National Curriculum
What will my child learn in school?
We place a great emphasis on helping the children make links in their learning through a cross-curricular approach to our wider subject teaching. Our curriculum continues this approach as children are taught through themes that have a distinct subject driver and clear curriculum links to other subjects allowing for greater development of skills within a strong and meaningful context for the children.
At Viewley Hill Academy, we encourage the ‘Cornerstones’ model, with 4 tenets of learning: Engage, Develop, Innovate, Express. This provides experiences which inspire the children, encourage independence and resilience in their learning and offer the opportunities to apply their skills in a range of contexts.
Children benefit from a breadth of curricular and real-world experiences, such as educational visits or visitors in school every half term to initiate the ‘Engage’ stage of their learning. This ‘hooks’ the pupils, encouraging curiosity and inspiring enquiry.
During the ‘Develop’ stage of the curriculum, the children acquire knowledge which supports their questioning, in order that, during the ‘Innovate’ phase, they are able to self-direct, investigate and explore an aspect of their learning in greater depth. This style of learning promotes independence and builds resilience, as the pupils face challenges and seek ways to overcome them.
The final stage is ‘Express’, which gives the children an opportunity to share and disseminate their learning with others. This may take the form of a carnival procession, a school assembly or a musical performance. The collaborative and celebratory nature of this learning is highly inclusive and is frequently shared with parents.
Long term theme map:
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
| EYFS | Why do you love me so much?
Understanding the world Why do leaves turn crispy? Expressive arts and design |
Can we explore it?
Understanding the world |
Can I have a dog yet?
Understanding the world |
Which Traditional Tale is best?
Literacy/communication & language |
Why do spiders eat flies?
Understanding the World |
Am I the fastest?
Physical Development |
| Y1/2 | Enchanted Woodland
Science driver |
Moon Zoom
DT/Science driver |
Memory Box
History driver |
Bright Lights, Big City
Geography driver |
Land Ahoy!
History/Geography driver |
Wiggle and Crawl
Science driver |
| Y3/4 | Potions
Science driver |
Traiders and Raiders
History driver |
Burps, Bottoms and Bile
Science driver |
Playlist
Music driver |
Blue Abyss
Art & Design |
Misty Mountain Sierra
Geography driver |
| Y5 | Time Traveller
Art driver |
Pharaohs
History driver |
Stargazers
Science driver |
Allotment
Geography driver |
Peasants, Princes and Pestilence
History driver |
Scream Machine
Science driver |
| Y6 | A Child’s War
History driver |
Frozen Kingdom
Geography driver |
Darwin’s Delights
Science driver |
Hola Mexico!
Music driver |
Bloodheart
Science driver
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