Lindale School Curriculum Design

Our curriculum sits under our vision statement, ‘Let your light shine’ and our school values of Peace, Kindness, Trust and Perseverance. These are linked to our British values and helping the children to become active citizens ready to achieve, contribute and thrive in Modern Britain and the wider world.

We have very deliberately focused on designing a curriculum that is full,  rich and deep. Encouraging independence and choice in learning begins in the Early Years, where staff use ‘In the moment planning’ to link learning to a child’s own interests. In different ways we try to continue this as our children progress through school. We don’t have fixed topics in different year groups, but plan our teaching to meet our children’s learning needs and interests whilst ensuring coverage of the National Curriculum and year by year progression. In this way children are fully engaged in and inspired by their learning. 

We monitor our Foundation subjects to ensure that the teaching and learning has the same academic rigour as core subjects. We use Chris Quigley Essentials to ensure coverage for each year group in our mixed age classes as they go through school. We use the CQ Learning Objectives within Humanities, Art, DT and Science to ensure progression and challenge. We also have a focus on vocabulary across all subjects. Curriculum Map KS1 Curriculum Map KS2

Parents receive a written report on each subject area annually with children assessed against Year Group expectations.

Alongside curriculum content we continue to develop the characteristics of effective learning throughout school. Our children understand that it is alright to make a mistake and are developing resilience and independence in their learning.

We provide rich experiences outside the classroom whenever they are relevant. Forest Schools is a regular feature of Early Years and KS1. KS2 develop team building and leadership skills through outdoor adventure programme planned in conjunction with Castle Head FSC. Year 5 and 6 take part in the Archbishop of York’s Young Leaders Award. We are part of the South Lakes Pupil Parliament; taking representatives termly to present on important local issues, meet with local MPs and other members of Parliament. Our broad curriculum inspires all learners and gives children opportunities that they might not otherwise have. We have use our limited Pupil Premium to that effect; ensuring that all our children go on residentials and have paid for music lessons.

We are a lead school for Computing through Computing at Schools and are told that our pupils are advanced in Computing when they go to Secondary School. We have achieved Arts Mark status.  KS2 are taught by a specialist French teacher so that they are now speaking and performing short plays in French. Many of our pupils go on to represent secondary schools and county in sports events. We believe that our focus on a rich, deep and balanced curriculum promotes a love of learning in addition to high academic standards.