The Academic Curriculum
Learning does not just take place in the classroom at Northbourne Park and we encourage our children to explore the boundaries between their academic, extra-curricular and pastoral lives. We believe that education for children of this age should be as broad as it is deep.
We also believe that a child’s education should be fun and engaging, challenging, and designed to capture their imaginations and provide them with a balanced educational experience that will stimulate them.
Our curriculum is an enhanced version of the National Curriculum. It is challenging, and designed to give a balanced and stretching educational experience for each child, covering all aspects of academic endeavour. The Arts and Sciences complement each other and Sports coaching and tuition is of the highest calibre.
One of the hallmarks of the school is the provision of specialist subject teaching through the school, drawing on the expertise and enthusiasm of highly skilled staff. French, Spanish, Music, History, Geography, English, Maths and Science among others are taught by specialist teachers from Year 3 with PSHE, Religious Studies, Drama and Outdoor Education integral additional facets of our curriculum.
The school is well resourced with ICT technology used in many classrooms and a dedicated ICT suite.
Our library is well stocked and the children enjoy a fine culture of reading, attending in-school book fairs, as well as being inspired by visiting authors and English and French theatre groups.
Our small classes (18/20) ensure that we can offer each child the very best individual attention. Our teachers are skilful at harnessing the curiosity of the young and inspiring in them the confidence and independence to take control of their own learning, exploring cross-curricular strands as much as possible and seeing extensions to class work in the extra-curricular life of the school and in evening societies.
Each term we publish the topics that your child will be covering during the term in each subject. We hope that you find it helpful. If you have any questions about any of the subjects, please contact your child's teacher or Form Tutor.
Academic Themes
The planning of lessons lies at the heart of good teaching. At Northbourne Park, the teaching staff takes great care in the preparation of lessons and this process begins with the writing of the Academic Themes.
Each subject teacher will write out, in bullet point form, the main topics that are to be covered in each term. For example, the topics for Year 5 Geography this term are ‘Water and Us’, ‘The Water Cycle’, ‘Investigating Rivers’ and ‘Map Skills’.
The detail given in the Main Themes will vary from subject to subject. English and Maths Themes will often contain more information than, say, PSHE.
The next stage of the planning process is the writing of the Schemes of Work. The Main Themes will be expanded to provide more detail about the teaching and learning activities in each week or group of lessons.
Click here for the Main Themes for the Autumn Term 2022.
Ali Goodall
Director of Studies