Curriculum

The World Is Our Curriculum

Young children are naturally curious about the world around them. They are hard-wired to explore, question and learn from what they see and experience. There is so much to discover, and children often notice details and ask questions that adults overlook. This natural curiosity is a powerful motivator for learning, and one we aim to harness at every opportunity.

At our school, we strive to create a spirit of enquiry, where learning is driven by meaningful questions - posed by both children and teachers. Questions give learning purpose and direction. Through them, children acquire the knowledge and skills needed to explore ideas across the curriculum, whether through hands-on, practical experiences or more formal academic study. Invitational learning encourages children to bring their own interests, experiences and ideas into their learning, strengthening engagement and ownership. We believe that when children understand the purpose of their learning - and especially when that purpose is to answer their own questions - they learn most effectively.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is rooted in the 2014 National Curriculum, which aims to provide pupils with “the best that has been thought and said” and the essential knowledge needed to become educated citizens. The National Curriculum is ambitious and broad, and we seek to enrich it through high-quality, memorable learning experiences that inspire curiosity and ambition.

We aim to develop the whole child, enabling success across a wide range of areas including academic, physical, moral, spiritual, emotional and creative development. Our curriculum is designed to ensure that every child has the knowledge, understanding and skills required to thrive in their next stage of education and beyond.

In addition to academic attainment, we place strong emphasis on developing social skills, positive learning behaviours, resilience, work ethic and healthy attitudes. We know that confident, happy children with a strong sense of self-worth are more likely to grow into confident, fulfilled adults. Our curriculum is carefully structured to promote progression, deepen understanding, and ensure that knowledge and skills across subjects complement and reinforce one another.

Enhancing Learning Through Science

At Wicor, we add further value through an enhanced science curriculum that includes environmental science, natural history and horticulture. We choose these areas because children have an innate connection to the natural world, a deep curiosity to understand it, and a strong sense of awe and wonder about the environment and the wildlife that surrounds them.

Feedback from parents highlights the lasting impact of this approach, with many children inspired to take action beyond the classroom—digging vegetable beds, improving recycling habits, or organising beach-clean initiatives. Children speak enthusiastically about their learning and are motivated to explore their interests further at home and in their communities.

As Amanda Spielman (Ofsted, 2018) states:
  “A rich web of knowledge is what provides the capacity for pupils to learn even more and develop their understanding. This does not preclude the importance of skill. Knowledge and skill are intrinsically linked: skill is a performance built on what a person knows.”

Teaching and Learning Approaches

As part of our curriculum design, some subjects are taught in an integrated way through modules, which may last from a few days to several weeks. Subjects that lend themselves particularly well to integrated learning include science, history, geography, and art and design. The decision to integrate or teach subjects discretely remains with the teacher, ensuring flexibility while maintaining subject integrity.

We are committed to maintaining subject rigour within integrated modules so that key disciplinary knowledge and skills are clearly defined and taught. At the same time, aspects of discrete subjects—such as data handling in mathematics or the reading of information texts—can be meaningfully applied within modules to deepen understanding and context.

Other subjects are taught discretely in structured units, including mathematics, music, physical education, computing, design technology, personal, social and health education (PSHE), phonics, and aspects of reading. This approach is often guided by timetabling considerations or the need to follow established schemes of learning.

We believe teachers add significant value when they are able to be creative in their teaching—drawing on their strengths, interests and current events. Revisiting and applying content throughout the year and across key stages strengthens retrieval, reinforces learning and supports the development of long-term memory.

For more detailed information about individual subjects, please refer to the Subject Information section, available via the button below.

Our curriculum not only meets the requirements of the National Curriculum (September 2014) but also offers a broader and richer range of learning opportunities and experiences. It is designed to be fully accessible to all children, regardless of ethnic background, gender, disability, or religious or linguistic heritage.

We are committed to meeting the needs of every learner, including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, those with higher levels of attainment, and children who are learning English as an additional language.

For detailed information about each year group’s curriculum, please refer to the Annual Curriculum Overviews available via the button below.