Curriculum

What does your child learn at school each day? Find information about our curriculum subjects here. If you have any questions regarding the curriculum we teach, please contact the school directly.

The purpose of this teaching and learning is laid out in our school aims.

 

Following the introduction of a more challenging National Curriculum in 2014, particularly in English and Maths, we have reviewed our curriculum in order to make it as challenging and exciting as possible. Whatfield and Bildeston are two of the few schools to have introduced a new maths scheme called "Maths No Problem" which is based on the Singapore method of calculation. Pupils report they enjoy the new scheme and that they are finding it both challenging and interesting.

 

In the national curriculum the government has set out the learning objectives which our children work towards. We use this to structure our own curriculum plan, but also incorporate additional work, especially commemorations and important events in the calendar.

 

Self Evaluation

Between Ofsted inspections we continuously evaluate our own performance. "The Self Evaluation is monitored by Ofsted officials and they grade us according to our performance. We are expecting a "Section 8" inspection which is designed to assess "Good" schools.

Please see the 'national curriculum overview' with appendices for:

Early Years Foundation Stage & KS1

The topics we teach the children in Reception and Key Stage One are shown in our curriculum long term plans: 

KS2

The coverage of the Key Stage Two long term curriculum is as follows: 

National Curriculum 

In the national curriculum the government has set out the learning objectives which our children work towards. 

 

English 

Please see the English objectives and progression table to understand the principles of what the children have to learn.

Phonics

We use the 'Jolly Phonics' and 'Letters and Sounds' programmes to teach phonics, reading skills and early spelling skills. See phonics at Bildeston primary school to learn more.

Reading in KS1

At Bildeston Primary School for younger children our reading books are grouped into colour book bands.  The books in each book band are at approximately the same reading level – although some may be trickier than others!   See Reading at Bildeston if you would like to learn more. Children in Year 2 start to move onto the Accelerated Reader scheme (see below for details). 

Reading in Year 2 & KS2

Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Your child reads a book at his/her own level and reads it at his/her own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer - passing the quiz is an indication that your child has understood what has been read. We suggest that pupils read their book at least twice, unless otherwise instructed, and discuss with an adult the contents before taking the quiz.

Maths

To help our children think more for themselves and explore their maths skills, we make use of a range of maths investigations which we use along side our " Maths No Problem" scheme of work. The maths curriculum leads across the Hadleigh pyramid have produced a booklet to help parents understand what their children are taught as part of the new maths curriculum. Please see the maths objective and progression table to understand the principles of what the children have to learn.

Computing

We are well equipped with computers throughout the school. The children apply their ICT skills whenever the opportunity arises to support their learning in all subjects. We will be improving the children's ICT experience with more laptops and the introduction this year of iPads as well as our school benefiting from fibre optic and a new wireless system.