History, Geography, Art and Design and Design and Technology
The school uses the Cornerstones Curriculum 22 as its curriculum for Foundation subjects. Cornerstones is a topic-based series of units of work which cover all areas of History, Geography, Art, Music, Design and Technology, and numerous other points of interest and learning. The progressive, sequenced and coherently planned curriculum design is one which, at its roots, starts with the child at the centre and, by the end of the children's time in Year 6, is very much focused outwards, with children having a great awareness of the history that has led us to where we are today, and the global responsibilities that being a citizen of the future brings. It is an ambitious curriculum, wide-ranging in its topic areas and ensures that every child covers all aspects of the National Curriculum as well as numerous other areas of study and interest. It covers both the substantive and disciplinary content, ensuring the children build up their knowledge and use appropriate methodologies for each subject. All children access the curriculum at the same level; it is built in such a way that there is no need for differentiation.
The curriculum is generously and comprehensively resourced, so teachers have immediate access to anything they require to aid the children's learning. Lessons vary from practical, hands-on experience of real-life events to discursive consideration of the implications of what has been learned. It is enriched with numerous visits to museums, important landmarks in London and beyond and every topic includes at least one - and frequently more - trips out. It is further enriched by a range of visiting performers and storytellers and the Now Press Play interactive experiences.
Each topic is prefaced in children's books with a knowledge organiser, which list the fundamental core concepts what are being taught within the unit, concepts which are revisited, revised and built upon as the children progress through the curriculum, helping learners remember the concepts they have been taught into integrate new knowledge into these larger concepts. The knowledge organiser also summarises relevant knowledge for the current unit, provides a glossary of relevant terms and makes links across subjects.
Please click here for the current topic map for Curriculum 22. Please click on the relevant subjects to read the overview of progression through that subject: Geography, History, Art and Design, Design and Technology