure of the impact of our curriculum comes from the children themselves. They can talk confidently about what they have learnt and their enthusiastic responses show that they enjoy the lessons and experiences that Cummersdale School provides.

Subjects

Further details can be found under the separate subject statements and plans.