Please click on the link below to read our Curriculum Rationale.
Curriculum-Rationale-May-2022.pdf
The Foundation Phase Curriculum
The Foundation Phase in all Infant classes ensures a high adult to pupil ratio. It focuses on the holistic development of children.
The Foundation Phase places great emphasis on children learning by doing. Young children will be given more opportunities to gain first hand experiences through play and active involvement rather than by completing exercises in books. They will be given time to develop their speaking and listening skills and to become confident in their reading and writing abilities.
Mathematics will be more practical so that children can see how problems are solved and how important mathematics is in their everyday lives. There will be more emphasis on children understanding how things work and on finding different ways to solve problems.
The curriculum will focus on experiential learning, active involvement and developing each child’s:
- Skills and understanding.
- Positive attitudes to learning so that they enjoy it and want to continue.
- Self-esteem and self-confidence to experiment, investigate, learn new things and form new relationships.
- Creative, expressive and observational skills to encourage their development as individuals with different ways of responding to experiences.
- Activities in the outdoors where they have first-hand experience of solving real-life problems and learn about conservation and sustainability.
This framework sets out the curriculum under seven Areas of Learning. For each area the programme sets out what the children should be taught and the outcomes set out expected standards of children’s performance.
Key Stage 2
The children study the following subjects:
English, Mathematics, Sciences, Geography, History, Technology, Information Technology, Welsh, Art, Music, Physical Education, (P.E) Religious Education (R.E) and Personal and Social Education. (P.S.E)
There is a strong emphasis within the school on the teaching of skills through these subjects.
English
English is a core subject, which develops pupils’ abilities to communicate effectively in speech and writing and to listen and read with understanding. To ensure parents are involved in the development of their children’s reading, a home school reading record booklet is provided. All parents are encouraged to write regularly in it.
Mathematics
Mathematics is a core subject of the National Curriculum for all pupils. In Brynteg C.P. School we encourage the children to develop a positive attitude towards mathematical processes. The children are given opportunities to develop mental strategies and apply their knowledge and skills to real life problems that occur in many other areas of the curriculum.
Science
Science is a core subject it builds upon their knowledge and understanding of the world that they begin to study when they come to nursery.
A Focus on Literacy
Many initiatives have taken place to support the development of literacy these have included years 4 and 5 working with poet Mandy Coe, years 1 and 2 with author Rob Lewis, years 5 and 6 with author Jennie Dodd, Junior 3’s A Play for a Day and performances from the Bitesize Theatre Company.
Year 3 and 4 pupils benefited from a literacy course at The Racecourse organised by the Community Foundation. The event was launched by the author Tom Palmer. They then took part in a reading lesson/quiz with a penalty shootout, ground tour and coaching activities at Glyndwr University. Following the launch the schools then completed 5 modules including a library visit.
The Foundation Subjects
P.E.
P.E. has a lot to offer all pupils in both Key Stages. The children will be involved in dance, gymnastics, games, athletics, adventure activities and swimming. The school makes use of local facilities, such as the Gwyn Evans Swimming Pool. As well as a balanced programme within their class the children can participate in clubs, school teams, and an annual sports day.
Art and Design
Art is a foundation subject of the curriculum and is very much enjoyed by pupils in our school.
The scheme of work helps to guide staff in their teaching, whilst ensuring breadth and progression over a child’s school year. Children share their techniques in all classes.
A great deal of time and money has been invested in equipment to give our children a range of experiences. Visits by artists in residence and trips to galleries and other exciting projects take place regularly.
This year several classes have worked with artists on a wide range of projects e.g. lantern making, willow design and designing and making a ceramic mural at the front of the school.
A high standard of artwork can be found displayed in the school, which reflects our commitment to this valuable area and the pleasure it brings to us and our pupils at Brynteg.
Geography
Geography is taught across the school. Children learn about environmental change, different countries as well as their own environment in which they live.
Geographical skills are developed through teaching around a theme. Pupils enjoy exciting geography based school trips, which involve fieldwork.
History
History pervades every aspect of our lives and cultures. We believe that the study of history in Brynteg can introduce children to an understanding of the past and how knowledge of the present is informed by the past.
Every opportunity is taken to bring history to life. During their time in Brynteg children may visit Roman ruins in Chester, a Victorian school at Llangollen, Erddig Hall, Chirk Castle, the Legacy Centre and many other relevant sites.
Music
Music plays a large part in our school life. As well as following a studies scheme in both key stages, children are encouraged to join in extra musical activities such as recorder, drums and guitar. Many children also take advantage of the violin by the authority’s music teacher. Every pupil enjoys the hard work and commitment that goes into producing our annual musicals.
Welsh
Brynteg is an English speaking school where Welsh is taught to all pupils as part of the curriculum and incidental Welsh is used throughout the school sessions.
PSHE
Personal, social and health education is taught as a distinct subject. Issues such as community involvement, self respect and respect for others are explored in the sessions.
Sex and Relationship lessons are carefully planned by the class teachers and teach pupils about things which are age appropriate.
We use resources recommended by Wrexham Healthy Schools Team called SENSE. If you would like to view the resources we use ask Miss Roberts our subject leader or myself.
We believe that educating our pupils through a structured and age appropriate scheme of work is important to their overall development however if you do not want your child to participate in the Sex and Relationships lessons you may contact us and request that your child is withdrawn
Religious Education
Religious Education is defined as a basic subject in the Education Reform Act of 1988. Within the school it is taught in accordance with the Wrexham Agreed Syllabus and strongly reflects the Christian heritage of the area.
R.E. at Brynteg School is taught as part of a broader process of education, which helps children to make sense of the world and how to relate to it. We have therefore planned the curriculum in order to give the pupils a Christian based experience and include multicultural awareness. Children learn about Judaism and Hinduism and compare these faiths to Christianity.
A daily act of collective worship is required for all pupils. The whole school meets for a 20-minute service three times a week. On the other days daily worship happens in individual classrooms. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from R.E. lessons. Alternative arrangements would be made after consultation with the Headteacher.