Curriculum Mission Statement

The OPA curriculum is delivered within relevant and purposeful contexts, is built upon prior learning, and is designed to be challenging, interesting and motivational to all pupils. We aim to create inquiring, lifelong learners who  respect and care for the world they live in and all those who live in it. OPA learners will understand how they are connected to the world in order to take action to improve their own lives, and the lives of local and global communities.

Our learning community strives to create chances for dreamers, idea makers and innovators. We hope to empower our pupils to use their skills as divergent thinkers, responsible role models and leaders to carve out their own futures, and become extraordinary citizens.

We set high expectations for all our pupils. Practitioners give every child the opportunity to experience success in their learning, by providing a relevant and challenging curriculum.

Curriculum Matrix

Our Curriculum Matrix illustrates the five Key Curriculum Elements that make up our curriculum and through which the philosophy behind the Key Principles are fulfilled. Please click on the Curriculum Matrix image below to access our Curriculum Framework in full:

Curriculum Framework

Here at Oaks, our National Curriculum framework, within our curriculum document, provides a framework for each subject, containing an overview of the content areas taught. 

Our rigorous approach to the delivery of the National Curriculum at OPA, enabled by the other elements of the matrix, ensures that our pupils, who often have to overcome significant adversity, consistently make exceptional progress and reach high levels of attainment both during and by the end of their time with us.

Our National Curriculum framework provides an overview of the content areas taught across the curriculum. Our rigorous approach in delivering the National Curriculum at OPA, enabled by the other elements of the curriculum matrix, ensures that our pupils, who often have to overcome significant adversity, consistently make exceptional progress and reach high levels of attainment both during and by the end of their time with us.

Our curriculum covers all the requirements of the National Curriculum but is arranged around inquiries into six different Transdisciplinary Themes. Oaks Primary Academy is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), with the intention of pursuing authorisation as an IB World School.

Community

Our pupils need to understand and engage with their local community before they can consider the global community in the context of becoming internationally-minded. Therefore, we ensure that pupils have regular opportunities to familiarise themselves with the local area and the people who live and work here. Through their learning, they come to understand the history and geography of the area, as well as being introduced to individuals and organisations local to them who may be able to offer help, support or advice to themselves or their families.

At OPA, we make use of the expertise and resources around us so that our pupils can also learn from their community. We have regular visitors in school who introduce pupils to new ideas, who inspire them, who support them, who teach them new skills and who act as positive role models in the community.

As a result of the development of the Learner Profile Attributes and the promotion of agency and action, pupils are instilled with a sense of social responsibility. We work with pupils, parents and families to collaborate on projects and initiatives that improve their lives and the lives of the local community. During normal schooling times, families are regularly invited into Oaks Primary Academy to join in with our learning. 

Our pupils need to understand and engage with their local community before they can consider the global community in the context of becoming internationally-minded. Therefore, we ensure that pupils have regular opportunities to familiarise themselves with the local area and the people who live and work here. Through their learning, they come to understand the history and geography of the area, as well as being introduced to individuals and organisations local to them who may be able to offer help, support or advice to themselves or their families.

At OPA, we make use of the expertise and resources around us so that our pupils can also learn from their community. We have regular visitors in school who introduce pupils to new ideas, who inspire them, who support them, who teach them new skills and who act as positive role models in the community.

As a result of the development of the Learner Profile Attributes and the promotion of agency and action, pupils are instilled with a sense of social responsibility. We work with pupils, parents and families to collaborate on projects and initiatives that improve their lives and the lives of the local community. During normal schooling times, families are regularly invited into Oaks Primary Academy to join in with our learning. 

IB PYP

Oaks Primary Academy POI 

Our planning for the PYP stems from our POI (Programme of Inquiry), which is a central hub of storage for each Central Idea that classes are due to teach throughout the academic year. As Teachers, this informs your planning and preparation, allowing you to plan specific learning opportunities whilst marrying up Central Ideas to specific National Curriculum Subject content.