Our Curriculum

1: To Learn Together

We strive to offer a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to the needs of the individual.

Our maths curriculum in delivered primarily through Maths No Problem, a Singapore maths programme of study which believes that every child can master an understanding and love of maths with the right kind of teaching and support. It is complemented by White Rose, Classroom Secrets and other mastery resources. It is assessed through our own bespoke assessment materials and tracked termly.

In writing our approach is underpinned by Ros Wilson’s Big Write, supported by a strong foundation in phonics and Talk4Writing. Across the school we implement  topic based purposeful writing experiences. This is assessed regularly using the Oxford Writing Criterion Scale. Writing is peer critiqued and edited regularly.

At Benhall we aim to promote a lifelong love of reading, so that children not only can read but do read for personal enjoyment. This is achieved by daily class reading as well as encouraging children to explore and expand their personal reading preferences through self selection of books. We aim to give children the best possible start on their reading journey by teaching them the essential phonological skills and knowledge to decode words independently from the outset. This is assessed using the Oxford Reading Criterion Scale.

Our teachers plan other subjects using our Benhall Topic Maps, based on the Chris Quigley curriculum. Learning is checked against these to ensure coverage and progression. We aim to make learning engaging, fun and tailored to the children’s interests using enquiry based principles.

We strive to provide the best teaching and recognise that sometimes this means bringing others in. PE and  french is taught by specialist teachers from Reception to Year 6. Music is taught by a peripatetic teacher in Year 3 and 4, with further opportunities in Y5 and 6.

2: To Grow Together

Over and above our national curriculum learning, we promise holistic childhood experiences throughout our pupil’s educational journey at Benhall St Mary’s Primary School, allowing them to grow into more rounded global citizens. This is provided through a range of educational visits, outdoor learning (Guardians of the Garden), annual residential trips from Year 3 upwards, and high quality school performances. We also have three ‘theme’ weeks a year where the pupils are immersed in a variety of learning opportunities to address wider issues for children in the modern age.

Children learn respect and reliability through undertaking positions of responsibility around the school;  we believe that children better understand responsibilities by seeing them in action by their peers. Responsibilities  include: school council, prefects, class representatives, buddies, playground monitors, worship leaders and librarians.

3: To Nurture

As a school we are always looking always in which to develop and nurture good learning behaviours. We teaching methods such as Mantle of the Expert to engage learners and promote imagination, curiosity, enjoyment of learning. Team building activities such as those on residential, in Guardians of the Garden, or in theme weeks, as well as day to day activities, support co-operation and resilience. We actively seek to be a ‘can do’ school, promoting perseverance and positivity.

Wellbeing is an important focus at Benhall St Mary’s. Nurture ‘VIP’ breakfasts, mindfulness opportunities, enrichment afternoons, and personalised interventions, including ‘Drawing and Talking’ are all used to ensure that children are ready to learn and that mental health is supported.

4: To Cultivate

When planning the curriculum teachers think not just about what learners should learn and how they should learn it, but also how they can bring in an understanding of morality and the wider world. This is underpinned by our christian values, of which creativity, kindness, courage, respect and truthfulness were chosen by our stakeholders to best represent the school.

As part of this we…

• Learn about christian values in our daily Collective worship sessions
• Have a close link with our local church
• Learn philosophy, encouraging debate and discussion
• Work with local community groups
• Raise money for a variety of charities
• Have links with a French school

1: To Learn Together

We strive to ensure that children, with their varied starting points, make good or better progress in all subjects across the curriculum. We measure this with a range of materials, always considering Age Related Expectations. We intend that the impact is that children will be academically and mentally prepared for life as they travel along their educational journey, and in modern Britain and the wider world.

2: To Grow Together

The impact is that our children grow into fully rounded characters, armed with rich experiences and displaying our core values of Kindness, Courage, Respect, Truthfulness and Creativity. The impact is seen in our classrooms, playing and passing spaces, evidenced by how children and adults interact and communicate with each other

3: To Nurture

By nurturing the right learning behaviours and habits, the impact is seen in the manner in which children approach everyday challenges in the classroom and socially. We aim for a ‘can do’ attitude with children motivated do their best.

4: To Cultivate

The impact is that our children are cultivated to develop a strong moral compass, open to exploring faith and spirituality, and respecting those with different views, cultures and experiences. Our children leave Benhall able to reflect, question and debate and with an understanding that we are all different, and all special. Our acorns will grow into strong branches ready to support those they meet along the way.