The Southcote Curriculum
The Southcote curriculum has been written by the teaching staff incorporating the new National Curriculum (2013), current best practice and our values and beliefs about high quality learning.
There are three principles key to recognising what type of curriculum should be delivered. The three principles are:
At Southcote we believe the following to be characteristics of the best teaching:
| Outdoor learning | Practical learning |
| Theme days | Memorable experiences |
| Experimental learning | Child led learning |
| Consolidation | Flexible timetable |
| Visitors in / Visits out | Stable’ curriculum |
| Good home links | Use of ICT |
| More in depth – less ‘coverage’ | Enthused experts |
| Theme weeks | Exciting resources |
| Teamwork | Feeling valued |
| Risk taking | Inspiring lessons |
| Keeping an open mind | Well-planned for outcomes |
While incorporating the above into our teaching, the Southcote curriculum provides endless opportunities for our children to develop as independent learners. We believe the following are characteristics of independent learners:
| Challenge themselves | Perseverance |
| Confidence to try new things | Resourceful |
| Strategies to try new things | Ask own questions |
| Make own choices | Focused |
| Disciplined | Determined |
| Not afraid of failure | Positive attitude |
| Self-select resources / activities | Exploring |
| High self-esteem | Peer Support |
| Growth mind-set | Self discovery |
| Self-evaluating | Imaginative |
| Risk taker | Curious |
| Intellectual stamina | Motivated |
| Want to learn |
Due consideration has been given to the kinds and range of experiences the Southcote curriculum should be providing the children, particularly to foster the independent learning. The kinds of learning experiences the curriculum will offer are:
| Building a fire | Going to the seaside |
| Building a shelter | Cooking |
| Eating outside | Going to a castle |
| Paddling in a stream | Playing board games |
| Visiting London | Having a picnic |
| Rolling down hills | Going in a wood |
| Long country walk | Sporting event |
| Climbing a tree | Pond dipping |
| Making a mud pie | Water fight |
| Blogging | Camping |
| Puddle jumping |
This is not an exhaustive list!! Many of these activities are accessed through our residential trips, Forest Schools and Danger Day (a whole day dedicated to activities that take our children safely out of their comfort zone.
The Southcote approach of providing hands on and engaging learning experiences is called ‘Experienceology’ and underpins our approach to teaching subjects such as Geography, History, Art and Design and Technology.
We are aspiring to be a school where all our children will be:
| Working independently | Asking questions |
| Exploring what interests them | Full of self-esteem |
| Happy & excited to be at school | Taking risks |
| 100% attendance | Proud of the school |
| Telling us what they want to learn | Have a real voice |
| Caring for everyone | Taking the initiative |
| Believing they can achieve | Happy to make mistakes |
| Feeling more fulfilled | Have high aspiration |
| Wanting to learn more | Respectful |
| Submerged in learning | Self starters |
The culmination of the above has led to the themes being set for this coming academic year. The themes are:
Foundation Stage
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Knowing me, knowing you | Knowing me, knowing you; Let’s Celebrate | Big Cook, Little Cook | Spots and Stripes | Happily Ever After | Up Up and Away |
Key Stage One
| Term | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Year 1 | Time for a change | World Kitchen | Walk the Plank | Under the Sea | Jurassic Forest | Space |
| Year 2 | Jungles | Superheroes | Buckets and Spades | Down on the Farm | Dragonology | |
Key Stage Two
| Term | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Year 3 | Come dine with me | Poles Apart | Mighty Marauders | Into the Woods | Mega Structures | |
| Year 4 | Sticks and Stones | Trip to the Tropics | Up Pompeii | |||
| Term | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
| Year 5 | Extreme Earth | A visit to outer space | Marvellous Mayans | It’s all Greek to me! | ||
| Year 6 | 3Bs (local area study) | Survival of the fittest | Tomb Raiders | Let’s look after ourselves | All things dangerous | |
If you would like to see what skills are being taught then please click here.
For each year group there is a term planner showing in more detail what is being taught. These will be updated at the beginning of each term.
