Our Curriculum

What do we aim to do?

Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive for all pupils, enabling every pupil to reach their full potential from their starting points. Starting from the Early Years through to Year 6, we aim to provide a range of learning opportunities, within a holistic learning environment. Our curriculum aims to develop cultural capital for all, within an environment where our Christian ethos permeates throughout. We aim to provide opportunities for deep reflection, discussion and moments of awe and wonder to develop pupils' spirituality .The curriculum is tailored to the individual needs of all our pupils at Great Gaddesden, focusing on specific knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. We aim to equip our pupils with the knowledge and skills for the world in which we live. As a small village school in a rural setting, we have 4 classes with 2 year groups in each class. As a result of this, our curriculum is designed on a 2-year rolling cycle. We use our rural setting and our community links, to offer a meaningful curriculum to all our pupils.

Our Early Years Curriclum Ambitions:

When we consider each unique child, we can identify key areas of learning that we would like to foster, based on our school vision and knowledge of the most common learning needs of pupils as they enter our school. This helps us to form the key ambitions for our pupils as they move through the EYFS.  These are:

1. For all children to be confident and competent early readers.

2. For all children to be able to recognise, write their name and form simple sentences

3. For all children to be able to treat others how they would wish to be treated by showing care and empathy in line with our school vision.

4. For all children to be able to communicate effectively in a multitude of ways, including through music and performance.

5. For all children to be able to play together, finding ways to disagree well.

6. For all children to be able to develop a sense of spirituality, having a relationship with the natural world and knowing how things develop and grow around them.

7. For all children to know how they can grow to be safe and healthy.

8. For all children to know how to be independent in caring for themselves including personal care. 

9.  For all children to combine different movements, develop overall body strength, balance, coordination and agility

10.  For all children to have secured letter and number formation and use these in a written or number sentence

For each of these strands, learning activities and outcomes are planned throughout the curriculum so that the children are able to build their skills towards cumulative endpoints

What is the impact?

Our pupils achieve well as a result of the curriculum which build upon the knowledge, skills and Christian values throughout their time at Great Gaddesden C of E Primary School. In 2025, Great Gaddesden was ranked within the Top 30 small schools nationally (Sunday Times Good School Guide, 2025). Our pupils are ready for the next stage in their education and leave Great Gaddesden School with a love of learning and with a strong moral compass. They are equipped with the skills and knowledge to make them good citizens of the future, with an understanding of the wider world and different cultures. Our pupils have clear understanding and knowledge of the importance of being safe. All stakeholders regularly review the impact of the curriculum in order to ensure that we are offering an engaging and exciting curriculum that meets the needs of all our pupils.