curriculum

curriculum for wales

Our curriculum enables us to realise our vision. From the outset of curriculum reform in 2015 and the publication of Successful Futures (Donaldson, 2015):

● All teaching staff have undertaken extensive reading of curriculum documentation, attended both internal and external training on curriculum development and been provided with a specific and dedicated professional learning programme focusing on Curriculum for Wales and Visible Learning.

● Both teaching and non-teaching staff explored our school context and the specific needs of our pupils and community whilst considering and interpreting the four purposes at a local level.

● AoLE lead teachers have collaborated with staff from the cluster schools whilst planning our curriculum, specifically focusing on unpicking the statements of what matters and considering progression along the 3-16 continuum.

● All learners engage in discussions at the beginning and end of learning themes, giving learners a voice in what and how they learn.

● Whole school assemblies have been used to communicate key curriculum changes and allow pupils to reflect upon how, what and why they learn.

● The school council has taken an active role in considering the four purposes at a pupil level, and helped shape our pillars.

● The school regularly shares information with parents/careers on the curriculum and ways they can support their child within and outside of the school environment. This has included a family curriculum stakeholder group, a curriculum section in the monthly newsletter and curriculum information workshops.

● The school collaborates with a range of providers from the local community to provide learners with distinct and enriching experiences related to careers and work related experiences (CWRE). These have included Sony and Rockwool.

How the curriculum meets the required elements of the Curriculum for Wales, starting with the four purposes

Our school curriculum:

● Embodies our school vision of working together for each and every child and provides all learners with enriching opportunities to realise and embody the four purposes.

● Is broad and balanced and includes authentic and meaningful learning opportunities within and across all of the Areas of Learning and Experience.

● Incorporates the 27 statements of what matters and secures learning and teaching that offers appropriate progression for each learner, informed by the principles of progression under each Area of Learning and Experience.

● Is designed to flexibly and creatively meet the need of each learner, taking into account age, ability, aptitude and any additional need if applicable.

● Meets all mandatory requirements of teaching Welsh, English, Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) and Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) at a suitable and developmentally appropriate rate.

● Develops the cross curricular skills of literacy, numeracy and digital competence across and throughout the curriculum, as referenced by our latest Estyn inspection report (2019) and our Google Reference School Status (2021).

Information on how the school is approaching learning progression and its arrangements for assessment

Our approaches to learner progression and assessment within our school curriculum focus upon ensuring active engagement between learners and teachers and is based upon an ongoing reflection on:

● Where are learners in their learning?

● Where do they need to go next?

● What do they need to get there?

Our school curriculum is underpinned by the mandatory principles of progression and these principles inform our assessment arrangements more generally.

We use a variety of evidence informed assessment strategies that enable each learner to make progress at an individually appropriate pace with the highest of expectations for all pupils.

Our assessment processes provide us with a rich and detailed range of qualitative and quantitative data, that allows us to identify learners who require further support, measure and report upon progress for individuals, groups and cohorts and importantly, inform next steps in learning.

How the curriculum will be kept under review, including the process for feedback and ongoing revision

Our school curriculum will be kept under ongoing review to ensure that it is meeting all national mandatory requirements and providing all of our pupils with meaningful and authentic opportunities to embody our school vision and realise the four purposes.

A wide range of monitoring and self-evaluation activities will continue to inform our understanding of the effectiveness of our curriculum and identify required adaptations to our practices, processes and policies.

These will be reported on formally to the school governing body on a termly basis.

We will continue to work within our school, across the cluster and in partnership with governors, the regional consortia, the local authority, and our ITE partnership to further develop a shared understanding of progression to ensure the pupils of Pencoed Primary School are accessing a curriculum of the highest possible standard 

welsh

English is the main language of communication, teaching, learning and assessment at Pencoed Primary School. However, the school is committed to promoting the aims and aspirations of the Welsh Government in developing Bilingualism. In our school both English and Welsh are functional languages. We promote oracy, reading and writing in both English and Welsh Second Language in informal and structured situations. Welsh can be seen and heard around the school, during school assemblies and concerts, signage and display, lessons and indoor and outdoor activities.

As a school we aim to:

● Foster positive attitudes in all learners towards bilingualism

● Provide opportunities for all children to hear and use Welsh in all areas of their learning

● Motivate the children to use Welsh naturally, spontaneously and with confidence

Sport 

We are very proud of our sporting achievements. Our school has a long sporting tradition stretching back to when the school first opened. We are lucky to have extensive grounds, which include two netball courts and a vast AstroTurf pitch. We make every effort to give our pupils experience of a wide range of sporting activities including rugby, football, netball, basketball, cricket, gymnastics and various other team games. Our Key Stage 2 pupils have the opportunity to join one of the many team squads, who take part in fixtures and tournaments. These sporting activities help maintain good links with other local schools and provide our pupils with opportunities to participate competitively with children of their own age within the local area. Many of our outstanding prospects go onto represent the Bridgend District and Wales in a whole range of sports. We also offer a wide range of after school clubs which encourage physical exercise and healthy living. 

rSe

RSE in our cluster is led by the mandatory RSE Code which supports schools to design their RSE. The content is set within the context of broad and interlinked learning strands, namely: relationships and identity; sexual health and well-being; empowerment, safety and respect. These strands provide the basis for a curriculum tailored to our learners, making connections and developing authentic contexts for learning across the curriculum.

We are committed to covering the following thematic areas in RSE: relationships; rights and equity; sex, gender and sexuality; bodies and body image; sexual health and well-being; and violence, safety and support in a developmentally appropriate way and through a spiral approach which develops children’s understanding over time.

Building on the Code, our approach to RSE will aim to be positive, protective and preventative.

RSE will be a mandatory requirement in the Curriculum for Wales for all learners from age 3 to 16 (“the Act”). This means that all learners must receive this education. There is no right to withdraw from RSE in the new curriculum. 

rve

Religion, Values & Ethics (RVE) is a mandatory part of ‘Curriculum for Wales’ as part of the Humanities AoLE. Our RVE provision has regard for the local SACRE syllabus and is pluralistic, taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Wales whilst also reflecting that a number of non-religious philosophical convictions are also held in Wales. Our RVE provision is provided in an objective and critical way, taking an impartial approach that does not require or encourage learners to be religious or non-religious, or to accept a prescribed viewpoint. As a mandatory part of the curriculum, there is no ‘right of withdrawal’ from RVE (not to be confused with ‘collective worship’ – see below).

collective worship

Collective worship (‘assemblies’) is a statutory part of school provision. We encourage pupils to consider and reflect on moral, social as well as spiritual issues. During assemblies, pupils are encouraged to explore their own and others’ beliefs and values, and to participate, respond to and challenge new ideas. Collective worship is structured to show sensitivity to the individual faiths and beliefs of all members of the school community. This includes visits from local faith groups. Any parents who, for religious reasons, wish to withdraw their children from collective worship are invited to discuss this with the Headteacher.