Curriculum Overview
To the right you will find a menu for each year group.
There you will find knowledge organisers for each half term with a curriculum overview for the year. These organisers detail useful questions, information and vocabulary for each half term.
Click on the year group you would like to know more about.
Please note that these are all in development during the current academic year as we refresh the content of our broader curriculum.
Our Curriculum Offer
Maths
Intent statement
At Medmerry Primary School, we follow the ‘Maths - No Problem!’ programme of study from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to Year 6. In this scheme, students are encouraged to use a wide range of concrete resources to support them in understanding the structure of mathematical concepts and to develop fluency in number through pictorial and abstract methods.
Our intent is for every child to leave Medmerry Primary School as confident, independent and resilient mathematicians. Using a range of mastery techniques, students will be able to calculate fluently and use reasoning skills to solve mathematical problems. We intend that our students will be prepared in all aspects of mathematics and be fully equipped for the next step in their educational journey.
Art and Design
Intent statement
Here at Medmerry we aim to teach the children to become passionate, enthusiastic artists with a love for the creative curriculum. The children will be given a broad range of experiences that equip them to become knowledgeable and confident in the world of art all around them. Teachers will deliver engaging lessons where the children will build progressively on the key skills and knowledge set out in the ‘Key Learning’ progression document (linked to the National Curriculum.) Each year group will follow an overview which is topic led and learning is built on year on year from the Key Learning document. This allows the children to receive a broad and balanced curriculum in art and design which in turn provides them with opportunities to express themselves and become inspired to learn in a challenging and collaborative way. Whether working in classrooms, outside in the environment down at the beach or in our wonderful art studio, the use of their sketchbook is a safe place for them to investigate, test ideas and experiment with style, technique, imagination, colour, shape and tone. They will be encouraged to express their ideas, make and create artwork in various media, form their own interpretations of art and make connections in what they are learning. We will encourage our learners to ask questions and follow their inquisitiveness in order to become proficient artists and designers.
Art and Design has a special place in our curriculum at Medmerry. Creative learners can gain in confidence and self-esteem as their work is valued and celebrated, regardless of their ability and background in the classroom. Through the teaching of different artists, the children will learn how to appreciate these artists, understand their styles and techniques and begin to use these in their own work. Medmerry School values its connections with the local area and beyond the peninsula. It is our future aim to make links with other local schools and then collaborate with the local community and work with local artists in Selsey and explore community links beyond the challenge of the peninsula. We aim to develop our cultural capital by providing opportunities for Art and Design to be celebrated beyond the locality including visits to local galleries and theatres in Chichester.
Design and Technology
Intent statement
The children develop their DT skills through the teaching of different topics from EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) to Year 1 through to Year 6. Our curriculum map allows coverage of different skills and knowledge linked to structures, mechanisms, systems and cooking. Our DT curriculum links very closely to our science and art curriculum where some skills are taught through light, electricity and textiles lessons. These progressive set of key skills and knowledge link closely to the National curriculum and teachers will mainly follow the Kapow scheme of work for DT.
PE
Intent statement
At Medmerry teachers follow the GetSet4PE scheme of work which is linked closely to the National Curriculum expectations. This is a scheme which allows the children to build on their previous learning and skills in a progressive way regardless of their ability and background. We aim to deliver lessons in an enthusiastic way so our children develop a love for exercise and understand the importance of staying active and making good healthy life style choices. The scheme allows the children to develop their knowledge, skill and understanding, so that they can perform with increasing competence and confidence in a range of physical activities. A varied curriculum is in place to support this, with activities including: dance, athletics, gymnastics, games and of course swimming; vital skills to learn as many of our children live close to the sea.
Computing
Intent statement
At Medmerry Primary School, we recognise that it’s our responsibility to provide our pupils with a modern, ambitious and relevant computing curriculum that will support our children throughout their education and in an increasingly digital world. We acknowledge the challenges that our location could potentially hold for children living in Selsey and therefore embrace every opportunity to use technology to connect with the wider world. We encourage our children to recognise the accessibility opportunities technology can provide and to instead, challenge themselves by applying their computing knowledge creatively in a knowledge rich curriculum that is accessible to all.
By the end of KS2, we want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools which will allow them to use computing effectively in their everyday lives without being reliant on technology. Following their time at Medmerry, technology will be key for our pupils to collaborate and connect with one another in a modern world. Therefore, we aim to educate our pupils to be confident, responsible and safe users of technology. Our pupils will gain experience using a wide range of technology in a way that will enhance their learning opportunities, enabling them to use technology to express themselves, as a tool for learning and to drive their generation forward into the future.
Technology will be key for our pupils to collaborate and connect with one another in a modern world after their time at Medmerry. Therefore, we want to educate our children on the advantages and disadvantages of ever-changing technology and social media. Our aim is to build knowledge of this subject to allow our pupils to demonstrate their learning through the creative use of technology while being mindful of how their actions online can affect others.
Science
Intent statement
At Medmerry, science is underpinned by the intent that children are leaders of their own learning. Children have lots of questions about the world around them and we aim to deliver a curriculum that provides children with ways to understand core scientific knowledge and develop enquiry skills to answer these questions. We deliver learning in a practical, collaborative and exciting way to engage all pupils and embed key knowledge.
The Selsey peninsula is a unique area of scientific importance with Medmerry Nature Reserve and local beaches on our doorstep. The South Downs National Park is within close proximity making our location unique in many ways. In order to connect the children to the world around them, we continue to explore ways of connecting with local venues, the school and village community as well as engaging with national initiatives to inspire and enrich their scientific experiences.
History
Intent statement
History is all around us. In studying History children learn about the past in Britain and the wider world. In finding out about how the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, children make connections with how the past influences the present and they are encouraged to ask questions as they explore, not only their own growing sense of identify but the diversity of human experience, past lives and societies.
At Medmerry, our intent, in teaching history is that children’s curiosity about the past is stimulated through investigation and enquiry regardless of ability, background and additional needs to develop their skills and knowledge. We believe that History should be an interactive subject with children working collaboratively to build their understanding of the ‘why’ as well as the ‘who, what, where and when’ whilst also recognising the importance of key facts. Where possible we try to provide opportunities for ‘hands on’ and cross-curricular experiences whether through linked texts, art, role play activities, handling artefacts, visitors to school and trips to relevant sites of historical interest such as the smuggling history of Selsey and exploring Fishbourne Roman Palace. Through a clear skills and knowledge progression, children at Medmerry build upon the skills necessary to develop as historians; research, interpreting evidence, handling primary and secondary resources and the challenges of confidently presenting their own point of view.
Geography
Intent statement
At Medmerry, Geography is underpinned by the intent that children are connected to their own learning. We develop children’s core knowledge of Geography and inspire a curiosity to discover the World and its people. At the heart of our Geography curriculum is the children’s sense of place and the core skills such as compass work, map reading and the use of electronic navigation tools.
Children explore human and physical geography to deepen their understanding of where they live, how and why places have developed and how it compares to other places in the world. Children are taught to collaborate together, challenge their own geographical thinking and problem-solve, using fieldwork and topic work to maximise this. The Selsey peninsula is a unique area of geographical importance with Medmerry Nature Reserve and local beaches on our doorstep. We continue to explore ways of connecting with the local environment as well as engaging with worldwide geographical topics to develop lifelong geographers who have the skills and attitudes to continue to appreciate the world around them.
MfL - Spanish
Intent statement
At Medmerry Primary school we believe that the learning of a foreign language provides our pupils with an invaluable experience in education, social and cultural terms. It gives children the opportunity to connect with different cultures, collaborate with each other as they practice conversations in Spanish and challenge themselves as they tackle the academic challenge of learning an additional language.
Medmerry Primary School intends to use the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes.
Aims
- To foster a love of learning other languages.
- To develop children’s speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
- To develop children’s understanding of different cultures.
- To lay the foundation for future study of languages in Key Stage Three.
Music
Intent statement
At Medmerry Primary School we encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children regardless of their ability or background. We develop a firm understanding of what music is in a progressive way over both key stages through singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Children develop descriptive skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent feelings and emotions. We teach them the disciplined skills of recognising pulse and pitch and develop the children’s ability to sing in tune with an awareness of others. We teach the children how to work with others to compose music and perform for an audience. The progressive set of key skills and knowledge link closely to the National curriculum and teachers will mainly follow the Charanga scheme of work for music.
RSHE
Intent Statement
Here at Medmerry, we will follow the Jigsaw scheme of work which is closely linked to the government’s statutory guidance. We will aim to deliver and teach Relationships and Health Education for all regardless of background or ability. RSHE will be taught to those children in an age appropriate way so they gain the knowledge and understanding of how and why their body changes as they grow up and later experience puberty. Although a programme of work is followed, teaching staff will be flexible and adapt the content to suit the needs of their class at the time of teaching and learning. We refer to these lessons as 'Life Skills' in school.
Through high quality teaching, pupils will explore six key themes across the year. These themes will be taught by each year group in the same half term meaning that children throughout the school are united at each point of development. The themes we cover are:
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
We enhance our Life Skills and relationships curriculum through:
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Jigsaw information leaflet for parents and carers
R.E.
Intent Statement
At Medmerry Primary school we believe that Religious Education (RE) is an important part of a child’s education as it enables them to develop their own beliefs and values. Whether or not they are from a religious tradition, it also contributes towards their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Furthermore, it has an important role to play in developing the British values of mutual respect and tolerance.
At Medmerry Primary School, our children gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews; these include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism, as well as considering the beliefs of those that are not religious. This knowledge enables them to develop into informed, responsible, respectful and compassionate members of our diverse society. Additionally, our curriculum aims to give children opportunities to reflect on challenging questions about the meaning of life, beliefs about God, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It allows children to recognise both similarities and differences within and between religions and to develop respect for others who may hold different beliefs to their own.
Ofsted (2021) states that, ‘RE is vital in preparing pupils to engage in a diverse and complex multi-religious society’.
At Medmerry Primary School we believe the subject gives our children valuable insights into the diverse beliefs & opinions held by people today. It encourages them both to respect and value their own beliefs and the beliefs and values of others.