Our Curriculum
The curriculum is all the planned activities we organise in order to promote learning, personal growth and development. It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the range of learning experiences that facilitate a magical place of learning. We aim to teach children how to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others while developing knowledge and skills, to help pupils become the very best that they can be.
At Silchester, we aim to equip pupils to make a positive contribution to society in the future through a rich, broad and engaging curriculum which inspires all pupils to learn through the acquisition of knowledge & skills with the school values at its core.
We ensure that our curriculum retains the integrity of each individual subject throughout the school. Each subject is valued and has its own intent to ensure integrity, broad coverage and progression throughout the primary curriculum.
The infographic below details how our intent, implementation and impact is formed around our collective vision, values and aim.
Our Curriculum Approach
What do we believe is the purpose of curriculum?
At Silchester, we believe the purpose of curriculum to enable our children to become confident in their own self-worth and resilient in overcoming the obstacles they face. We want all our children to develop their skills, learning, memories of experiences and positive relationships which will empower them to contribute to the wider world and make a difference. We aim for our children to be lifelong learners who are grounded in our core Christian values of compassion, courage and respect, and ready to embrace their next step – whatever that may be!
How do we design our curriculum?
For our children to develop their skills and learning, we focus on a ‘less is more’ approach, teaching less in greater depth. For example, throughout their Silchester journey, the children will study five key artists. By choosing only five, and revisiting these artists through their years, the children can build on their knowledge and take their learning deeper.
In order to achieve this ‘less is more’ approach, each subject has three or four golden threads (linked to the National Curriculum). The golden threads are the main themes which run through that subject throughout the school. These support a clear focus in this subject‘s intent (vision) and progression through each golden thread.
Within each golden thread, there is key knowledge (and vocabulary) which has been identified as the focus for the main learning and other aspects are taught through a light touch. At Silchester, we believe all skills require knowledge and therefore our curriculum focuses on building this knowledge and then applying it to achieve skills. The key knowledge is built into progression
All learning is taught through learning journeys, which teachers plan with ‘the end point in mind’. Each learning journey will begin with a hook and have a clearly defined purposeful, meaningful outcome. At Silchester, teachers explicitly share the learning journey and outcome with the children. We believe the children having clarity in what they are learning and why is very important to develop ownership and engagement.
In our curriculum, subjects are taught discretely with connections made through golden threads. For example, when studying the golden thread ‘world history’ children will draw on their knowledge of already learnt ancient civilisations to make comparisons between their new learning on ancient civilisations.
