Curriculum

Curriculum Intent

At Cranbrook Education Campus, we believe our curriculum should support the development of aspiring, well-rounded, lifelong learners in line with our Vision and Values. To do this our curriculum is:

Knowledge rich – containing the key knowledge for all subject areas. Pupils use knowledge organisers from Key Stage 2 that contain key information for each topic to self-quiz and improve what is stored in their long-term memory.
Culturally diverse – full of cultural capital with a specific focus on vocabulary development and being politically informed.
Geographically relevant – linked to local, national and international topics to help create a sense of place and belonging with a focus on British Values.
Fun and exciting – lessons are engaging, creative, energetic, active and fluid
Rigorous and aspirational – providing challenge and clear feedback on how to improve.
Linked to life skills – a focus on financial awareness, health and nutrition, being physically and mentally healthy, environmentally conscious and confident about sex and relationships.
Supportive of character development – supports personal development, a love for learning and a growth mind-set
Curiosity driven – providing opportunities for exploration, problem solving and working scientifically
Contextually informed – personalised to meet the specific needs of pupils.

Curriculum Implementation

Children in our Early Years Phase (Nursery and Reception) follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS). The EYFS Curriculum has seven main areas of learning;

The Prime Areas-

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication and Language
Physical development

The Specific areas-

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive Arts and Design

Our youngest children in Nursery focus on our three Prime Areas, with the Specific Areas given a more equal weighting as children get older and gain more experience and confidence. We work alongside children individually, in small groups, as a whole class base, but mainly through our “continuous provision” learning activities, which are planned to encourage children to develop their learning independently through exploration and challenge. Children in our Early Years phase and are encouraged to have fun, explore and investigate during their learning, and develop independence and confidence to prepare them for a wider curriculum as they move through the school.

The “Characteristics of Effective Learning” are at the heart of the Early Years Curriculum and explore the different ways in which children learn. They highlight the importance of playing and learning, active learning and thinking critically. All the learning experiences we plan for the children allow them to utilise and develop these skills.

A practical, playful approach to learning, based on the needs and interests of our children, is delivered mainly through a skills based curriculum. This skills based learning approach to the curriculum focuses on planning and providing opportunities for learning based on the skills and next steps which are relevant to both individual and groups of children, and we review this regularly, ensuring children are taught with a “stage not age” approach. This allows children to make rapid progress at a level appropriate to them as an individual. We follow the principles of “The Curiosity Approach” where we use real and authentic resources to promote a sense of awe, wonder and discovery whilst enabling children to develop these skills.

Our learning environments, both inside and outside, are stimulating and exciting, and relevant to the needs and age/stage of our children. Natural backing and resources promote a calm atmosphere conducive to learning, whilst easily accessible resources develop children’s ability to access the curriculum independently.

EYFS curriculum overview

All Through (KS1 – KS4 – Year 1 – Year 11)

Curriculum Intent

Curriculum Implementation

All Through (KS1 – KS4 – Year 1 – Year 11)

Primary Curriculum

Secondary Curriculum

Subject Maps