Our School Vision

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118 

 

Our Curriculum Vision - Our Intent

At Finchampstead School, we have designed a curriculum  that equips our children for the real world and ensures their wider development. Our key question has been: ‘How can we make sure our PSHE curriculum is planned to meet our own pupils’ needs? Our small school values the close relationships that we are able to make with our families which help us ‘know’ the children and understand where they have come from and what their experiences have been and are likely to be.

Our intention is that when children leave Finchampstead School, supported by our school values and Christian ethos, they will do so with the knowledge, understanding and emotions to be able to play an active, positive and successful role in today’s diverse society. We want our children to have high aspirations and a belief in themselves supported by our core learning concepts of readiness, resilience, respect, responsibility and resourcefulness (the 5Rs.) In an ever–changing world, it is important that they are aware, to an appropriate level, of different factors which will affect their world and that they learn how to deal with these so that they have good mental health and well-being.

Our PSHE curriculum is planned to develop learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge and skills which will enable children to access the wider curriculum and prepare them to be a local and global citizen now and in their future roles within a local and global community. It promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences for later life. We are able to to draw on our close links with St James Church to also support the children. Our Relationships and Sex Education enables our children to learn how to be safe, and to understand and develop healthy relationships, both now and in their future lives.

We recognise that a vital feature of a well implemented curriculum is for knowledge and skills to be learnt and then  revisited . Therefore, regular, planned lessons, taught each week , form a central part of our curriculum design. Furthermore, we value delivery by teachers who feel confident to teach PSHE well through quality CPD and resources. As a consequence, we have followed guidance from the PSHE Association to structure and plan our scheme of learning to ensure that all statutory aspects of this important subject are covered, bringing together the latest advice and an invaluable resource library.

The statutory guidance is comprehensively covered by learning opportunities for each key stage across our three core themes: ‘Health and Wellbeing’, ‘Relationships’, and ‘Living in the Wider World’. Wherever possible, all of the objectives from these three core areas have been taken and planned into the termly curriculum jigsaw for each class to ensure that it makes sense within the context of the children’s learning at that time, being part of a learning ‘concept’ that connects that term’s subjects, and even with previous learning.

The aim of all of this is to have a positive impact on our pupils, be it academically, socially or personally. By being proactive rather than reactive, we can ensure that our children are prepared for life now and also for their next steps. By the time our children leave our school they will:

• be able to approach a range of real life situations and apply their skills and attributes to help navigate themselves through modern life
• be on their way to becoming healthy, open minded, respectful, socially and morally responsible, active members of society
• appreciate difference and diversity
• recognise and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty
• be  able to understand and manage their emotions
• be able to look after their mental health and well-being
• be able to develop positive, healthy relationship with their peers both now and in the future.
•  understand the physical aspects involved in RSE at an age appropriate level
•  have respect for themselves and others.
•  have a positive self esteem