Curriculum

The curriculum that we have developed at Chilham St Mary’s Church of England Primary School is specifically for our children in our school and linked to our Christian vision where we are a diverse, loving community, committed to providing firm foundations built on God’s love and forgiveness for all.  Within our family of learners, guided by Jesus’ example, we nurture and encourage every individual to have the confidence to achieve their own potential, now and in the future.

                                                                                       

Our curriculum forms the basis for learning and the experiences our children enjoy during their time at school.  It encompasses academic, spiritual, creative, cultural and sporting opportunities as well as nourishing the individual talents and interests of our unique learners at Chilham.

Our curriculum aims to:

• educate each child as a whole person
• develop happy, motivated life-long learners prepared for the next stage of their education
• support our children to become independent, enquiring and collaborative learners
• nurture healthy, caring and respectful individuals
• provide challenge and opportunities for risk taking, enabling our children to discover their talents and reach their full potential
• be inclusive and diverse allowing a range of opportunities
• enable our children to develop an understanding of how to be socially, morally, spiritually and culturally responsible and aware so that they know how  to make positive contributions to their community and the wider world

The Implementation of our Curriculum

Our curriculum is delivered through creative cross curricular topics that combine a range of subjects to make learning inspiring, engaging and meaningful and enable children to make links between subjects. We check the coverage of the National Curriculum against our topics to ensure children are taught the appropriate knowledge and skills for their year group.  We believe that not only is it our responsibility to cover the National Curriculum but also to develop the skills and values that would allow our children to succeed and flourish in life whatever their ability.

Community collaboration is an essential part of our curriculum and we are so fortunate to have access to a wide range of amazing facilities within the village that facilitate and enhance our provision within and beyond the school day.  We encourage our children to be responsible for and respect the local community and environment. 

Forest School is a crucial component of our curriculum at Chilham.  We are fortunate to have two qualified Level 3 FS practitioners on our staff and our own site nestled in the heart of Chilham Castle grounds.  The Forest School ethos wholeheartedly supports our aim to educate the child as a whole person and we ensure that each class benefits from access to this on a regular basis throughout the year.

We know that giving our children the opportunity to try new things and develop new skills can be hugely beneficial. It can help them to grow in confidence, expand their understanding of the world around them, or introduce a new hobby or passion. We offer a range of educational visits, workshops and after school clubs throughout the year to enhance key learning areas. We also have a range of visitors in school to further support our curriculum.

Our curriculum is under constant review in response to the needs of our children, developments in education and our local context. We are always looking for ways to improve and develop the learning opportunities we can offer our children. We carefully consider, through regular planning and progress meetings, how our curriculum will meet the needs of all children.

We are part of the CARE Foundation Trust group of 10 schools, a strong collaboration of schools who support each other and share best practice. We are a learning community who share resources, training and learning experiences for both staff and children. Some of the joint events enjoyed by our pupils have been:

• Annual Carol Concert in aid of the NSPCC
• Spelling Bee
• Maths Competition
• Joint science workshops
• Eco conference with the Mayor of Ashford
• The Challenger Games

The Impact of our Curriculum

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the four basic elements highlighted in The Church of England Vision for Education:

• Wisdom, Knowledge and Skills
• Hope and Aspiration
• Community and Living Well Together
• Dignity and Respect

Our children show genuine curiosity and love of learning; they are inspired and excited to share their knowledge and understanding beyond the classroom.  We want to ensure that their attainment in core and foundation subjects, is in line with, or exceeding, our expectations of each individual so that they achieve their own potential from their own starting point.

Progress meetings take place at the end of each term and staff discuss each child in the school. We use a range of resources to support our judgements, but always consider Age Related Expectations. Parents are kept informed of their child’s learning and progress via electronic means e.g Tapestry or Seesaw, parent meetings and a written report at the end of the year. 

There are many varied opportunities for our children to represent the school as an individual or part of a team through sport, music, cultural and spiritual events.  They seize these opportunities with enthusiasm and confidence and are excellent ambassadors for our school.

Our children are passionate about supporting charities and making a difference to the lives of others.  Their efforts are recognised and celebrated which, in turn, encourages them to want to do more.

Children leave our school with a sense of belonging to the community in which they live where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners. Our children show genuine care,  compassion and respect towards each other, across all age ranges, readily offering support and encouragement in all situations.