Harpur Hill Primary School & Nursery
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Trent Avenue, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9LP

info@harpurhill.derbyshire.sch.uk

01298 23261

Harpur Hill Primary School & Nursery

Trent Avenue, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9LP Tel:01298 23261

Curriculum Overview

 

The National Curriculum 

At Harpur Hill Primary School & Nursery, we deliver a broad and balanced creative curriculum based on the requirements of the National Curriculum and Religious Education. 

The primary national curriculum includes the core areas of learning and experience which are essential to children's development and defined within the National Curriculum.
These are:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Computing
  • Religious Education

Children will also study the following foundation subjects:

  • History
  • Geography
  • Art
  • Music
  • PE
  • Design Technology
  • PSHE

The National Curriculum for primary schools can be found below:

    Primary National Curriculum

 

British Values

Through our curriculum, we also teach children about the British values of:

  • democracy
  • the rule of law
  • individual liberty
  • mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. 

Reading 

Children who read widely and often have greater success as learners; we actively promote a love of reading for pleasure and across the curriculum.  We also recognise the connection between language acquisition and achievement, acknowledging that our most disadvantaged learners often start school with a more limited vocabulary.  Therefore, we strive to expand pupils’ vocabulary by planning ‘star words’ within our curriculum. 

Learning for Life

The school motto, 'learning for life' embodies our vision for our whole school and we aim to create a learning community where children:

  • are aspirational;
  • enquire about the world;
  • celebrate diversity

We aim to prepare our children for life through our Learning Journey (curriculum) which is carefully planned to cover the knowledge and skills of the national curriculum, as well as learning about the world through global issues, and taking the opportunity to explore our locality: Buxton, the Peak District and beyond. 

Learning for life skills and knowledge are reinforced through the taught curriculum as well as the wider life of the school e.g. through assemblies and curriculum events.  Learning for Life skills include confidence, resilience, courage, perseverance, empathy and an awareness of environmental issues. 

Raising Aspirations

At Harpur Hill Primary School & Nursery, we work to raise the aspirations of all children by equipping them with the skills and knowledge that they need to make informed decisions at key points in their life. In order to be aspirational, we feel that all children need an understanding of the wider world and of their role and responsibilities within it. We aim to engage children and inspire a love of life-long learning through our carefully planned and well-structured curriculum that follows their interests. Through this, we hope that all children will strive to reach their potential. 

Through the taught curriculum and the wider curriculum, we aim to build the children’s cultural capital, through participation and engagement with the arts and sports, within school, the locality and beyond.  We want children to develop their skills and strive for excellence by taking advantage of opportunities within school and beyond.  All children participate in sport within their PE lessons and through extra-curricular clubs, representing the school in local and area competitions.  All children learn a musical instrument through the Wider Opportunities Programme, and children can also have instrumental lessons in school from peripatetic music teachers.   

Enquire about the world

Children understand that they are part of a local, national and global community, sharing common needs and aspirations. We ensure that children are encouraged to ask questions and are equipped to find out the answers. Children are taught to appreciate and empathise with their familiar community and that of the wider world.  All of our curriculum units start with ‘big questions’ to be answered as part of the learning journey, as well as questions the children ask to find out more.  Teachers will use the children’s own questions when planning the unit of work.

Celebrate Diversity

We provide children with a range of experiences to build an understanding that our society that is comprised of diverse groups. This includes learning about different families, faiths, beliefs and cultures. Being a predominantly White British community, it is important to develop children’s awareness of tolerance and appreciation beyond their own experiences.  We want children to celebrate diversity through a range of experiences. This may include learning about global festivals, exploring artefacts, hearing first hand experiences from guest speakers, providing stimulating resources and a range of extra-curricular visits.

How we enrich our curriculum

We enrich our curriculum by taking the children out on educational visits, such as to the National Holocaust Centre, Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, and to various museums and galleries.  Being located in the spa town of Buxton, we have a wealth of historical and cultural learning at our disposal, including links with Buxton Festival and the Opera House. Beyond Buxton, we are surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Peak District and this also forms an important part of our learning journey, for example, learning about farming, moorland, mountain rescue and park rangers.

The national curriculum aims to teach children about the ‘best that has been thought and said’.  We aim to teach children about influential people, those who have shaped the lives of others and left their mark on our world today.  When planning our learning journey, we include inspirational people such as human rights activists, adventurers, explorers and others who provide inspiration for the children.  For example, children learn about Rosa Parks, Ernest Shackleton, Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela. 

Global and Environmental Learning

We have large school grounds, situated close to woodland as well as open countryside. Through our learning journey, we learn about nature and the environment, for example, through visits to the woods on ‘Welly Wednesdays’ in EYFS.  We also recognise the need to learn about global issues such as news events, climate change and the need to protect our planet.  For example in Year 4 pupils visited the Blue Planet Aquarium and learned about plastic pollution in the oceans as well as their responsibility to take care of the planet.  Year 6 have attended the Buxton Climate Conference along with other local schools to discuss climate change. 

Wider Community

Our school is part of a wider community of schools in Buxton, who mainly feed into either Buxton Community School or St Thomas More Catholic Academy.  We have close links with the secondary schools and children take part in transition activities with other feeder schools.  Being situated on the outskirts of Buxton, we visit the town as part of the curriculum, including engaging with community groups and organisations, for example the Buxton Festival and Crescent Heritage Trust.  We invite members of our community into school, for example local residents’ Christmas Concert, and Reception children visit local Care Homes and write letters. 

GET IN TOUCH!

Trent Avenue, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9LP

info@harpurhill.derbyshire.sch.uk

01298 23261

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