Foundation Subjects
In this section, you will find our curriculum progression documents for all subjects other than maths, reading and writing. These documents are designed to show progression across the school in different strands of each subject and will be updated as changes are made.
For more information on the curriculum, please see individual year group pages.
Science
Intent
Science teaching at King’s Oak Primary aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them strive for excellence in their scientific abilities, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. We strive for the children to understand that many significant contributions to Science are only available as a result of scientists who are passionate about making a difference and for the children to be inspired to make their own mark in science one day.
At King’s Oak Primary, scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory. Links across the topics and learning are made explicit for the children so that they can understand why citizenship in science is important for a sustainable future.
Across the school children are enabled to develop their understanding through the five Scientific Areas of Enquiry as outlined by the National Curriculum.
These are:
- Observation over time
- Pattern seeking
- Identifying, classifying and grouping
- Comparative and fair testing
- Researching (KS2)
We have a carefully planned curriculum in Science which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught are reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions. All children are exposed to high quality teaching and learning experiences, which allow them to explore their outdoor environment and locality, thus developing their scientific enquiry and investigative skills.
Year 1 Science Learning Ladder
Year 2 Science Learning Ladder
Year 3 Science Learning Ladder
Year 4 Science Learning Ladder
Design Technology
Intent
At Kings Oak Primary School we aim to provide all children with a diverse and balanced curriculum which prepares them for life beyond primary education. We have a carefully planned curriculum in DT which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education. Our broad DT curriculum offers pupils the chance to strive for excellence in their practical abilities. We encourage children to design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and others based on a set design criteria. Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Due to the fact It can be found in the making of many of the objects children use each day, Kings Oak encourages students to develop an appreciation of the process of designing, making and evaluating their own products. Design and Technology encourages children to work both independently and together as a team and in order to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems.
At Kings Oak the D.T. curriculum combines skills, knowledge and concepts through mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art to enable children to tackle real world problems. Children will develop a critical understanding of the impact of D.T. on daily life and the wider world, therefore helping them to value their own global citizenship. Through a variety of innovative and practical activities, children can develop their creative, technical and practical expertise that are needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and successfully. The children are encouraged to take risks and create ambitious projects, therefore becoming resourceful, enterprising, imaginative and capable citizens.
Cooking and Nutrition
Through the use of our state of the art cooking facilities children are able to experiment with cooking while also developing and understanding the principles of nutrition and how to implement them into their daily lives. As part of their work with food, pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.
Kings Oak believes that high-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.
Implementation
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, KOP teaches the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for students to engage in a recurring process of designing, making and evaluating. The children work in a range of relevant contexts (for example home, school, leisure, culture, enterprise, industry and the wider environment).
As per the national curriculum, when creating a product, KOP pupils are taught to:
Design
• use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
Make
• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately
• select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
Evaluate
• investigate and analyse a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
• understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
Technical knowledge
• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
• understand and use mechanical systems in their products
• understand and use electrical systems in their products
• apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
History
History Curriculum Intent
We have a carefully planned curriculum in History which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education.
Our history curriculum at King’s Oak Primary delivers one that inspires children to take an interest, develop respect and have an understanding of the past for both Britain and the wider world. Children will acquire and make use of a range of skills to enable them to become reflective, independent and resilient learners, striving for excellence in their historical abilities.
We strive for the children to understand that many modern conveniences are only available as a result of aspirational people who are passionate problem solvers, and for the children to be inspired to make their own mark in history one day. Links across eras and learning are made explicit for the children so that they can appreciate why values, cultures and societies have changed over time, helping them to have high values of citizenship.
Our history curriculum will develop children’s sense of chronology, identity and a cultural understanding through a well-planned, structured and progressive curriculum from Nursery through to Year 6.
As a result of this, children will
- Increase and develop their historical skills, concepts, knowledge and attitudes.
- Increase their understanding of the present in the context of the past.
- Develop and use their skills in enquiry, analysis, evaluation, and debate.
- Develop their interest in the past, arousing their curiosity and motivation to learn.
Year 1 History Learning Ladder
Year 2 History Learning Ladder
Year 3 History Learning Ladder
Year 4 History Learning Ladder
Geography
Intent
We have a carefully planned curriculum in Geography at King’s Oak Primary, which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education.
Our geography curriculum is planned to inspire our children to take an interest, develop respect and have an understanding of the world around them on the local, national and global scale. Our geography curriculum teaches our children about the geographical processes that have shaped the world in which we live. Children will acquire and make use of a range of skills to enable them to become reflective, independent and resilient learners, striving for excellence in their geographical abilities.
Through our geography curriculum, we strive for the children to understand their role in appreciating the diversity in people, places and cultures and to understand the role that humans play in shaping the decisions which impact our world now and in the future. This is so our children can make positive contributions which help to look after the world around them. Links across learning are made explicit for the children so that they can appreciate the similarities and differences between places in our world helping them to have high values of citizenship.
Our geography curriculum will develop children’s sense of locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, map reading skills and fieldwork through a well-planned, structured and progressive curriculum from Nursery through to Year 6.
As a result of this, children will
- Increase and develop their geographical skills, concepts, knowledge and attitudes.
- Increase their understanding of key physical and human geographical processes and how this leads to variations in places and change over time.
- Develop and use their skills in enquiry, analysis, evaluation, and debate.
- Develop their interest in the world around them, arousing their curiosity and motivation to learn.
Year 1 Geography Learning Ladder
Year 2 Geography Learning Ladder
Year 3 Geography Learning Ladder
Year 4 Geography Learning Ladder
Religious Education
Intent
RE is an integral part of everyday life for many of our children, especially as we are living in an established culturally and religiously diverse community at Kings Oak Primary School. Here at our school, children will learn about different religions, belief systems, rituals and festivals and whenever possible they will visit a place of religious worship. In addition to dedicated RE sessions, which follow our school curriculum and encourage pupils to strive for excellence, religious learning can take place in special assemblies which pupils attend.
RE enables pupils to build their sense of identity and belonging, which helps them flourish within their communities and develops a sense of citizenship within a diverse society. It teaches pupils to develop respect for others, including people with different faiths and beliefs and helps to challenge prejudice.
Within our teaching of RE, we seek to encourage empathy, generosity and compassion, thus prompting pupils to consider their responsibilities to themselves and others and aspire to explore how they might contribute to their communities and the wider world.
We have a carefully planned curriculum in RE which covers the full breadth of the Bedfordshire Agreed Syllabus. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education.
Modern Foreign Language
Intent
We have a carefully planned curriculum in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education.
The MFL curriculum at King’s Oak Primary also aims to inspire a love of learning through language and a deeper interest in different cultures encountered within the school and across a wider society. The current MFL taught in school is French, however we strive to provide children with opportunities to experience a range of other languages so they can aim for a level of excellence in their knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures in modern society.
It is our intention to ensure that by the end of their primary education, children will have acquired: an understanding of both spoken and written French; confidence to speak some French with others and to know how important other languages can be for their future.
Our progressive and carefully structured curriculum will develop children’s confidence in communicating with others and teach them the value of citizenship through the tolerance and acceptance of other cultures.
As a result of this, children will
- Increase and develop their communication skills in the four key areas of language learning: writing, speaking, listening, and reading.
- Increase their understanding of the world around them.
- Develop and use their skills to build confidence in language learning.
- Build a foundation for future learning and begin to understand the benefits of language learning in everyday life.
PSHE - Personal, Social, Health & Economic
Intent
Our PSHE curriculum at King’s Oak Primary aims to help pupils understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
PSHE enables our pupils to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. We strive to help them to understand how they are developing personally and socially, and how to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our pupils with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. They are also encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.
Children will acquire and make use of a range of skills to enable them to become reflective, independent and resilient learners, striving for excellence. We aim to deliver aspirational goals and high values of citizenship.
The delivered curriculum (scheme of work – PSHE Association) reflects the needs of our pupils and is tailored to meet specific needs. We expect teachers to use the PSHE programme to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions.
The curriculum is split into three core themes of: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. The children will meet these themes throughout the course of the year and the themes are built upon as the children move through school.
∙ Relationships
∙ A healthy, balanced lifestyle,
∙ Identification of risk and safety
∙ Diversity and equality
∙ Rights, responsibilities and consent
∙ Change and resilience
∙ Power
∙ Career
At KOP we believe that PSHE plays a vital part of primary education and needs to be taught at least weekly; although there will also be opportunity to make cross curricular links and these opportunities should not be missed. This enables staff to ensure full coverage of the PSHE scheme of work. There are always occasions where staff may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue which has arisen in their own class.
PSHE is integral to the development of children’s values in order for them to become a positive citizen in a forever changing community. Our school values which are, self-belief, responsibility, understanding, resilience, readiness, respect and team-spirit are an integral part of our PSHE curriculum and school assemblies. Our school values where children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured.
Art
Intent
At Kings Oak Primary, we believe children should be highly excited and motivated to fulfil their creative potential. Our broad art curriculum offers pupils the chance to strive for excellence in their artistic abilities. Each child will have the opportunity to engage, invent, and experiment with a range of materials and media. Through this process, children will develop the skills necessary to express this highest form of human creativity themselves.
We believe it is important that children can understand and question the impact of art on themselves and the world around them in terms of history and culture. This in turn, helps children to have high values of citizenship. We strive for the children to understand that much of the culture and artistic movements around us are only available because of aspirational people who are passionate about expression, creativity and design.
Through our well-planned, structured and progressive curriculum, pupils from Nursery through to Year 6 will develop their artistic understanding and techniques.
This includes:
- Developing their control and use of materials, with creativity.
- Creating sketchbooks to record their observations and their own ideas.
- Improving their mastery of art and design techniques, such as drawing, painting, print and sculpture with a range of materials.
- Learning about great artists, architects and designers in history.
PE - Physical Education
Intent
Physical Education at King’s Oak Primary School aims to develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities necessary for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing in our children now and for their future. All children will have access to two hours of high quality physical activity per week.
We have a carefully planned curriculum in PE which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education.
We teach the importance of physical fitness and it’s an important part of leading a healthier lifestyle. It teaches self-discipline and that to be successful you must work hard, show resilience, strive for excellence and have the determination to believe that anything can be achieved.
During lessons, we are determined that children will use vital skills from across the curriculum in the key areas, such as Invasion Games, Dance, Gymnastics, Striking &
Fielding, Athletics, Net & Wall, OAA, and Swimming. We strive to teach the children that only through hard work, perseverance and reflection can we improve our own performance and outcomes.
By delivering a well-designed curriculum that is progressive, challenging and inclusive starting from Foundation and finishing in Year 6 children will:
Be confident and competent in a range of sports by applying the skills learnt previously and building upon these.
- Learn fundamental skills which sets them up for lifelong participation in sport
- Develop an understanding in children of how to succeed in a range of physical activities and how to evaluate their own and others success.
- Children will learn the key skills of citizenship –encouraging and supporting others to improve outcomes for all as well as ourselves.
Computing
Intent
Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching Computing we equip children to participate in a rapidly-changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. We ensure safe use of technology, both PC and mobile devices where we cover how to keep safe online and what to do if they feel unsafe, along with incorporating our core ethos of Excellence and Citizenship.
It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to use information in a discriminating and effective way. We want children to know more, remember more and understand more in computing so that they leave primary school computer literate.
Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.
We are able to offer the children a variety of computing resources to use, which are, a fully equipped computer room, laptops, Ipads, interactive whiteboards and Beebots, to use in lessons throughout the day.
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
Computing in the curriculum
We have a carefully planned curriculum in computing which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more: this helps to prepare them for the next stage of their learning and education. We enhance the curriculum using subject progression grids which are used to develop long term planning. Teachers use the long term planning to plan units of work and deliver individual lessons.
Year 1 Computing Learning Ladder
Year 2 Computing Learning Ladder
Year 3 Computing Learning Ladder
Year 4 Computing Learning Ladder
Music
Intent
Our music curriculum at King’s Oak Primary focuses on making music an enjoyable learning experience for all students. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children and strive for excellence in their understanding and appreciation of music.
We have a carefully planned curriculum in music which covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum. Learning is progressive and links are made to support children knowing and remembering more. This helps them for the next stage of their learning and education.
Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows students to discover areas of strength, as all as areas they may like to aspire to and improve upon. Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. Through singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music. We teach them to listen and appreciate different forms of music and develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world, which in turn develops their citizenship. Furthermore, children will develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm to discuss music using these terms.
Our music curriculum enables children to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - either as a listener, creator or performer from Nursery to Year 6.
As a result of this, children will
- use their voices expressively and creatively, to have the opportunity to learn songs and to sing solo and in ensemble context.
- play tuned and untuned instruments musically with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
- listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.
- experiment with, create, select and combine sounds, improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
- develop an understanding of musical composition, organising and manipulating ideas within musical structures and reproducing sounds from aural memory.
- be encouraged to critically evaluate their own work and that of others in order to learn from their experiences.
