At the Priory School we have written Subject Overviews and Subject Guidelines for each subject in the National Curriculum, to ensure there is a consistency of approach across our school and that knowledge builds over time.
Core Subjects
See our English Curriculum page for more information.
See our Maths Curriculum page for more information.
See Science Curriculum page for more information.
See R.E. (Religious Education) curriculum page for more information.
Art and Design
Art and Design makes a unique contribution to the development of the child. All of the children at Priory School are encouraged to enjoy and appreciate Art and Design, and to respond and express themselves creatively.
During their time at The Priory, pupils are equipped with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works. The children love our annual summer Arts Week. Our theme in 2021-22 was the Tokyo Olympics. Our Art lockdown videos, in collaboration with Awesome Archie illustrator Becky Clapcott, were widely shared across local schools.
Geography
Geography explores the relationship between the Earth and its people through the study of place, space and environment.
Pupils are encouraged to develop an appreciation of the people and places of the world in which they live. They deserve opportunities to discover more about the world around them and the variety that exists within it, as well as exploring wider current issues such as sustainability, interdependence and diversity.
History
History will be taught through a topic based approach whenever possible using a range of resources to support planning, teaching and assessment. The study of History aims to give children a sense of their own identity within our social, political, cultural and economic background.
Pupils are encouraged to think critically about information and ask questions about information presented. They should be able to relate historical periods and moments to connected present day scenarios and appreciate the significance of historical moments for life in the present day.
Design and Technology
We aim to provide a high quality, well-planned, sequenced and ambitious Design and Technology curriculum. Through Design and Technology, we aim to develop children’s skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and a range of materials, including food. We encourage children’s creativity and encourage them to think about important issues.
Design and Technology gives children the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products. We feel it is vital to nurture creativity and innovation through design, and by exploring the designed and made world in which we all live and work. We aim for children to become increasingly aware of the technological contribution made to both our culture and quality of life.
Music
Music is a unique method of communicating that can inspire and motivate children. It allows for personal expression, and it can play an important part in the personal development of pupils. From the day they arrive in Reception, pupils are taught a wide range of techniques.
At Priory School, music is taught through performing, composing and music is created, produced and communicated. Pupils are taught to sing, and to use tuned and untuned percussion instruments individually and in groups. Through performing and listening children learn the elements of music, which include pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
Music also plays a vital role in many weekly and yearly events of the school calendar. Songs are chosen for whole-school-singing that contribute to the topics explored in assemblies and there are many opportunities to perform at various events throughout the year, these may include our Christmas events / Spring gala and summer drama production. Pupils also have the chance to take part in various workshops and festivals while in school, as well as having the option of joining the school choir and ukulele groups Children in Year 4 also have a term of instrumental learning with Soundstorm.
- develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement
- perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
- learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
- understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations
The school mainly uses Charanga to support the delivery of curriculum music.
Physical Education
Please also see our separate section on the school website linked to our school sport programme and use of the Sports Premium.
All children are timetabled for 2 hours Physical activity each week. This is usually an indoor PE lesson, consisting of gymnastics or dance and an outdoor Games lesson. Our Class 3 children go swimming every summer and we have just started running catch-up swimming lessons for children in Y4 – 6 who have not yet passed the National Curriculum Award.
We recognise that the Chief Medical Officers in the UK recommend 60 mins of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. This is something we would love to see for every child at Priory School and we work hard through our lunchtimes, playtimes, Bikeability, daily run (and skip!) and extra-curricular activities to provide the opportunities to make it happen!
We follow the ‘Complete PE’ scheme of work.
Modern Foreign Language
We are working with our partners at Twynham Secondary School to provide specialist language provision for our KS2 children. Each child in KS2 will receive 30 minutes of specialist language teaching in French every week. This is a new project for the school and we are very grateful to Twynham language department for including us in the scheme and taking responsibility for curriculum coverage to ensure progression going into KS3.
The Priory School MFL Scheme of Work (working with Twynham secondary school)
Computing
We are pleased to be a ‘Google Education’ school. We have invested in lego wedos, crumblies and mini roamers to help the children develop their basic programming skills. Younger children enjoy espresso coding, while we use scratch with our older pupils.
Keeping safe online is a priority in our curriculum teaching and all classes revisit aspects of online safety throughout each unit of work. We follow the Google scheme ‘Internet Legends’.
Please see the online safety page for more information.
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
Our school aims to be a loving, inclusive family, where our core Christian values of love, respect, forgiveness and aspiration are recognised and developed. Relationships and Health Education and Sex Education is about the emotional, social and cultural development of pupils and involves learning about relationships, sexual health, sexuality, healthy lifestyles, diversity and personal identity.
At the Priory School, RSHE is covered as part of our PSHE curriculum (Personal, Social and Health education). Please also see our curriculum pages on personal development and RSHE Policy.
Intent – Statutory Aims of RSHE
- Understand what a relationship is, what friendship is, what family means and who the people are who can support them.
- Understand how to take turns, treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect, the importance of honesty and truthfulness, permission seeking and giving, and the concept of personal privacy.
- Understand what a positive and healthy relationship looks like and what a less positive relationship may look like (including online relationships), including understanding how to recognise and report concerns and abuse.
- Have the skills they need to make good decisions about their own health and wellbeing (both physical and mental), including understanding what benefits health and wellbeing (e.g. daily exercise, good nutrition, sufficient sleep, hobbies, interests, community participation).
- Have the skills they need to understand and talk about their feelings and emotions.
- Know about basic first aid
- Learn about the changing adolescent body, privacy and boundaries.
- Know how to keep safe and how to report concerns.
Jigsaw Scheme of Work
Jigsaw covers all areas of PSHE for the primary phase, as the table below shows:
| Term | Puzzle name | Content |
| Autumn 1: | Being Me in My World | Includes understanding my place in the class, school and global community as well as devising Learning Charters |
| Autumn 2: | Celebrating Difference | Includes anti-bullying (cyber and homophobic bullying included) and diversity work |
| Spring 1: | Dreams and Goals | Includes goal-setting, aspirations, working together to design and organise fund-raising events |
| Spring 2: | Healthy Me | Includes drugs and alcohol education, self-esteem and confidence as well as healthy lifestyle choices |
| Summer 1: | Relationships | Includes understanding friendship, family and other relationships, conflict resolution and communication skills |
| Summer 2: | Changing Me | Includes Sex and Relationship Education in the context of looking at change |
Heartsmart Content:
Heartsmart covers areas of PSHE for the primary phase, as the table below shows:
| Term | Puzzle name | Content |
| Autumn 1: | Get Heartsmart | Introducing Heartsmart and High 5 (5 half term objectives). What we put into our hearts will affect what we put our hearts into. |
| Autumn 2: | Don’t Forget To Let Love In | Understanding that we are all unique and that we are all loved. If we don’t love ourselves it’s hard to love others. |
| Spring 1: | Too Much Selfie Isn’t Healthy. | Loving others. It’s not all about me, it’s about we. Learning that it’s better to give than to get. |
| Spring 2: | Don’t Rub it in, Rub It Out. | We can encounter hurt and disappointment from others when we open ourselves up to the world but we have the choice to get even(rub it in) or forgive (rub it out). |
| Summer 1: | Fake Is a Mistake | Choosing to tell the truth is a powerful way of showing love to ourselves and to others. Understanding that even small like impact our trustworthiness. |
| Summer 2: | No Way Through Isn’t True. | Just because you found something difficult in the past doesn’t mean that it is impossible today. No matter what problems you face there is always a solution. |