Foundation Subject Overviews
Geography
Children’s local geography is the starting point of the curriculum for this subject. As they progress through school, they have the opportunity to improve their enquiry skills and explore physical and political geography as well as investigating human resources and their impact on local and worldwide environmental issues. Maps, photographs, videos and trips in our local area are just some of the available resources to support this.
Click here for the Geography map.
History
The teaching of History takes our children on a journey through time. The subject is initiated through children’s early experiences of history which leads them to discover key figures and events through the ages. Children can then further explore and investigate the major periods of history as they progress through our school.
History encourages their enquiry and expects them to make comparisons and draw conclusions from their learning opportunities. Photographs, videos and artefacts are amongst the resources used to support the teaching of History.
Click here for the History map.
Music
We aim to ensure that through listening to music, performing and composing, our children develop self-confidence, express themselves creatively and develop an understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music. Music also plays a part in the cultural life of the school through Collective Worship, concerts and music/drama productions.
We are partnered with Music Masters where Musicianship provides the bedrock of the programme and all of the musical activity that flows from it. Every child begins their music journey in school through group activity with a focus on singing, percussion, movement and play. Violin tuition begins in Key Stage 1 with every pupil benefitting from small group and ensemble tuition alongside regular performance opportunities, strengthening links with parents and the wider school community. Instrumental tuition continues for many pupils in Key Stage 2.
We use and follow the Charanga Primary Music Curriculum for our Music provision. We work on the following skills: listening, appraising, composing, singing and performing.
Music curriculum progression map
Music curriculum map (Music Masters)
Art and Design
Children are progressively taught skill and techniques that they are encouraged to apply to a wide range of materials and mediums, with a variety of different tools. They are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding, and encouraged to express their opinions and preferences. Their introduction to a range of artists encourages their evaluation skills and can influence the interpretation and composition of their work.
Click here for the Art progression map
Design and Technology
Planning and evaluating are an essential part of the development of this subject. It is often presented through projects and lends itself to the inclusion of other curriculum skills. Pupils select materials and they assess their effectiveness for the task. The design and making elements require interaction between pairs or small groups and encourage a co-operative and constructive support to pupils of all abilities. Product knowledge is also explored as pupils progress through the school. This supports the development of their work for the project they have undertaken and extends their understanding of technological processes and their contributions to our community and the wider world.
Click here for the Design and Technology progression map
Latin
Learning a foreign language is the most effective way to learn grammar. A foreign language is just that, foreign. Therefore pupils have to break it down into its composite pieces in order to understand and learn it. When our students learn these skills through Latin they transfer them to English instinctively and come to understand the structure and rules of their mother-tongue with greater ease.
In KS2 every child is taught Latin by a Latin specialist teacher from The Latin Programme. They are taught with the aim that:
- Latin serves as an excellent introduction to how languages work
- We teach specific skills for recognising the structure and meaning of sentences
- Latin students learn to compare and contrast Latin and English regularly
- Pupils understand and apply the highly systematic nature of Latin grammar
- Latin expands students’ vocabulary benefitting both spoken and written English
- Latin develops and trains the minds of our children
Computing
Our Computing curriculum helps children to gain an understanding of computational systems of all kinds, whether or not they include computers. Computational thinking provides insights into many areas of the curriculum, and influences work at the cutting edge of a wide range of disciplines.
Computing is a practical subject, in which invention and resourcefulness are encouraged. The ideas of computing are applied to understanding real-world systems and creating purposeful products. There is also great scope for creativity with opportunities for creative work in programming and digital media.
Computing curriculum map.
PE
Physical Education is crucial in developing a range of skills in our pupils, as well as understanding the benefits this has to their health.
Our aims in Physical Education are that all children will:?
- Be physically active and find enjoyment in physical activity.
- Develop physical skills, habits and interests that will promote healthy lifestyles.
- Understand the need for and how to achieve safe practice in physical activities.
- Develop positive attitudes to physical endeavour including perseverance, fair play and sporting behaviour, and the ability to cope with success and failure.
- Have an opportunity to experience a wide range of sports.
Our school is committed to providing all children with the opportunity to take part in 2 hours of high quality and well planned PE lessons delivered by confident and well trained teachers.
Swimming is also extremely important at St. Barnabas' and each child in Years 3-6 have the opportunity to go swimming for at least a term each year. This is vital in ensuring that all children are able to swim 25m by the time they leave primary school.