At High Meadow, we are proud of our school curriculum and the opportunities it provides. It has been created collaboratively, with subject co-ordinators, informed teachers and senior leadership.

Our primary curriculum is designed to provide a rich and comprehensive educational experience that nurtures the intellectual, social, and emotional development of our students. Our curriculum is rooted in the latest research and best practices, and it is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of our pupils.

Our intent is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning by delivering a carefully sequenced and coherent curriculum that focuses on essential concepts, knowledge, skills, and principles of each subject. Our curriculum is based on a clear vision for successful learning, incorporating the national curriculum within a broader framework that ensures coherence and progression.

We revisit key ideas over time, drawing explicit connections between new content and core concepts and principles. We provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to different contexts, helping them develop a deep understanding and the ability to transfer their learning across disciplines. We develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, while also ensuring a strong foundation in core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, and foundation subjects.

Furthermore, we recognize the importance of literacy in accessing the curriculum. Our curriculum includes explicit teaching of reading, writing, and vocabulary, specific to each subject area. We prioritise early reading, including systematic synthetic phonics, to ensure that students have the foundational skills necessary for success in all subjects. We also promote reading for pleasure and through various class reading approaches and exposure to high-quality texts.

Fluency is another key focus of our curriculum. We provide tasks that help students securely learn key ideas and use strategies such as retrieval and spaced practice to build automatic recall of crucial knowledge. We believe that developing fluency is essential for students to confidently engage with and apply their learning.

Our curriculum is designed to foster a positive school culture where students feel engaged and motivated to learn. We provide a range of opportunities for students to actively participate in their learning, encouraging their curiosity and creativity. We also value collaboration and ensure that our curriculum reflects diverse perspectives and experiences.

We strive to empower our students to thrive academically and become lifelong learners who are prepared for future success. The design of our curriculum provides our students with a rich and meaningful education that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed in their academic and future, personal lives.

We believe that our wonderful curriculum makes High Meadow a great place to learn.  Carefully selected teaching pedagogy ensures that all children, regardless of their strengths and differences, know that High Meadow is the place where they can contribute, where they can be heard, where they belong: growing together, every day, in every way.

At High Meadow Community School we believe that childhood should be a happy, investigative and enquiring time in our lives where there are no limits to curiosity and there is a thirst for new experiences and knowledge. Reflecting these beliefs, our curriculum is designed to:

• Be challenging, inspirational, thought provoking and empowering: We know that this helps children to become lifelong learners

• Be full of first hand learning experiences: We know that is how children learn best

• Be respectful of children’s prior learning: We will start from where the children are ‘at’

• Be equitable and inclusive: We will address disadvantage and provide equality of opportunity for all

• Be progressively developing children’s core skills and knowledge: We know that mastery of the curriculum is key

• Be research led and proven: We will base our teaching and learning on the EEF Teaching Toolkit recommendations alongside our creativity

• Be language rich: We recognise that language and reading have a powerful impact on everything

Our school curriculum is built on rigour and the latest educational research. It is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning and employment. Furthermore, our curriculum intentions are underpinned by a Learning Culture which empowers children to become responsible for their own learning.

These are called our Learning Powers!

• We are kind
  We respect and value all living things
• We are curious
  We always want to know more
• We are ambitious
  We want to be the best ‘we’
• We are creative
  Problem solving needs creative minds
• We are resilient
  Making mistakes helps us learn new things
• We are hard working
  We take pride in all we do
• We are independent
  It helps us be proud of our achievements
• We are brave
  We take safe risks

Maths Mastery In 2018 we began work with the National Centre for Excellence on the Teaching of Mathematics. (NCETM) and our local maths hub to participate in a mastery specialist development programme. We are now in the 2nd year of this high quality CPD.

English Hub In order to ensure that we continually evaluate our English Curriculum, and keep up to date with the latest research, we engage with high quality professional development training through the English Hub. 

Storytelling We are an internationally accredited Storytelling school. We use this oral strategy to develop children’s reading and writing skills.

Forest Schools We began Forest Schools in 2015. Forest Schools is an inspirational experience which uses our school based woodland environment as a tool to develop children’s emotional, personal, physical and social skills. Every child in our school participates in Forest School learning during the school year.

To ensure that provide

• Cross curricular topics allowing links to be made across all learning
• Inspiration Days and subject specific learning weeks including: Take One Picture, Maths Week, Arts Week, Dress to Express and much more
• Trips out of school, local and further afield
• Visitors including artists, people from a range of faiths, NSPCC, etc

At the start of each new terms we dedicate time to 'Learning to Learn'.  During these weeks, teachers address the needs of High Meadow pupils by:

• Creating a calm, collaborative classroom environment
• Teaching children to safeguard themselves through Protective Behaviour work
• Teaching, through practice, and whole-school  'Relentless Routines'
• Reinforcing our ethos, rules and values
• Teaching behaviour expectations
• Promoting our High Meadow reading culture
• Setting the culture and boundaries of PSHE routines
• Setting expectations for presentation in books including handwriting
• Conducting a range of 'Assessment for Learning' activities to inform planning of topics in response to need and interests of class
• Teaching of some Maths objectives to allow for effective retrieval practice throughout the year
• Teaching Learning Behaviours and High Meadow Language for Learning

The children also review and set their learning targets during this time.

During their time at High Meadow, every child will experience one of our memorable moments. This may be linked to a curriculum area, or a 'one off' moment.

1. Learn how to play a musical instrument
2. Participate in regular Forest School activities
3. Interact and learn from real authors and poets
4. Grow, tend and nurture a range of plants
5. Actively recycle and re-use waste
6. Take part in live performances
7. Experience live music and theatre
8. Visit a Mosque, Temple and Church
9. Meet and welcome people of different faiths and beliefs
10. Have a piece of artwork displayed
11. Participate in a variety of sporting activities
12. Organise and independently attend regular fundraising events for school
13. Be immersed in stories and books at all times
14. Engage in a range of dressing up activities
15. Participate in an activity by the RSC
16. Visit an Art Gallery
17. Visit a farm
18. Participate in an outdoor adventurous activity
19. Help organise an event to raise money for charity
20. Learn how to stay road and fire safe
21. Learn basic First Aid
22. Interact and learn from members of our local community
23. Interact with and program robots
24. Learn how to practice ‘mindfulness’
25. Celebrate National Festivals
26. Receive a new story book at least twice a year
27. Create memorable moments for our mums, dads and carers
28. Work with a variety of artists
29. Watch chicks hatch out of eggs and care for them
30. Visit historical buildings