Community Links
We place community engagement very high within our school priorities and encourage parents, visitors and all members of our community in to our school to share new experiences, contribute to our new curriculum and encourage new skills with our children. We have a very supportive and active Governing Body and PTA group who work in partnership with our school. We offer opportunities for parents to share ideas, views of the curriculum and give feedback on school matters. Governors are involved in all curriculum advancements and decisions as well as being invited to engage in all aspects of school life. We are proud to celebrate the diversity of our school community in our curriculum wherever possible.
Four Purposes
The four purposes are the shared vision and aspiration for every learner and pivotal to our curriculum design and planning.
Visuals of four purposes have been developed in the image of our own pupils to celebrate what they can achieve.
Displayed across the school to support pupil’s awareness and understanding These display are also used to celebrate work that take place in the school.
Assemblies are held regularly to reinforce the four purposes and pupil understanding
Teaching and learning
We develop opportunities to ensure learning is linked and where possible is developed through real life, authentic experiences and opportunities, encouraging learners to be inquisitive and explorative. Immersion days engage pupils in new projects and enable them, through learner voice, collaborative working and a range of blended learning activities to develop the project. Inquiry led learning is being developed in all classes.
Planning
The 4 purposes are incorporated into project plans and are celebrated using displays around the school.
All year groups use learner voice to plan exciting and meaningful projects, which have been designed to be driven by the AoLEs, Each project begins with immersion days and leads to sharing / celebratory events. These are recorded using the school’s planning arrow. All teachers use medium terms plans that take the What Matters Statements, concepts and cross cutting themes into account. These then lead into projects grids that highlight all AoLEs and effective questioning.
For further information on cross cutting themes https://hwb.gov.wales/curriculum-for-wales/designing-your-curriculum/cross-cutting-themes-for-designing-your-curriculum
Pupil Progress
At our school we use assessment to identify strengths, areas for development and where appropriate barriers to learning in order for our school to support learner progression effectively.
We carry out baseline assessments, observe pupils/groups in their learning and monitor pupil progress identifying how each learner can be supported and challenged accordingly. Reflecting on a learners progress over time enables us to provide feedback and plan future learning and next steps. Within the Curriculum for Wales schools use progression steps to identify a learners journey. We use a blend of whole class marking, individual marking, observations, learner voice activities and assessments to create an overall picture of our learner progress throughout their time at St Athan Primary School. This information will be shared with parents through a written report, parental consultations, learner journals, discussions with staff and school sharing events.
For further information see Assessment and Progress Placemat
Learner Voice
At St Athan Primary we listen to our learners in all aspects of school life. The school encourages a culture that places the learner voice at the heart of the school and its direction. Pupils contribute to curriculum planning, how they would like to learn, feedback on current practices and next steps for our school improvement. This has resulted in confident pupils who lead their own learning effectively.
We ensure the view and experiences of our military children are valued and shared through regular meetings, opportunities for them to contribute to the wider development of our school and we are aiming to achieve Armed Forces Friendly School status.
AoLE Development
Areas of learning lead staff are in place and manage a team of staff from across the whole school. Regular meetings take place for staff to discuss their vision for the area, resources and practical ideas to embed the skills, knowledge and enjoyment within the curriculum for our learners.
We work collaboratively within our school, with cluster schools and our secondary school to further develop awareness and understanding of the expectations in each chosen AoLE. Each team has created a joint vision and are building a placemat of provision and expectations for every AoLE.