At Sandfields Primary School, we worked on the design of our new curriculum through questionnaires to parents, listening to learners, working with wider staff and other stakeholders in order to design a curriculum which meets the needs of our children.
Our curriculum provides pupils with a broad and balanced range of experiences– The Sandfields 50 – which allows the realisation of the four purposes. It ensures that pupils develop an integrated, cross-disciplinary approach and ensures they make meaningful links across the six Areas of Learning and Experience. It is a curriculum where knowledge and skills are developed, meeting the required elements set out in the National Framework.
Progression will be at the heart of our curriculum where pupils will make progress by building on existing knowledge and learn with increasing depth, over time. This will lead to pupils being able to apply their skills independently and in more complex, sophisticated situations.
Assessment at our school enables learner progression as it is focused on supporting learners to move forward with their learning on a day-to-day basis and identifying, capturing and reflecting on progress over time. On-entry assessments are undertaken in languages, literacy, and communication, maths and numeracy, personal and social development, and physical development.
High expectations are set for all our learners regardless of ability that encourages and promotes curiosity, ambition and positive attitudes to learning.
Our curriculum will be kept under review by our Governors and school leaders to ensure it meets its intended needs and aims. We will continue to consult with and inform parents/carers, staff, pupils and governors as and when changes are made.
The Four Purposes
The Four Purposes is at the heart of our curriculum. They are the starting point for all decisions on the content and experiences developed as part of the curriculum to support our children to be:
- ambitious, capable learners ready to learn throughout their lives
- enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work
- ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world
- healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
Key elements
The new curriculum will include:
- 6 Areas of Learning and Experience from 3 to 16
- 3 cross curriculum responsibilities: literacy, numeracy and digital competence
- progression reference points at ages 5, 8, 11, 14 and 16
- achievement outcomes which describe expected achievements at each progression reference point.
The curriculum will be organised into 6 Areas of Learning and Experience:
- Expressive arts
- Health and well-being
- Humanities (including RE which should remain compulsory to age 16)
- Languages, literacy and communication (including Welsh, which should remain compulsory to age 16, and modern foreign languages)
- Mathematics and numeracy
- Science and technology (including computer science).
Useful links: