Key Stage Two Curriculum Summary
Aim –
The curriculum in Key Stage Two is planned to ensure that it includes the Programmes of Study for all the subjects of the National Curriculum expected at Key Stage Two. The subjects are:
English, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technology, Personal, Social and Health Education, Art, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Physical Education, Music, Religious Education and French.
Whilst Key Stage 2 is a unique part of a boy’s development, the curriculum at this time does build on the learning and teaching from Key Stage 1 and before. It helps all boys to continue to make the progress they are capable of and supports their development as they mature. Importantly it also provides the grounding that all boys need to prepare them for the challenges of the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and beyond. The breadth of our curriculum is particularly effective at achieving this aim so that all boys go on to achieve the success they so clearly deserve.
Cross Curricular links
Teachers look for opportunities to teach in a cross curricular way where possible. This helps extend the curriculum and give it a width and breadth that helps to create exciting, enjoyable and relevant lessons for all boys. Furthermore it helps boys see the links that exist between subjects so that learning opportunities are improved and enhanced.
Timings
Please see each curriculum summary for the number of lessons taught and time spent on each subject. It is worth stressing though that due to the Cross Curricular ways that teachers work then these timings can and often do change. Furthermore the time spent on each individual subject can be influenced by outside educational visits, subject weeks, setting and completion of homework, assembly content, assessment weeks, gifted and talented opportunities, extra-curricular clubs, residential trips and other opportunities that help to create both the explicit and implicit curriculum.
Content
Our English Curriculum includes –
- Speaking and Listening – your son will be given frequent opportunities to listen and to speak in a variety of ways and through a variety of lessons including English and Drama. We encourage all boys to listen attentively to other pupils and all adults. We expect them to be capable of expressing themselves verbally with increasing maturity and sophistication. Boys will be given opportunities to show through speech how they understand a lesson or idea. Boys receive weekly drama lessons to help develop their confidence, acting, performing and speaking abilities. Teachers will use boy’s speech to make assessment decisions and will give weight to verbal content especially when it relates to a boy with writing or reading difficulties.
- Reading – A variety of methods will be used to help your son continue to learn how to read. Reading and the culture of books has a very high status which is highly evident across the whole school. School is well resourced with a wide and varied choice of books, allowing class teachers to select reading material appropriate to the individual’s ability / needs. The school library is used by all classes on a regular basis and boys are frequently read to across all genres. Themed reading weeks are a regular part of the school year and the importance and joy of reading is part of the culture of the school. Your son will be able to take a reading book home each day in his book bag to enjoy at home
- Writing – Your son will continue to be encouraged to become independent, imaginative and thoughtful writers across all genres and for all purposes. Boys will be encouraged to develop an appropriate handwriting style and accurate spelling will be expected as much as possible. Boys will be given rich and varied opportunities to write and enjoy writing. Whilst the basic conventions of writing are looked for at all times children will be encouraged to find their own writers voice and to be creative, imaginative and expressive.
Mathematics
Mathematics at Key Stage 2 helps your son to continue to develop and improve their mathematical understanding of the world. Your son will still have the opportunity for lots of practical activity and discussion to ensure that he has a thorough understanding of all aspects of mathematics. Increasingly though we will expect boys to become more familiar with writing, recording and formal and informal methods of showing on paper their understanding of mathematical ideas. Mathematical experiences and opportunities are intentionally varied and include oral / mental maths, games, puzzles, problem solving, investigation, formal and informal maths and handling practical materials. We encourage boys to solve everyday problems using the mathematical skills they have learnt. ICT plays an important role in their mathematical development also.
Science
Boy’s natural curiosity and interest in the world around them is encouraged through Science at Key Stage 2. The skills of observation, investigation, record-keeping, discovery and experimentation are developed as the ‘tools’ of science and boys are encouraged to become increasingly sophisticated and mature when thinking about the Scientific world. Our specialist Science laboratory allows us to teach the boys in a creative, exciting and dynamic space that allows for specialist and highly practical teaching. However learning also happens out of the classroom and we use the school grounds, the local environment, museums, school visits and residential trips to help boys understand their world. We encourage the boys to have enquiring minds, think independently and challenge themselves, other boys and their teachers.
Information and Communication Technology
A strong emphasis is placed on ICT at Key Stage 2 reflecting the inherent importance of this subject and its relevance in the world that the boys are growing up in. We use computers throughout the school to support and develop the children’s learning in ICT and many other subjects. We provide boys with opportunities to acquire skills in the following aspects of ICT: word processing, data handling, computer art and graphics, the use of the internet, spreadsheets, e mail and modelling.
Design and Technology
The curriculum for this subject provides many opportunities for boys to undertake practical tasks linked to the processes of designing, building, creating, testing, improving and evaluating products. As the boys move through Key Stage 2 we look for work that reflects their increasing maturity and sense of the world around them. They are taught varied craft and design skills to help them develop an understanding of the properties of materials and how they can be used. We also teach the boys to safely use a wide variety of simple and more complex tools. This subject is taught by a specialist art and design teacher.
Geography
The geography we teach reflects the boys growing understanding of the world and their place in it. Whilst we still encourage the boys to explore the immediate world around them we are encouraging in them an understanding of geographical issues from around the world. They learn how to read and draw maps and are expected to have an increasingly accurate understanding of continents, countries and important physical features and man made factors. They also learn about the weather and contemporary issues such as global warming and pollution. They learn about places in the United Kingdom and abroad which are very different from where they live. Our work in geography is supported by trips and visits in the locality, as well as opportunities for residential trips further afield.
History
The boys are taught to understand many aspects of history by learning about the immediate and distant past. They learn to identify how things have changed over time through the use of artefacts and first hand experience i.e. trips and visits. The boys are expected to show an understanding of how events in history are linked and what factors are important in causing historical events. They learn about people and events beyond living memory and how to evaluate sources of information and knowledge. They are taught to compare the past with the present and learn to ask questions that further their knowledge and help complete their understanding of historical matters.
Art, Craft and Design
The learning activities in this subject help the boys to understand and enjoy a range of arts and crafts. Boys explore a wide range of increasingly sophisticated materials and tools when they draw, paint, create collages, models and sculptures and explore the impact of varying media. They learn to recognise pattern, shape, texture, colour, line and tone, so that they can express themselves artistically in many different forms, moods and ways. They are also given opportunities to talk about their work and the boys are expected to talk about artistic ideas in appropriate ways. They are also helped to develop an awareness of different artists, their place in history and the artistic ideas of other cultures. This subject is taught by a specialist art teacher.
Music
The school recognises that music at Key Stage 2 continues to provide a powerful and distinctive medium of expression and understanding. We use it to help the boys develop a wide range of creative and expressive skills. Boys are given many opportunities to learn a variety of string, wind and percussion instruments from the schools own music teacher and peripatetic teachers. The boys are given the opportunity to listen carefully to different kinds of music from a wide range of cultures. Playing and singing together requires co-operation and teamwork and these are encouraged in this subject. Music is taught by a music specialist.
Physical Education
The boys enjoy a wide and extensive curriculum that helps their progress through Key Stage 2. Weekly PE lessons continue to teach boys all the necessary skills of agility, balance, movement, co-ordination, catching, striking and fielding. Boys also begin to play formal sports and enjoy Rugby, Football and Cricket opportunities. Boys represent their school in competitive matches and learn the importance of teamwork and co-operation. Boys also get the opportunity to swim regularly and develop confidence and enjoyment of water. Through all these aspects of physical education boys learn of the importance of fitness and exercise. This subject is taught by a specialist games teacher.
Personal, Social and Health Education
The school provides a range of planned activities and opportunities to help boys develop the personal and social skills they need as they mature and begin to have more and further experiences of the world around them. Our values of respect, honesty, trustworthiness and care for others are both explicitly and implicitly encouraged in the boys. Teachers use SEAL, assemblies and class discussions to help the children explore personal and social issues that most affect them and their lives. They are helped to understand the idea of good citizenship and of the need to value everyone, irrespective of creed, colour, race or religion.
Religious Education
Religious Education and assemblies are broadly Christian, although we are sensitive to the fact that pupils may practice other faiths. The school provides opportunities for the children to talk and learn about all the major world religions and their importance in other cultures. There are strong links with PSHE and boys are helped to understand religious faith, differing points of view and the importance of tolerance.
French
Boys enjoy weekly French lessons which introduce them to the idea of learning a foreign language and give them an introduction to basic vocabulary and sentence structures. Boys are introduced to French culture and life also.
Methods of Assessment
Boys are regularly assessed in Key Stage 2 in English, Mathematics and Science. On an annual basis boys are assessed in reading, writing, spelling and mathematics using the INCAS assessment system from the CEM organisation who are part of Durham University. Boys have a spelling test every week and are heard to read on a frequent basis. Teachers continually assess boys in all subjects where and when they can using a variety of informal and more formal methods.
G&T
Boys who are deemed to be gifted and talented are fully supported where and when possible. This support can take many forms but is designed to further challenge, support and enhance a boys progress.
SFL
At this stage boys who are identified as needing further support will receive extra help in a variety of ways. Teachers and classroom assistants will provide appropriate work to support a boy’s progress and they will also receive lessons from a learning support teacher on a weekly basis. The school and boys family will work closely together to help support the boy’s progress.