Our approach to the curriculum

Curriculum Summary

At St Kew we have a Connected Curriculum where learning is planned in themes. This theme learning includes the foundation subjects such as History, Geography, Science, Design Technology, Art and Music. It is built around greater learner involvement, ownership and independence. It requires children to think in depth and answer questions around a theme. We aim to inspire and excite children in their learning whilst embedding core skills across the curriculum. Learning is planned from pre-learning tasks, the National Curriculum and the school’s context, location and grounds. At St Kew we excite the children and ‘hook’ them into learning with starter events and conclude each theme with a reflection of the learning which has taken place.

We promote the 6 R’s of learning: Resilience, Responsibility, Readiness, Resourcefulness, Relationships and Reflectiveness. These core skills underpin all aspects of learning for each of our pupils and we respect each and every child’s particular needs and ambitions.

As a small school, we adapt the 2014 National Curriculum to enable all of our children to have a holistic approach within mixed aged classes. Outdoor learning underpins all areas of learning through our extensive outdoor facilities. These include a Round House with fire pit, kitchen garden, two poly tunnels, quiet areas, wildlife habitats, an large sports field and multi-purpose playgrounds. We add to our curriculum by inviting speakers into school, as well as providing educational visits for all year groups.

As a Trust, we believe that learning is like overlapping waves: A gradual ebbing and flowing of the frequencies of alternative ways of thinking, with new approaches being added and old ones being eliminated as well. New rules / strategies / theories and ways of thinking wash through our minds like waves sometimes obliterating what was there before, sometimes pushing suddenly forward in great surges.

We are enthusiastic about being curious, life-long learners at our school. We provide a broad, rich, relevant and meaningful curriculum which we are very proud of. Children have a thirst for learning at St Kew and we are committed to nurturing young: writers, performers, readers, speakers, mathematicians, scientists, historians, geographers, artists, designers, musicians, sports people and computer users. Children are actively encouraged to follow their passions whilst becoming life-long learners, well-equipped to reach their full potential.

To find out more about the Curriculum, please see the corresponding Year Group pages or contact the school office.