At Shotton Primary School we provide each pupil with a rich and varied curriculum, delivered through stimulating and

memorable learning opportunities, designed to meet the requirements set by Government and the Department of Education. Next year the curriculum in England will begin a process of radical and rapid revision before the introduction of a new National Curriculum in September 2014. As a consequence, during the course of this current academic year and beyond to 2014 and 2015, different aspects of the current national curriculum will be disapplied and a new national curriculum will replace it. Currently, pupils in Nursery and Reception follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum which covers the six areas of learning these are: Personal, social and emotional development Communication, language and literacy Mathematical development, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy Knowledge and understanding of the world Physical development Creative development The curriculum provided during this vital part of your childs early education provides the foundation upon which all other learning is based. We want your child to enjoy coming to school, to be enthusiastic about learning, and develop the confidence to ask questions and find out about the world around them. As pupils progress from the Foundation Stage into Year 1 and up to Year 6, we follow the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum includes four core subjects: Maths English Science and ICT (Information Communication Technology) and six foundation subjects: Design Technology History Geography Music Art and Physical Education.

The 6 Foundation Subjects, along with Religious Education (RE), provide the statutory minimum scope of the curriculum. Other subjects feature in the schemes of work that may cover many aspects of the whole curriculum. These include; health education, other aspects of personal and social education, moral, health, citizenship, environmental and multicultural issues. Within the National Curriculum, programmes of study set out the essential teaching within each subject area. Attainment targets for each subject area set out what pupils are expected to know and be able to do. There are statutory Teacher Assessments for all primary school pupils at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and national tests (SATs) at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6). Our Skills-based Curriculum Every pupil at our school will be taught the National Curriculum according to its programmes of study and RE, which follows the Durham Local Authority agreed syllabus. Our curriculum has been designed into six half termly themes, that teach the skills in each subject. These skills are progressive and build upon the Foundation Stage Curriculum, starting in Year 1. This means that the skills in each subject become increasingly more demanding as pupils progress through each year in our school. Teachers use the programmes of study as a starting point for developing and planning our teaching. We plan our school themes, so that all pupils have an active involvement in their own learning. Teachers use their Skills Map to deliver the topic theme over a half term or full term. Religious Education The Religious Education Curriculum is taken from Durham Local Authoritys agreed syllabus, which has been ratified by local teachers and representatives of all major local faiths and denominations. It aims to ensure that all our pupils gain an understanding of world religions and have respect for these. There are varied arrangements for daily worship, including class and whole-school assemblies. All parents have a right to withdraw their child from the schools daily act of worship and or religious education. If you wish to withdraw your child from these parts of our school life, then please write to the Head Teacher. Sex Education

In the Summer Term (Term 6), the Health Advisor provides our Year 6 pupils with an insight into how our boides change at puberty and the importance of personal hygiene and keeping healthy. The lessons are taught in single sex classes and aim to educate young people about the physical changes to both boys and girls in a supportive and structured environment, where pupils feel able to ask questions in an appropriate way. Parents and carers have the opportunity to discuss any issues relating to this subject, before lessons begin for pupils and to consider whether or not to withdraw their child from these lessons. Should you wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact the school office to make an appointment with the Head Teacher or School Health Advisor.