Our curriculum intent is to ensure everyone achieves their full potential

in a culture of success through ambitious, sequenced and purposeful lessons,

meeting needs and demonstrating progress.

At Janet Duke, we have designed our curriculum with pupils’ learning at the core. We recognise that a curriculum has to be broad, balanced and offer pupils opportunities to grow as individuals, as well as learners. We believe that all children should feel secure, included, valued and challenged in all aspects of school life by being at the centre of every action and decision we make.

Alongside Curriculum Objectives, the school also aim to support pupils by developing their Core Learning Skills – these are a coherent set of Learning Units designed to ensure pupils learn effectively and are equipped for lifelong learning, no matter their Key Stage, or their age. Each Core Learning Skills Unit has a focus core skill and the completion of each unit aims to support the systematic development of the pupils’ skill set. The Core Learning Skills are organised into three categories which then broken down and subdivided into a number of Skills. Each Skill is described by a set of skill statements – the ‘I can’ statements which are used to support planning and assessment to ensure progression for pupils in these essential learning skills.

This is further represented throughout the school environment and demonstrated by the pupils through their commitment to the School Values: Responsibility, Positive Attitude, Appreciation, Teamwork, Motivation, Kindness and Honesty. We also promote British Values throughout the school; in our school ethos, working environments and lessons. As a school, we feel it is imperative for children to understand what it means to have ‘values’ and by promoting British Values, this enables children to understand the world around them on a local, national and global level. Pupils are regularly given the opportunity to partake in the democratic process through Class Learning Forums once a month, prior to a Class Council meeting. This enables the pupils’ voices to be heard and help shape their education.

At Janet Duke, the children are encouraged to learn and operate both individually and in groups, to listen attentively, ask and answer questions, respond to instructions, make decisions, solve problems and to be aware of others. We recognise that pupils should be challenged in their schooling; learning from failures and celebrating successes. We intend for our curriculum to be empowering and enabling pupils to develop their interpersonal skills, creativity and independence.

Although some of the basic skills children learn throughout their education are taught in isolation, we also look for opportunities to facilitate learning through cross-curricular links. This allows the children to often demonstrate and apply skills and knowledge that they have learnt in a variety of situations.

To support their learning of the wider curriculum, additional educational experiences are also provided; such as competitions, class trips, clubs and guest speakers. This gives the pupils a chance to partake in a diverse range of activities as well as develop interests to fuel their ambitions.

By the end of year 6, we aim for our children to leave Janet Duke as well-rounded individuals who are well-prepared to take on the challenge of secondary school and adulthood.

We follow guidelines laid down in the National Curriculum for all pupils in Key Stages 1 & 2. There are 12 subjects to be studied;

• Music
• Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE)