Curriculum

The school’s Curriculum combines high standards with a broad and rich curriculum.
Great emphasis is placed on planning the curriculum so that there is continuity and progression, challenge and pace, as well as meaning links between subjects.

A major part of the school's curriculum is the National Curriculum which consists of:
Core Subjects: English, Mathematics, and Religious Education
Foundation Subjects: Science, History, Geography, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Design and Technology, Art, Music, PE, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Although not compulsory, we include Personal, Social, Health, and Citizenship Education (PSHE) in our curriculum.

Curriculum - Core

Literacy
A renewed Framework for teaching literacy was introduced in 2007, Literacy includes Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing. English is an integral part of the whole school curriculum. All children will have a daily Literacy lesson.

Speaking and Listening
Talking is fundamental to a pupil's learning. Pupils are encouraged and helped to talk clearly, confidently and with expression in order to communicate ideas and feelings. Similarly, and just as importantly, is the need to listen to others and respond appropriately. All children are provided with opportunities in all areas of the curriculum to develop skills in speaking and listening.

Reading
One of the greatest gifts we can give a child is the ability to read. We believe that reading should be an enjoyable activity, and our approach to reading is based on this.

At Key Stage 1 there is great emphasis on the teaching of phonics (sounds) and reading. We follow a very structured phonics programme called ‘Letters and Sounds.’ At Key Stage 2 we extend and develop each child's reading skills.

We aim to develop a love of reading and therefore encourage our pupils to take books home and share them with you. The children are never too old to do this!

As a school, we are continually trying new reading material, matched to the wide interests and abilities of the children.
Children need to be able to read with understanding, for pleasure and for information. Pupils' reading is structured in Key Stage 1 and pupils are helped and guided towards suitable reading material. As the pupils go through the school, they are given more responsibility for this choice in reading. All classrooms have their own reading areas.

Writing
Pupils are helped to develop the ability to express their thoughts and ideas and communication skills through the written word. Every attempt is made to ensure that pupils develop a command of basic English which includes punctuation, spelling and grammar.  We provide a host of opportunities for the children to write in real life context, using the local and wider community wherever possible.

Correct letter formation is encouraged through our structured ‘Penpals’ handwriting scheme.

Mathematics
The National Numeracy Strategy was implemented in September 1999 followed by the New Framework in 2007, that we are currently following.

All pupils receive a daily Maths lesson. Various Maths schemes are used to supplement and support the Numeracy framework. The framework provides continuity and progression throughout the school. We have a very detailed calculation policy which provides a very logical progression in calculation skills and this can be seen on request.

Maths at Courtney Primary is taught in a number of ways but much of the work is related to and supported by practical activities in order to develop a sound basic knowledge and understanding in calculation, measurement, shape and data handling. We hope to develop pupils’ confidence and enthusiasm and their ability to apply mathematical skills and knowledge to the world around them.

Religious Education and Collective Worship
The aim of religious education is to enable pupils:

• To acquire knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain
• To develop the ability to explore, to reflect on and to respond to human experience, drawing on their study of religion

Through Religious Education, pupils are given opportunities to reflect on the nature and role of beliefs, the attitudes and values underpinning these, and the practices and behaviours that arise because of them. Skills developed through the teaching of RE include developing self-awareness, respect for all, open-mindedness, appreciation and wonder.

RE is taught in all classes and follows the procedures and guidelines laid down in the South Glos LA Agreed Syllabus. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from RE lessons and religious assemblies if they wish and should contact the Headteacher if they wish to do so. Alternative provision will be made for your child.

Our Collective Worship is Christian based but not exclusively so. A daily religious assembly is held either as a whole school, as a class or in Key Stages. It is an important part of our school day. Visitors are invited to take part and Friday assemblies are special because we celebrate achievement and share good work. Parents are invited to join us in special assemblies.

The school has no affiliations to any specific religious order but does have regular contact with religious groups represented in the local and wider community.