The purpose of our curriculum

At Upton Junior School, we have our own distinctive and considered approach to learning to inspire every child to want to learn. Our curriculum is driven by the need to prepare our children for lifelong learning. Here at Upton Junior School, we offer a rich and diverse curriculum which is ambitious for all learners. Through our curriculum, we develop the essential knowledge, skills and understanding which are the building blocks for the current time and later life. The curriculum is driven by purposeful learning aims to ensure it has relevance to pupils and the wider world.

We prepare children with the essential knowledge and skills for now and in the future. The exploration of new skills and experiences helps to nurture resilience, curiosity and creativity. The curriculum is further enhanced by our commitment to our school values-based education (including British Values) and, through this, we provide learning experiences which promote confident, self-motivated pupils, who are eager for lifelong learning.

The pupil offer

At the heart of the Upton Junior School curriculum is the development of the core elements of reading, writing and mathematics. This follows the National Curriculum, with the opportunity to frequently revisit and develop these within the curriculum for years 3 and 4, and years 5 and 6.

We follow a reading into writing approach, where pupils have the opportunity to read high quality texts and models of writing, which illustrate what they are aiming to achieve and develops a love of reading. A progression of grammar and spelling skills are integrated into the learning.

In Mathematics, we follow a CPA approach (concrete, pictorial, abstract) to develop pupil’s confidence in new areas of learning and ensure progression, building knowledge, mathematical understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills. Pupils are also given the opportunity to independently practice these skills in a variety of contexts, with increasing levels of complexity.

We have designed a curriculum map to cover knowledge and skills in all foundation subjects and science, to ensure we build on prior knowledge and prepare then for future learning. To ensure this we have worked with our teaching partners at Upton Infant School and Lytchett Manor School and engaged in a programme of staff training to ensure teachers have the knowledge and skills to deliver learning effectively.

It encompasses a wide range of subjects and opportunities for academic, technical, creative and sporting excellence. It supports a culture of resilience and positive mental health and wellbeing, where every child is safe, healthy, nurtured and respected. Throughout it promotes children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, including British values.