Curriculum and Cultural Capital at Sudbourne Primary School

What does Cultural Capital mean at Sudbourne Primary School

At Sudbourne our broad and balanced curriculum is designed to ignite and embed a love of life-long learning. 

We want our pupils to be resilient, independent thinkers, who are able to question the world around them, from their confidence within subjects they have studied, as well as the disciplines they have developed and mastered. 

We aim for them to leave with a range of exciting dreams and aspirations for their personal success - that include being kind to others, with a strong sense of integrity, as they continue to strive to become the best version of themselves.

We constantly review and evaluate our curriculum coverage to ensure that topics remain relevant and current issues can be included. Subject leaders guarantee our curriculum offer is reflected in all subjects, where learning is contextualised and linked to pupils’ interests and experiences.

We place reading at the heart of our pupil’s academic development, using ReadWrite Inc in the development of strong early reading behaviours. The enjoyment of reading is nurtured through the use of a range of high-quality texts that are meaningful and relatable - to inspire and enthuse learning.  Our ‘Teach Through Text’ approach to writing ensures children are exposed to rich, high-quality texts that reflect the diversity of our pupils. Through the use of the Literacy Tree scheme - children are given the tools to become critical readers and acquire an authorial style of writing.

In mathematics strong emphasis is based on concrete physical experiences first, before pictorial and then abstract learning takes place.  We endeavour to continue to develop our mastery approaches in the teaching of mathematics allowing children to evolve a deep conceptual understanding of Maths, within real-life contents, wherever possible. Vocabulary is explicitly taught in every lesson to allow pupils to share mathematical reasoning and explain understanding.  

Our Reading, Writing and Foundation subject curriculum in KS2, and foundation subject curriculum in KS1 are planned and taught according to a two year cycle arrangement.  This ensures sequenced objectives are delivered in a series of units, that allow pupils to develop subject specific knowledge and skills term by term, across a two year period. 

Each discrete unit contains composite objectives that are arranged across consecutive years groups, Nursery and Reception: EYFS, Y1-Y2: Phase 1, Y3-Y4: Phase 2  and Y5-Y6: Phase 3.

These subject areas follow a strong, sequenced progression of knowledge and skills, underpinned by the teaching of subject specific vocabulary, using a diverse array of cultural reference points, that relate to our pupils' known experiences. Children are clear about the skills and knowledge they are developing in each distinct subject, and the links between other subject areas, to embed deep learning outcomes.  Children are taught each subject every week in a strong sequence of lessons so that they receive sustained opportunities to embed new knowledge and skills, rehearse, recall, and embed and secure them into their long-term memory. Using and applying activities are planned towards the end of units to allow pupils to showcase skills and celebrate outcomes with other pupils, teachers and parents. 

EYFS is focused on outdoor, child-initiated activities based around observed interests from pupils, where wellington boots - allowing them access in all weathers. Awe and wonder, excitement and enjoyment is what we generate through our wide range of free flow activities. Storytelling, role play areas and opportunities to free-write are some of the examples of how we ensure our early learners develop independent communication and language skills as soon as possible. Strong emphasis is also placed on physical development: gross motor strength and balance are recognised as the vital prerequisite for secure fine motor development, in readiness for pencil grip development. 

PE opportunities are rich and diverse, where children are taught via specialists in a range of sports including Yoga and Cricket.  Our music provision has included whole class steel pan tuition, ukulele lessons as well as whole school singing assemblies.  Peripatetic music lessons will resume in a range of instruments, once facilities on our new site allow. Our termly musical performances give a rich opportunity for pupils to share and celebrate their developing expertise and unique talents in specifically designed events.

We deliver an extensive enrichment curriculum: a wide range of local and London based trips to galleries and museums, culminating in a residential journey to the south of England, where pupils participate in large scale outdoor activities, whilst camping. Sports team events support talent in local inter-school football leagues. 

Alongside the core curriculum offer, we deliver a bespoke life-skills curriculum for SEND pupils, outdoor learning opportunities - fire making and opportunities to plant and grow vegetables. Our extra-curricular provision ensures all pupil interests are catered for – offering in excess of twenty different clubs to choose from – that range from Ballet to Rock Climbing, all delivered by highly qualified specialists. 

Sudbourne pupils love coming to school and will happily talk to visitors about their learning. They are passionate about children’s rights and demonstrate these in all that they do. Our pupils engage with all lessons and share an overwhelming culture of respect within the school, both during learning and at play.

Parents are incredibly supportive of the school, particularly with dress up days, home learning projects and fundraising events – such as termly community cake sales, competitions and fairs. We are very fortunate to have such a strong, supportive community and utilise this to provide opportunities for pupils to learn life skills via enterprise initiatives – such as the grow a pound competition and class fundraising stalls at the summer fair. We routinely invite parents to share their specialised expertise, for example in art and design workshops days and science weeks to inspire our pupils further career aspirations.