School Vision & Ethos

School Ethos

At the heart of the school is the individual child. It is our fundamental task to enable each child in our care to develop to their fullest potential. We encourage all learners, of all capabilities, to achieve the highest standards in work, behaviour and presentation.

School Vision

Our school’s vision keeps children at the heart of everything we do, as we work together providing an education which will prepare them as lifelong learners, ready to overcome life’s challenges as they journey into the big, wide world. Our vision is centred around the CHILD: 

Culture & community           

Healthy mind & body

Individual excellence

Lifelong learners

Determination

Curriculum Statement

Intent

We have 5 clear aims which are inextricably intertwined with our school vision and ethos.

 Through our curriculum we intend to help our children in the following areas:

C – Culture & Community: We want our children to be citizens of the world and be valued members of their communities.

H – Healthy Bodies & Minds: We want our children to be mentally and physically healthy, ready to learn and flourish in all areas of their life.

I – Individual Excellence: We want all of our children to achieve their full potential and will set high expectations for all to help them do so.

L – Lifelong Learners: We want our children to be able to take the skills they learn here and apply them to the rest of their lives, with a desire to continue learning.

D – Determination: We want our children to be resilient in the face of adversity and to never give up.

The curriculum at Hutton Rudby Primary School is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that is inclusive of the needs of all pupils and gives them the skills, knowledge and understanding to prepare them for life’s journey.

It ensures that academic success, as well as physical and mental development and health and well-being are key elements that support the development of the whole child and promote a positive attitude to learning, giving them the skills and drive to continue learning long into the future.

We recognise our role in developing children’s sense of community and the associated skills and attitudes to become valued citizens of the future, in a safe and nurturing environment.

We aim to increase our children’s levels of determination and resilience, allowing them to flourish as they grow older.

The aim of our curriculum is for pupils to have the necessary skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education, and that the children are prepared for their futures.

The curriculum celebrates diversity and values all children with dignity.

We encourage children to be confident and enthusiastic learners and enable them to take risks.

Within a climate of high expectation and challenge, all children are guided, supported and inspired to fulfil their true potential, emotionally, physically, spiritually and intellectually, both during their time at school and in their life ahead.

Implementation

At Hutton Rudby Primary School, we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through each Key Stage.

The areas of learning have been designed to complement and build on one another with clear progression and links so that in subsequent year groups, children will be able to explore concepts deeper, applying their knowledge in different contexts.

We recognise the changing needs and interests of our pupils and we are responsive to this, regularly developing existing topics.

Starting in EYFS, all children develop their phonic knowledge through the ‘Little Wandle’ phonics programme and develop their word fluency through regular reading. By following this programme with rigor and fidelity, this allows the children to feel secure in their learning and confident to embrace new learning.

All staff take responsibility for areas of subject leadership and inexperienced staff shadow more experienced to help them develop professionally. Staff are encouraged to attend appropriate CPD and experienced staff provide training for teachers and TAs.

Themed days and weeks, as well as other enrichment activities are key to the curriculum design.

Subject leaders monitor lessons and offer advice, support and guidance to further improve the standard of teaching and learning in the school. Subject leaders visit classes to observe lessons, they monitor the work in books and spend time talking to the children about their learning. The school regularly receives feedback from the children through pupil voice questionnaires and conversations.

Children who find aspects of their learning more difficult are appropriately supported so that they too are enabled to experience success, whilst the more able children are supported with increasingly challenging work designed to enrich their learning.

The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and their understanding of the core values of our school, are embedded within the curriculum and through themed days. 

In our curriculum, whilst skills are sequentially planned and taught, adaptations are regularly made based on the needs of the children which arise through quality assessment, and the interests of the children which arise over the course of a term / year.

In English, children experience lessons on grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting. 

The Mathematics curriculum is split into two parts: Arithmetic and Reasoning.

Typically, in KS1 this is verbal focussing on key knowledge, whilst in KS2 it is typically 15-20 minutes focussing on basic skills.

We want our children to become fluent in the fundamentals of Mathematics, through varied and frequent practise with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately. Our mathematics curriculum is based on the National Curriculum whereby basic skills and key knowledge sessions are taught. 

Each child from Year 2-6 has a maths.co.uk and Times Tables Rockstars account in which they can hone their fluency skills and practise their mental-maths.

English and mathematics are taught in mixed ability groups. In all year groups, there are small group keep up session put in place, in order to support pupils in gaining the key skills to become successful readers, writers and mathematicians with an emphasis on quality first teaching. Keep up sessions take place at appropriate times during the day to help children who need additional support in achieving a goal. Keep up groups are flexible and aim to help children make rapid progress to bridge any gaps in their learning and achieve their goals. 

Sports coaches support physical education. There is a comprehensive programme of tournaments that all children are able to participate in throughout their time at school. 

Following our school vision, physical education is prioritised in our school, from yoga to rugby.

All subject leaders are given training, time and opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.

Themed weeks, whole school activities and opportunities within and outside school all enrich and develop the children’s learning. 

The outdoor environment and the local community are considered an opportunity for active learning for all our pupils. The school grounds provide opportunities to enrich different curriculum areas, particularly science and geography.

Pupils have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through performances, competitions and events involving other schools.

We have a Twitter page where children’s learning and successes are celebrated regularly.

Impact

From their own starting points, children make excellent progress academically, socially, mentally and physically, developing a sense of community so that they are well prepared for the next stage in their life journey.

All of our children have the skills, knowledge and understanding to be successful and demonstrate individual excellence in all that they choose to do. Children leave Hutton Rudby Primary School confident and dignified individuals, with a desire to continue learning and a deep respect for others, which is embedded through their behaviour and them as citizens of the future. They have the belief and determination to overcome the biggest challenges.