Curriculum Statement
'The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited' Plutarch
At Burrington Church of England Primary School, we strive to provide children with a stimulating, engaging and forward-thinking curriculum, which challenges, excites and motivates children. Our motto, ‘cherish and nurture, flourish and aspire’ is fundamental to the curriculum, rooted in Christian values, and we work in partnership with the whole community of the school to achieve this. At Burrington, children are cherished and nurtured to be confident, happy and inquisitive learners, encouraged to be ambitious and seize the many opportunities that the school (and beyond) provides. This enables an education which lays a firm foundation of aspiration, curiosity and the belief that we can all make a positive difference in our world.
The breadth of our curriculum reflects our belief that the primary years are fundamental in inspiring passions, developing attitudes and shaping aspirations for the future. We are committed to ensuring that children have an education of the highest possible quality realised through an innovative, ambitious and inclusive curriculum, underpinned by our Christian values:
One that looks locally:
- celebrating our community links and local experts;
- recognising, appreciating and learning from the historic area and rural countryside in which we are situated,
- drawing on children's interests and experiences,
- building on our established links with Holy Trinity Church
One that is outward facing:
- provides opportunities to ‘think big’
- reflecting on issues that affect the wider world
- exploring possibilities outside the locality and challenging children with new ideas, experiences and ambition
- goes beyond the national curriculum
- develops courageous advocacy enabling children to be agents of change
We support children in their sense of agency and their ability to take an active role in shaping the future. Inspired by a visit to the United Nations in 2016, an important pillar of our curriculum is the UN Sustainable Development Goals which are woven into learning from EYFS to Y6 and help to encourage children in developing courageous advocacy, particularly during mark-making week, collective worship and competitons such as, Youth Speak.
Our pedagogy, supported by LSP's pedagogy framework, is drawn from national and international research. We strive to constantly reflect and review our practice as part of our learning culture for all. We are committed to developing children’s growth-mindset, resilience and confidence to challenge themselves, unafraid to make mistakes, secure in the knowledge that this can lead to deeper learning.
The curriculum is carefully structured. There is clear progression in all subject areas, enabling children to learn effectively, developing their understanding and deepening their knowledge as we strive for academic excellence. We use some carefully curated published schemes (e.g. Charanga, Jigsaw PSHE and Language Angels) as well as embracing some of our new Trust schemes of learning (e.g. History, Geography and Science).
The LSP scheme of work for History, Geography and Science reflects rich substantive knowledge through vertical concept themes ensuring coverage across all year groups and a clear progression of disciplinary skills. This has enabled staff to have an enhanced understanding of the vital concepts which are woven through each subject. Each unit is framed around a key question and builds towards a final outcome (e.g., discussion, presentation, or written work). Each unit reflects Rosenshine’s principles of instruction, embedding clear modelling, guided practice, and regular review to build secure understanding and long-term retention.
Children are supported through careful adaptation and scaffolding.
For information on the curriculum content for each subject in each academic year, please see our curriculum overview. Additional detail will be found on each subject page or speak to the subject lead.
A taste of our curriculum...
Within our curriculum, as well as ensuring that all aspects of the National Curriculum are met, we provide children with a diverse range of opportunities such as Forest School, Mark-Making Week, Art Week, Black History Month, Holocaust Day, Youth Speak competition, Writing Club, Chess, whole -class and individual instrumental lessons, Farmlink workshops, residential trips and themed weeks and days (well-being, science, arts), which have been specifically selected to ensure that we provide an irresistible education, which develops the ‘whole-child’ and deepens their cultural capital.
There is a local aspect to the curriculum: Expertise can be found in our locality and we have strong links with a local 'National Geographic Photographer' and a local Science Professor who regularly inspire children with their knowledge, skills and travels. In terms of humanities, we are able to utilise the rich history of the church and churchyard. in Geography, we use Farmlink for assemblies, workshops and trips to Yeo Valley farms.
Trips and visits to Wells Cathedral, Bristol, London Houses of Parliament and the Devon Coast expand children's experiences and we are delighted to have a link school in Zambia whom we support. Children in UKS2 annually visit St Monica's Residential home to share their learning and entertain the residents with songs and poems. KS2 regularly visit the Burrington Ham to observe seasonal changes, do orienteering and build dens.
We value specialism amongst teachers and encourage opportunities for children to experience expertise through working with specialist staff (e.g. science, music, RE, PE) in addition to their class teachers. We believe passionately in developing a love of lifelong learning for all. Specialists' and experts' enthusiasm can be infectious!
The performing arts have a central role to play in developing confidence, presentation skills and team work at Wrington. A wide range of informal and formal opportunities are given for this, from whole school Poetry and Music Recital, Harvest celebration, KS1 Nativity, entering Rotary Youth Speaks competition, performing on stage at the Playhouse in the annual dance festival or having a prominent role in our Key Stage 1 Nativity and whole school summer production, to name but a few.
Sport thrives at the school. All children are encouraged to find ‘their’ sport and will represent the school at some point in their time at the school. We are a Platinum Sports Mark School and regularly complete in inter-school competitions in a range of sports disciplines.
As a church school, our Christian values underpin all our learning and develop relationships which ensure the success of the school. ‘Cherish and Nurture, flourish and aspire’ is the school motto combined with our Federation guidance principle of ‘Let all that you do be done in love’ 1 Corinthians 14-16 and together these provide the cornerstone of all that we do. For further information on the curriculum, click on the relevant button.
Special weeks or days
We often have special days and weeks.
Mark-making week, Remembrance Week, Black History Month, Holocaust Day (UKS2) Well-being week, Safer-Online Week, Anti-Bullying week, Green day, World Book Day, STEM week and Children in Need day to name a few.
