Curriculum
The Marden Lodge Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
At Marden Lodge Primary School & Nursery we aim to foster a lifelong love of learning, through adopting a broad and balanced curriculum which will ensure that our pupils are prepared for life. We have a comprehensive understanding of our children and school community and have designed our curriculum accordingly, based on our school vision, to meet the specific needs of all Marden Lodge children.
Our vision statement ‘Aim High, Working Hard, Learning Together’ encompasses what we as a school community strive to achieve. Interwoven into our curriculum are our six Marden Star Values (Trustworthy, Respectful, Responsibility, Fair, Caring, and Active Citizens) which have been carefully selected to represent the values that we hold great importance to at Marden Lodge. As a result, our children:
- develop a sense of belonging to, and play an active and caring role in their community
- understand how to look after themselves, and their needs
- treat others with respect, use good manners and be tolerant
- broaden their outlook on life
- become independent lifelong learners
In short, we want our children to shape their own lives, and have the skills to be the person they want to be. Our curriculum is delivered in a highly practical and thematic way. Subjects are taught in their own right and we ensure there is a range of opportunities and enrichment activities for cross curricular learning throughout each topic. The academic achievement, wellbeing and character development of our pupils is at the heart of our curriculum and we regularly review our provision to ensure that it is relevant, engaging and challenging for all.
More specifically, the Marden Lodge Curriculum:
- Sets high expectations
- Inspires and motivates
- Considers the children’s context, circumstances and voice
- Strives to close the vocabulary gap
- Avoids cognitive overload
- Focuses on depth of learning
- Involves the whole community
- Prepares the children for the next phase of their education
- Equips the children with the knowledge and cultural capital that they need to succeed in life
- Broadly follows the objectives set out in the National Curriculum
Our curriculum is underpinned by our Marden’s Marvellous Learners learning behaviours, which promotes effective learning behaviours in all areas of the curriculum. Our weekly celebration assembly highlights those children who have been displaying these during that week.
Curriculum Implementation
The curriculum is designed and implemented in such a way that it builds on prior knowledge and skills and lays the foundation for future learning.
Each topic provides a memorable experience to capture the children’s interest and narrow the gap for disadvantaged children. The topics begins with a ‘hook’ which introduces the children to the learning that they will be engaging in. This is followed by a retrieval of knowledge and activities that explain main ideas that they will be learning about. Throughout the topic the children are given opportunities to research and record in a variety of ways. This is where the children develop, practice and deepen their knowledge, skills and understanding. At the end of the topics, the children are given opportunities to reflect on and celebrate their learning. English and Mathematics are taught daily, including Phonics in Reception and KS1.
We have a coherent, whole school long term plan, which includes overviews for each year group that specifies the curriculum areas covered. Our medium term plans and subject progression documents detail the National Curriculum objectives taught, essential knowledge and skills to be learned and the key vocabulary.
We ensure that each topic has a clear subject driver, a core text and allow blocked time within the timetable to ensure content is covered in depth. Having a clear and progressive learning journey and teachers that respond to the learning needs of each individual ensure that children gain the essential knowledge and skills for each subject.
Curriculum Impact
As a result of our curriculum, children leave Marden Lodge Primary School with the skills to be who they want to be, ready and prepared for the next stage of their education. High quality teaching and learning is monitored through professional dialogue, evidence of work, quality of teaching appointments (QuOTAs), teacher knowledge and assessment data. Feedback will always be given to children to improve standards. Ensuring effective teaching and learning is taking place the gap will narrow between the disadvantaged children and their peers.
Specialist Teaching
Children enjoy lessons which are delivered by subject specialists and instructors. These include:
Sports coach, Swimming instructor, Forest School teacher and Music specialists which include trumpet, ukulele and recorder.
Opportunities And Enrichment
At Marden Lodge, we provide opportunities which support and enrich learning to ensure that every pupil is able to access our broad and balanced, exciting and engaging curriculum offer.
Clubs
A wide range of clubs are on offer free of charge to the children. We also work with outside organisations to provide additional opportunities for the children. Fees are directly paid to the club provider.
Sports Opportunities And Events
Sports events are attended such as the borough/cluster sports event, netball matches and all children take part in a sports day which is attended by parents.
Active Citizens
We organise opportunities for the children to be active citizens in the local community as well as the global community. We have supported a range of charities and initiatives for example, Children in Need & Anti-Bullying Alliance.
Trips, Workshops And Visitors
A wide range of trips,workshops and visitors are planned throughout the year linked to the different learning topics. These are planned within our whole school overviews and are balanced across the school and within subjects.
Residential Trips For KS2
We are pleased to offer a residential trip at the end of Key Stage Two.
2022
Year 6 - 3-day trip to High Ashurst
