Curriculum design

At Ark Conway Primary Academy we have a rich and diverse curriculum that inspires our pupils to achieve excellence and motivates them to aim high, both inside and outside the classroom.

Our curriculum:

• is focused upon high standards in mathematics, reading and writing
• is also broad and balanced, with plenty of opportunities for enrichment
• inspires pupils and stimulates their imagination
• is progressive, ensuring continuity from Reception to Year 6
• provides a firm foundation for pupils' educational journey through secondary school and beyond
• is relevant to all of our pupils and our community
• is accessible to all pupils
• is underpinned by outstanding teaching and supported by innovative technology
• encourages pupils to make positive contributions to society

We believe if it’s worth teaching at all, it’s worth teaching well!

Our curriculum is designed according to four core principles:

Contribution
We want all our pupils to know that their opinions are valued and their contributions valid. Staff encourage pupils to actively participate in discussions so that they feel ownership over their learning and build on one another’s knowledge and understanding. Beyond the classroom, we encourage our pupils and staff to contribute to society at a local level. Through both our curriculum and community projects, we teach children that becoming a model citizen means not only creating success for yourself but making positive contributions to the wider world and enriching the lives of others.

Challenge
We set aspirational goals for all our pupils and believe all pupils should excel and achieve exceptional outcomes. Teaching staff integrate challenge and stretch into the curriculum through questioning, pupil-led learning, in-depth activities and challenging tasks. Pupils are encouraged by those around them to adopt a positive or ‘Growth’ mindset, whereby regular challenge and struggle is seen as a integral part of one’s learning journey.

Curiosity
Fostering curiosity is at the heart of the Conway Curriculum. We want Conway students to become architects of their own knowledge; our curriculum contains many opportunities for independent thought and practice. To spark our pupils’ curiosity for the learning ahead, each half term begins with a ‘Wonder Day’ where pupils are introduced to their new topic through a day of immersive activities such as dance, crafts, roleplay and research.

Diversity
Our principles of inclusion and diversity are woven into the everyday learning of our pupils. Our curriculum equips our young people with a sense of identity, as well as the tools to be successful in a diverse landscape. Children should see themselves reflected in the teachings of our curriculum, and they are taught to show respect for all and to embrace opportunities to learn about those who are different to themselves. As a school, we are continually looking for ways to expand the inclusivity and diversity of the curriculum to ensure every pupil feels truly valued.

We carefully monitor the impact of our curriculum in the following ways:

• Academic – frequent informal classroom assessment and feedback, together with termly assessments of all content, enabling staff to track pupil progress and adapt their teaching to meet pupils' needs
• Social – a whole-school focus on wellbeing supported by termly 1:1 pupil conversations, together with whole-school surveys, initiatives and events
• Community – feedback from community members we work alongside, together with reflections from our pupils about their community interactions