Curriculum Summary
Preparing for a Curriculum for Wales September 2023
A school curriculum is everything that pupils experience at school.
While preparing to introduce the new curriculum we have been listening to the voice of stakeholders. Our curriculum belongs to the learners, parents, staff, governors and the school's wider community.
Here is a taste of what members of the school community contributed to the creation of our curriculum:
Pupil voice is key in the design process and we continuously collaborate with learners in order to prepare an exciting, challenging and relevant curriculum. We consider ideas about how the wider school community can contribute to our learning journey in order to enrich pupils' experiences. Developing our curriculum is an ongoing process ensuring it is relevant and appropriate for our learners.
We have been leading and training staff in order to ensure confidence and innovation when planning a curriculum that promotes our vision, and we continue to conduct whole school training on the principles of teaching the Curriculum for Wales. Our staff have taken advantage of county and national networks and training. Leaders have been monitoring and evaluating the progress made in introducing a Curriculum for Wales and planning the next steps.
The Essence of Learning
The 4 Purposes
In the document 'Successful Futures' 4 purposes of Curriculum for Wales are outlined. These were adopted as our values in the school. These are our aspirations for all learners, and the objectives that guide us as we plan our provision. Our 'curriculum' includes all the learning experiences and assessment activities designed to achieve the four purposes of the curriculum, which are to develop children and young people to be:
ambitious, capable learners who are ready to learn throughout their lives
enterprising, creative contributors who are ready to play a full part in life and work
ethical, informed citizens, who are ready to be citizens of Wales and the world
healthy, confident individuals who are ready to live life realizing their aspirations as valued members of society.
When aiming for the 4 purposes, pupils should be given opportunities to develop creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, personal effectiveness and the ability to plan and organise.
Inclusive Curriculum
We are determined to ensure an inclusive curriculum that is accessible to all pupils and responds to the new additional learning needs code. All our staff will commit to ensuring an innovative curriculum structure to meet the needs of learners of different ages, abilities and talents which takes into account pupils' additional learning needs.
Our Curriculum in action
Our intention is to ensure that pupils leave us skilled in Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Competence in line with the national frameworks.
We have a responsibility to motivate and engage pupils in their learning in order to give them the best opportunity to make progress. We do this by offering a broad and balanced curriculum which focuses on developing what is important under six areas of learning and experience namely:
- Expressive Arts
- Humanities
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- Health and Wellbeing
- Language, Literacy and Communication
- Science and Technology
We study cross-curricularly, interweaving experiences, knowledge and skills from the six areas of Learning and experience.
In addition the Curriculum of Ysgol Penrhyn-coch and Ysgol Penllwyn will include provision for:
- teaching and learning Religion, Values and Ethics to those learners in Year 1 and above in accordance with the requirements of Curriculum for Wales.
- teaching and learning that is in line with the Relationship and Sexuality Education Code, and doing this in a way that is developmentally appropriate
- diversity, including local, national and International contexts
- careers education and experiences related to the world of work.
- promote knowledge and understanding of rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child