Oakhill Primary Academy

  • Doncaster Rd, Ardsley, Barnsley, S71 5ag
  • 01226 284493

Parents  »  The Oakhill Curriculum

We believe that learning must be a memorable and enjoyable journey. From the moment your child begins with us, we begin our work in encouraging a thirst for learning which will last a lifetime. All our children rise to the challenge of a rich, diverse curriculum which develops children’s competencies across all subjects of the National Curriculum.

We believe a primary curriculum is at its powerful best when introducing young learners to experiences which have the potential to become lifelong passions, interests and pleasures. We pride ourselves in offering rich experiences in all areas of the curriculum and are committed to continual improvement to our approach to curriculum design. Our strong commitment to the development of literate, numerate and curious adults is evident during any one day in our schools.

The core aims of our curriculum include a desire to ensure our children:

  • are enthusiastic, confident and successful learners
  • understand their own infinite potential is underpinned by effort and determination
  • are curious, inquisitive and able to express their ideas, research and findings well
  • are knowledge rich and secure age appropriate learning in line with their peers, nationally
  • are motivated to be the best that they can be

We pride ourselves on developing an exciting curriculum which is bespoke to our children and our community. It has been carefully designed to meet the needs of all learners with a rigorous and relentless focus on the development of key skills in phonics, reading, writing, speaking and listening and maths. Right across the curriculum, we have high expectations of our little learners and these high expectations underpin our children’s successes.

We provide a broad and balanced curriculum, organising areas of study which promote cross-curricular links. Our creative approach provides opportunities for pupils to use and apply subject knowledge across the curriculum. As well as finding out through books and web-based research, our curriculum model is characterised by first-hand experiences, interaction with real people and visits to real places.

The curriculum is constantly evolving into the most effective engine for enjoyment and achievement. We operate a two-year cycle within each Key Stage. We plan for learning across year groups so that Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception), KS1 (Years 1 & 2), Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) and Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 & 6) share learning experiences. Pupils are required to work independently, in partnership and in whole group learning situations, with a strong commitment to conversation underpinning the learning that happens in our classrooms.

We are expert in ensuring that all our children achieve well in reading, writing and maths by the end of Key Stage 2. The core curriculum is very carefully crafted to enable children to revisit essential learning term by term and year on year, so that all children enjoy the success which motivates them to work hard and do their best. Working in close partnership with our sister schools in the Barnsley Primary Partnership, our ambitious curriculum development in wider curriculum areas in well underway, with subject specialist teams operating across our schools to make maximum use of our collective expertise. In addition, we offer a very rich broader curriculum offer through the provision of Breakfast Club each morning, a wide range of after-school clubs between 3pm and 4pm each day and the opportunity to participate in Sporting competitions throughout the year.

For details of our full curriculum for each Key Stage – please click here:

Long Term Curriculum Plans


 
School Values 

We strongly believe that learning must be a memorable and enjoyable journey and our curriculum is underpinned by the following core values:

⦁    Child-Focused
⦁    Nurturing
⦁    Inclusive
⦁    Ambitious

Children are at the heart of all that we do; their developmental needs and future success determine our practice and priorities. We provide a warm, caring environment in which children and adults feel safe, loved and valued giving them the ability to flourish and grow. Our school has a consistently positive culture of high expectations and aspirations for all.

All our children rise to the challenge of a rich, diverse, ambitious curriculum which develops children’s competencies across all subjects. We pride ourselves in offering innovative and relevant learning experiences passionately meeting the needs of all pupils. This ensures that our pupils:

⦁    are enthusiastic, independent, confident and successful learners
⦁    understand their own infinite potential is underpinned by effort, determination and resilience.
⦁    are curious, inquisitive and able to express their ideas, research and findings well
⦁    are knowledge rich and secure age-appropriate learning with transferable skills to succeed in life

Progression throughout our carefully constructed curriculum is clear to ensure children are prepared for the next phase in their education, whether to a new concept, year or keystage.

We believe a primary curriculum is at its powerful best when it introduces young learners to experiences which challenge, motivate and inspire and have the potential to become lifelong passions, interests and pleasures and prepare them for their next stage in their education.  

We prepare all our children for the future, developing both their academic and their social and emotional well-being. By enabling all children to explore the world around them, they develop strong life skills. Through language rich experiences we focus our children’s abilities to communicate using higher order thinking, enquiry and transferable skills learned from a broad and balanced curriculum. Through rich texts, first-hand experiences and reflective practice, children will engage with the curriculum and identify possibilities for their future. They will develop their personal sense of self, an inner resilience, strength of character that will result in them confidently and consistently presenting themselves with ‘being the best that they can be’ at the small tasks and the big challenges their lives will bring.