Curriculum Overview

'At the very heart of education sits the vast accumulated wealth of human knowledge and what we choose to impart to the next generation: the curriculum. Without curriculum, a building full of teachers, leaders and pupils is not a school. Without receiving knowledge, pupils have learned nothing, and no progress has been made.’^[1]

Our Ignite Curriculum

Click the image below to see our full curriculum:

Aims

Our Curriculum aims to:

• Impart wisdom to pupils: knowledge of the world in which they live; experiences to make sense of it; and the confidence to make judgement on what they see
• Inspire young minds to keep learning, sharing a deep and meaningful foundation of knowledge that stimulates curiosity and inquisitiveness
• Show pupils how their knowledge can be creatively applied to help them lead more fulfilling lives and influence our changing world for the better
• Equip pupils with the skills that will give them the confidence and resilience to shape their own path through life
• Create future citizens who have the courage to engage with major global challenges such as the environment, community cohesion, and ethical decision-making

Rationale

A high-quality education, built around a rich curriculum, is a matter of social justice. Our young people have a right to experience the best, and to be given the opportunity to make their own contribution to the continual reshaping of our civilization and their world. It is up to us to be the champions of young people’s hopes, talent and ideas. Thought and care has gone into how to build rich and deep learning at The John Wallis Church of England Academy. We view curriculum development as a relentless and ever-searching quest into the question of:

What should children be learning about and how will this content - and the effective teaching of it - improve the education and life of children?

There has been a dual focus on what children should be learning and how best it should be taught. Considerable consideration has been given to both.

In making decisions about what should be taught, we have ensured that the curriculum covers all entitlements of the National Curriculum as well as drawing on elements of exceptional practice from the UK and beyond, to embody ‘the very best of what has been thought and said’. However, the content is rendered useless if the quality of teaching is weak. We invest heavily in supporting our teachers with curriculum delivery, to develop a pedagogy of repertoire, evidence and principle, as:  Good teaching makes a difference. Excellent teaching transforms lives.