History
History at primary level helps children to gain knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It involves understanding the process of change, the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and society today.
History allows children to develop the following key skills: ask perceptive questions, think critically, evaluate evidence and examine arguments.
Our History curriculum allows children to develop their cultural capital. Purposeful and natural links to British values and discussions around being good UK and global citizens are threaded through the curriculum. Our history curriculum promotes the rich diversity of the world, Britain and an appreciation of our locality.
Our History curriculum has been planned to meet the needs of our mixed age classes. Because of the mixed age nature, our history topics are not taught in chronological order. However, we do feel it is important to ensure that children gain a chronological understanding of the historical era they are studying and the events being taught. Each new history topic starts with learning linked to chronology and timelines. We always aim to put previous learning in to context and make links throughout the topic to other periods in time that have been studied.
Primary history helps pupils to:
· build knowledge of the history of Britain and the wider world and key historical concepts
· have an understanding of historical enquiry
· have knowledge and understanding of fundamental British values
History learning at Burton Agnes has been planned across a range of perspectives which are explored during every period of history studied. These are political, economic, religious, social, scientific/technological and cultural/artistic.
Geography
At Burton Agnes, Geography gives us a lens for viewing the world and our place within it and our impact upon it; within our school community and beyond. By developing geographical knowledge and skills our aim is for all children to have an understanding of the world; people, places and environments and how they are changing over time. Through this understanding , children will develop respect for their locality and the diverse world they live in.
Geography at Burton Agnes will inspire children to develop a curiosity and fascination for the world around them. Lessons will teach children knowledge about their local area and the country and the rest of the world. It will give them knowledge about landscapes, environments and physical and human processes and the impact they have. Where possible use our local environment as a stimulus for learning.
As pupils progress, their knowledge of the world will grow and they will deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and the formation and use of environments and landscapes.
The children will also develop, over time key geographical skills such as map reading and investigating patterns and processes.
Religious Education
Burton Agnes is a church school. It is vitally important in today’s world for our pupils to learn about the beliefs and values held by others. The acquisition of skills attitudes and knowledge developed through Religious Education are an important part of the development of children’s learning and are crucial for their lives as members of a multicultural and respectful society.
Religious Education at Burton Agnes reflects the fact that the religious traditions of Great Britain are mainly Christian whist taking account of the teaching and practises of other principal religions.
Computing
In a world where computers, electronic communication, mobile phones and virtual learning environments are becoming a bigger part of daily life, it is vital that we prepare our pupils for the future in providing opportunities across the curriculum for them to develop ICT skills. We are well equipped to teach computing skills as part of our wider curriculum and our pupils enjoy a range of opportunities to use ICT in the different subject areas.
Computing has strong links with mathematics, science and design technology. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through learning how to programme.
Our computing curriculum also teaches the children to be digitally literate so that they are able to use, express themselves and develop ideas through technology.
We also ensure that the children are taught how to stay safe when using such a vast array of technology in today’s modern world.
Music
At Burton Agnes our music curriculum aims to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and in doing so increase the children’s self confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
Over time, the children should develop a critical engagement with music so that they are able to compose and listen with the ability to evaluate.
Performance is important at Burton Agnes and every year all children get the opportunity to perform to an audience be it in the EYFS and KS1 Christmas Performance, the KS2 Production, the Big and Little Sings at Bridlington Spa or church performances and Carol Singing at Burton Agnes Hall.
In addition to music teaching within the school curriculum, peripatetic teachers from the County Music Service come to school each week to teach the children. Children learn how to play different percussion instruments, read music and appraise their own and other performances. In KS 2 children learn to play the guitar. They are taught every week for two ears so that by the time they leave all children will be able to play and read music.
Modern Foreign Languages
French is taught throughout the school, with a focus on the acquisition of spoken skills. This teaching is informal for younger pupils and consists of simple spoken commands, counting and the learning of phrases giving the children a positive start to learning languages.
For our older pupils, French is taught more formally and pupils are given the opportunity to develop early conversational skills. We encourage children to learn through conversation, dram and games as well as developing their spelling and written skills.
Art
In art children should be inspired to be creative. Lessons should engage and inspire pupils giving them the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. Our lessons aim to give children the knowledge and skills in art to experiment, explore and create their own works of art. Over time children will progress their skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and other techniques. They will learn, evaluate and be inspired by the work of great artists. From time to time Artists are studied through our whole school theme and used to show a progression of skills throughout the school.
Design and Technology
Design and Technology is an inspiring creative and practical subject. In design and technology children will be creative and use their imaginations to solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.
They will acquire a wide range of subject knowledge and develop their skills of design and make products using a variety of techniques, drawing on other subjects such as maths, science, computing and art. They will learn how to evaluate and improve their work.
Pupils will learn how to take risks and become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. They will also learn how to cook and be nutritious.
PE and Sport
As part of our PE Curriculum all of the pupils have access to 2 hours physical activity per week. All children receive 1 hour of specialist PE teaching which is funded through our Sports funding and the rest of PE is delivered by class teachers. In Key stage 2 all of our pupils learn to swim 25m and develop further swimming abilities such as life saving.
Our PE lessons provide children with opportunities to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.
All children are provided with opportunities to engage in competition, be it on a personal level or against others. Such opportunities build character and help embed the values of trust, fairness, perseverance and respect.
PSHE
At Burton Agnes we follow a whole school programme called Happy Centred Schools which is a whole school approach that brings together our personal, social and health education.
Spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) opportunities are mapped throughout our curriculum and link with our Christian and British Values.
All of these pieces of learning are brought together to form a cohesive picture, helping children to know and value who they are and understand how they relate to other people in the world.
Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
The work we do in our Happy Centred Schools Project over the children's time with us supports our RSE curriculum in helping to foster pupil well-being, develop resilience and strategies that we know are fundamental to pupils being happy, successful and productive members of society. Pupils should be able to form a strong, early understanding of the features of relationships that are likely to lead to happiness and security and recognise when less positive relationships when they encounter them. We teach children about positive emotional and mental well-being and how friendships support this. Children are taught how to be safe. In addition to this the children in Year 5 and 6 have a 'growing up' talk which helps them to explore themselves and relationships further.