In This Section

Curriculum

Our curriculum

At Marie Weller, we want every child, whatever their starting point, to leave us reading fluently, writing with confidence and reasoning in maths, with the knowledge and vocabulary to go further in every subject. We follow the National Curriculum and go beyond it.

Each subject is planned as a sequence from Reception to Year 6. A progression document and a vocabulary progression set out what children learn in each year and how it builds on what came before. Teachers plan from these, and subject leaders check them against what they see in lessons and books.

Reading is at the centre. Children learn to read through Read Write Inc. Phonics, then keep reading widely through guided reading and weekly library sessions. In maths, Mastering Number builds fluency in Reception and Key Stage 1, and every unit in Key Stage 2 includes reasoning and problem solving.

Teachers adapt lessons so that children with special educational needs and disabilities learn alongside their classmates, with scaffolds and resources that help them take part in the same work.

Beyond lessons, Forest School, music, sport with our cluster schools, trips and visitors give children experiences that build character and confidence. Our CHANGE values shape how children learn and how they treat each other.

Building Excellence For Our Children

Our mission is to ensure that our children are well educated, know how to stay safe and healthy and are able to participate as active, thoughtful members of present and future society.

  • Excellence in educational standards: We are driven by the moral imperative to ensure that our children receive the highest quality education to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge. We seek to provide a rich curriculum experience that aspires to academic, artistic and athletic excellence.
  • Personal Excellence: We recognise that the best education is as much about developing young people’s character strengths and virtues. We have the highest aspirations for every individual as they learn and grow with us. We value respect and consideration for others, equal opportunities, hard work and fair discipline. We seek to develop skilful, curious and independent learners; foster individual resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of identity underpinned by integrity and responsibility, so that they are prepared to contribute positively to the communities and world that they belong to.

Building Curriculum Excellence

Our curriculum is underpinned by a strong moral purpose and our children, and our ambitions for them, will always be at the heart of our thinking and at the forefront of our actions.

Children within Marie Weller Primary School will have access to a broad, relevant, engaging and inspiring curriculum that provides opportunities and creativity to develop the whole child. We aim to provide a rich and relevant curriculum which is effectively structured, sequenced, properly planned, challenging, active and engaging.

We seek to provide curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities, particularly through high quality provision in the Arts and Sports (see our dedicated web pages for these areas); these develop character, support children’s interests, channel their enthusiasm and contribute to their progress intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Our curriculum although underpinned by expectations of the Primary National Curriculum, goes further. We aim to give all children the opportunity to grow and develop from the very earliest opportunity to reach their full potential upon leaving Key Stage 2 and onward into the next stage of their learning journey. This is delivered through a wide variety of activities and lessons, throughout the years, that excite and enthuse the children, promoting a thirst for knowledge and an appreciation of the joy of mastering new skills.

Our aim is to educate the 'whole child', developing their academic, social, emotional and physical skills, along with fostering a curiosity and willingness to take on challenges.

Our curriculum comprises detailed, planned activities that we organise in order to promote learning and personal growth and development. It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but endeavours to go beyond and include a rich range of additional experiences and a full programme of extra-curricular activities in order to enhance our educational offer. It also includes the ‘hidden curriculum’: what the children learn from the way they are treated and expected to behave and so our teachers are expected to model and have the highest expectations of each individual to support the best possible outcomes.

We will ensure open access and inclusivity, providing opportunities for all, irrespective of their personal characteristics. There will be no curriculum barriers – children will have access to all opportunities and, where there is choice, they can select appropriately, and with guidance, according to their ambitions, interests, abilities and needs.

Our shared Curriculum Intent for all our children has 4 main strands:

Core skills and knowledge: developing literacy, numeracy and critical thinking skills enables children to access the entire curriculum and mastering key knowledge and concepts so that they are ready for the next stage of their education and future lives.

Creativity: a curriculum enriched through exposure to our cultural capital through the Arts, Sports and real-life learning contexts, inspiring children to be interested, to think, express and problem solve to deepen their understanding and engagement with the world

Character: developing character strengths and virtues supports children’s personal growth and confidence, helping them achieve sustained wellbeing.

  • Curiosity – an intellectual virtue, that refers to open-mindedness, a desire to inquire, thinking for oneself and a quest to improve and find out more.
  • Honesty – a moral virtue, that calls on us to seek and honour the truth both in the world and within our own lives; this also calls for humility and openness to feedback, whatever our status.
  • Perseverance – a performance virtue, that enables us to keep striving in the midst of challenges, in the pursuit of long-term goals.
  • Resilience - the capacity to recover quickly from difficulty; adapt with ease when faced with adversity; embracing the process of learning from mistakes: not fearing them and keeping a positive mindset.

Community: a curriculum that promotes:

  • Sense of identity and belonging
  • Tolerance of diversity
  • Ability to collaborate and interact positively with others
  • Service – a civic virtue, meaning a commitment to be kind, to put others first and be enthusiastically helpful, the importance of participation and making a contribution

The three principles of The Hawksmoor Learning Trust approach are:

  • Quality
  • Enthusiasm
  • Partnership

These principles will guide The Hawksmoor Learning Trust in providing an education of the highest quality. These principles demand that we think and act in highly constructive ways towards each other as colleagues, towards the children who are placed in our care and towards the parents in our schools and communities and helps us to maximise opportunities for our children, working collaboratively as Trust Schools.

Remote education

Almost all learning at Marie Weller takes place in school, with your child’s teacher and their class. There are rare occasions when that is not possible, for example if the school has to close at short notice, or if a child is well enough to learn but unable to attend school for a sustained period.

In those circumstances we use ClassDojo, which families already use day to day, to share learning with children at home. Class teachers will set work that follows the same curriculum the class is covering, so that no child falls behind their year group, and will make contact to check how your child is getting on.

Remote education is for children who cannot be in school through no fault of their own. If a child is away because of an unauthorised absence, including a holiday taken in term time, work will not be provided. If a child is unwell, we will take a view together with you on whether work is the right thing for them at that moment, since rest and recovery come first.

Decisions about remote education are made case by case. If your child is likely to be away from school for a significant period, please contact the school office so that we can agree the right arrangements with you, including any support your child needs to take part.

Finding out more about our curriculum

Each subject page on this site sets out what your child will learn and when. If you would like to know more about any part of the curriculum, or how it is taught in your child’s year group, please speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance, or contact the school office on 01327 552400 or at enquiries@mwps.thlt.academy and we will arrange for you to speak to the subject leader or a member of the leadership team.