Curriculum

Linked-Learning Curriculum
At Huntington, our Linked-Learning Curriculum is planned to develop subject knowledge, skills and understanding within a framework of learning themes. These themes generally use History, Geography, Science or an English text to provide an overall context for children’s learning over some time (up to a term) – in this way, teaching and learning can be underpinned and reinforced through several different subjects (wherever productive links can be forged).

While following the National Curriculum, we have positioned our learning themes at times in the children’s educational journey where we believe they are most capable of benefiting from the subject material encountered (for example, the complexities of studying Ancient Greek civilisation, with its mathematical, scientific and cultural legacy to the modern world, are studied by older children in the upper juniors). Progression documents underpin our curriculum in all subjects, ensuring that learning is sequential and builds upon what has been taught before.

Curriculum expertise
We believe that subject expertise should provide the backbone of a curriculum, and we therefore make use of schemes of work and resources from renowned educational suppliers (e.g. The Literacy Company) or professional bodies (e.g. DATA, Geographical Association) while retaining the freedom for teachers to modify aspects of the curriculum according to the particular needs of individual classes.

Key skills (Learn to Live, Live to Learn)
The cultivation of key knowledge and skills underpins and enables all learning, hence our strong focus on Reading, Writing, Mathematics and IT, and their application across the curriculum. Children are also encouraged to hone their skills with the spoken word through targeted curricular activities (e.g. No Pens Day, Poetry by Heart) and experience a range of real-world contexts in which to apply them (via educational visits, for example). Through the development of these key skills, within engaging contexts, pupils are both better prepared for their futures and encouraged to see learning as a lifelong pleasure (as expressed in our school motto, Learn to Live, Live to Learn).

Personal development Through the curricular and extra-curricular experiences we provide, we foster pupils’ personal development – through our PSHE curriculum and mental health programmes (myHappymind from spring 2023), opportunities to participate in the various school councils, residential visits for all junior year groups, and our commitment to providing experiences beyond the school day in sport and the arts (for example, singing in the choir at the Young Voices arena event in Manchester, or participating in a production by our Musical Theatre club). Such opportunities develop children’s confidence, support their social and emotional development, and help them to become responsible citizens.

Learning about learning
We believe that the lifelong love of learning we hope to instil in our pupils is also crucial for our teaching staff. Therefore, we provide regular training opportunities for our teachers, our subject leaders and our teaching assistants, to constantly improve our teaching techniques and ability to engage pupils. The school’s membership of several professional associations* provides staff with access to the latest subject developments, and we engage with research-based curriculum projects where available (in mathematics, for example: EYFS/KS1 Mastering Number programme from 2021, Developing Mastery programme from 2022).  Learning about learning itself is a current focus, with subject development from 2022-23 seeking to maximise the long-term impact of our teaching, across different subjects, by exploring the applicability of methods derived from Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction. Our focus on Growth Mindset, and the myHappymind programme from 2023, support pupils’ self-awareness about their own learning.

*Design & Technology Association (DATA), Geographical Association (GA), Historical Association (HA), National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD)

In EYFS/KS1 the school uses Little Wandle as its phonics scheme - click HERE for further information.

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