Curriculum Overview 2019-2020
Excellence and enjoyment are part of our school ethos. Our curriculum is exciting and varied
and includes all of the activities that we provide promote the whole child to develop and prepare
them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life and society.
We place great emphasis on developing skills for lifelong learning.
All children will be introduced to the 5 R’s of learning:
Resilience
Relationships
Resourcefulness
Reflection
Risk taking
Foundation Stage
Children get off to a really good start to school life in our Nursery and Reception classes.
They provide a safe and secure environment, where the children can follow the Early Years
curriculum in an atmosphere of encouragement, acceptance and respect. The children have the
opportunity to choose their own activities, be involved in teacher led activities and small group
work. They are taught how to be confident and develop a love of learning. Children move in to
Year 1 motivated to learn and build on their skills.
Key Stage 1 and 2
We teach full National Curriculum. We have a high emphasis on the basic skills and subjects are
taught and covered through our termly thematic approach to learning and curriculum work. We
are committed to ensure all children acquire the basic skills and develop knowledge in all subjects.
Children are taught in whole classes, small groups or 1:1. Early intervention is key to support children to meet at least age related standards. Skilled teaching assistants ensure valuable intervention programmes are delivered and impact on children's progress. More able children are challenged in a supportive environment. Our school is inclusive and all children are valued, have excellent attitudes to learning and are provided with a curriculum where they can thrive and achieve. Personal and social development underpins our curriculum and promoted throughout the school.
Our school is well resourced and ICT is
used extensively throughout to enhance teaching and learning. Our bespoke ICT suite has
thirty networked stations and iPads are used across the school. All classrooms have interactive
whiteboards and mobile devices to support curriculum work.
We are committed to giving every child the very best at Blackfell. Termly Curriculum Overviews
are sent home to keep parents fully informed of what children will be learning to enable further
support at home. Our curriculum is designed to ensure our children have a wealth of experiences beyond Washington and prepare them fully to be a responsible citizen in Modern Britain.
Educational visits and visitors are planned at least termly to give our children relevant first
hand experiences. A variety of extra-curricular clubs run at lunchtimes and after school. We
have opportunities for our older children to take part in a residential visit to Robin Wood. We
encourage creative development and are proud of our silver Artsmark award.
We have Creative and Multicultural weeks to enhance learning experiences and give all children
the opportunity to acquire and develop their skills. Our recent Aspirations/World of Work fortnight has supported children to understand their community, opportunities and prepare them for life in Modern Britain.
We have extensive grounds and are proud of sporting provision across the school and have many awards. We welcome
many sports professionals and coaches in to our school to develop activities such as athletics,
football, basketball and tennis. We have sports links with cluster schools and take part in many
sporting events with success.
All children have the chance to learn a musical instrument and some develop further skills
attending peripatetic music lessons. We have a Blackfell Rock Band that performs to other schools and at community events.
Children in key stage 2 learn French weekly.
Our Religious Education curriculum is based on the City of Sunderland’s agreed syllabus for the
teaching of R.E. We give all pupils a rich variety of experiences through which to develop skills,
concepts and knowledge in order to help pupils create their own beliefs and values in life. Out comprehensive PSHE
(Personal, Social and Health Education) and Citizenship teaching allows our children to explore and help to develop the knowledge,
skills and understanding that they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and become
informed, active and responsible citizens.
All children are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and
beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of the school and their communities. Our
school council are active in the life of the school and playground buddies, monitors, prefects and
other groups make Blackfell a happy and enjoyable place to learn.
