Curriculum Intent Statement

At Milford-on-Sea CofE Primary Academy we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through each Key Stage.

It has been designed to:

• blend the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 with other experiences and opportunities which give enjoyment, purpose and relevance to their learning and embrace our school’s ‘We Care’ values.
• ensure that academic success, creativity and problem solving, reliability, responsibility and resilience, as well as physical development, well-being and mental health are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning.
• celebrate diversity and utilise the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of our community while supporting the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The aim of our curriculum is for the pupils at MOSPS to have the requisite skills to be resilient, independent, confident and motivated learners with the interpersonal skills to succeed in the next stage of their education. Underpinning these aims, and woven through our curriculum, are the school’s Core Values, which are driven by our Christian ethos and Global outlook.

We want all members of our school community to be courageous in their learning; aspire to be the best they can be; have respect for themselves and others and have fun exploring the world around them, and this is reflected in our choice of cross-curricular topics and ‘quality text drivers’ through which the National Curriculum is delivered.

Curriculum Principles

In re-designing our curriculum, we will be considering successful ‘Learning’ to be ‘affecting change in the long-term memory’ and our aim is to ensure that our curriculum facilitates, by the end of each key stage, the ‘successful learning’ of a broad range of knowledge, skills and information through an approach guided by the following key principles:

• Engaging learners in an exciting, challenging and creative approach to learning
• Purposeful application of numeracy and literacy skills to continually raise standards
• Learning from the world around us (through outdoor learning, visits and visitors)
• Working creatively (incorporating expressive and creative arts and DT)
• Making links with the community around us (locally, nationally and globally)
• Flexibility of topic and delivery, to ensure identified gaps are closed, learning milestones are met and the school’s learning values are developed

In phase teams, with the support of subject leadership teams, we will be planning subject curricula which provide breadth, but are driven by our curriculum intention and shaped by ‘key concepts’ which students return to over and over so as to move them to the long-term memory.

Assessment Destinations for each phase will ensure there is a clear progression in learning. A variety of assessment opportunities will be built into the curriculum enabling teachers to evaluate what concepts, knowledge, skills and information the children have successfully learned. This will be used to adapt future learning.

Pupils have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools.

Themed weeks, whole school activities and opportunities within and outside school all enrich and develop the children’s learning. After school clubs and events extend these opportunities further.

Our school grounds, the coast and the New Forest are considered an opportunity for active outdoor learning for all of our pupils and are regularly utilised.