Our vision is to provide a progressive, topic-based curriculum which develops the whole child through an immersive, child-led journey, where pupils learn through memorable experiences in a range of different environments, helping to prepare them for an exciting future, full of possibilities.
At Redwell we consider our curriculum to be part of a child's life long journey in education. We acknowledge and build upon learning which has taken place before the children enter our school and lay the foundations to enable all of our children to make the best possible use of the opportunities offered.
Our curriculum is taught through the immersive approach in which the skills from the National Curriculum are taught through immersing the children within a topic; this in turn ensures the children have a deeper understanding of the knowledge taught and inspires them to continue learning beyond school. The classrooms are decorated to represent the topic being taught and our new immersive multisensory classroom will transport the children to their chosen theme whether that be Ancient Egypt, outer space or to pudding lane in 1666.
We believe that success in reading is achieved through partnership between home and school. We offer a huge variety of books for your children to read. Reading and Phonics is taught through Read Write Inc. and reciprocal reading approaches. Both are taught daily and embed the skills of reading, in which the adults model to the children the various methods.
For writing, we use the storytelling method; our storytelling texts are at the heart of our curriculum and support the immersive learning approach. With reading and storytelling comes a wealth of vocabulary and by the time a child has completed their learning journey with us, they will have a readymade high quality word bank at their disposal. In addition, they will have been exposed to over forty different stories and non-fiction texts. We believe that by following the Storytelling method, we are not only developing their literacy and grammar skills; we are developing storytellers, authors and readers for life and ensuring the children’s confidence will flourish.
Mathematics at Redwell is taught using the mastery approach. We aim to develop a positive attitude and enjoyment of the learning towards Maths and the ability to solve problems through decision making, and reasoning in a range of contexts. We believe that Mathematics should provide a rich variety of learning experiences relating to everyday life.
British Values at Redwell Primary
British Values— the fundamental principles that the UK promotes to encourage a cohesive and respectful society—are closely linked to our Redwell Curriculum. These values are: Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect, and Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs. Here's how they connect to our curriculum:
Democracy
- Link to Curriculum:
- We have a School Council where children can vote for representatives, teaching the democratic process.
- In subjects like History or PSHE, students learn about democratic systems and historical movements that shaped democratic rights.
- English lessons incorporate debates and persuasive writing, encouraging children to express opinions respectfully.
- Practical Examples:
- Holding class votes for decisions.
- Discussions about fairness and collective decision-making.
Rule of Law
- Link to Curriculum:
- Through PSHE, children explore why rules and laws are essential for safety, fairness, and order.
- History lessons cover historical laws (e.g. To know how the Anglo-Saxons attempted to bring about law and order into the country) and their impact on society.
- Geography and Science introduces the role of laws in environmental protection (e.g. To identify ways in which humans can protect and improve environments).
- Practical Examples:
- Classroom rules that mimic wider societal laws.
- Visits from community figures (e.g. police officers) to discuss the importance of laws.
Individual Liberty
- Link to Curriculum:
- Encourages children to make choices in a safe and supportive environment, linked to PSHE.
- In Art, children explore self-expression.
- Computing lessons teach about online safety and making responsible choices.
- Practical Examples:
- Providing opportunities to choose extracurricular activities (e.g. All teachers run a club each year alongside sports clubs led by Pacesetter Sports coaches).
- Discussing personal rights and responsibilities.
Mutual Respect
- Link to Curriculum:
- Promoted through PSHE by teaching empathy, effective communication, and respect for differences.
- PE emphasises teamwork and respect for others during games.
- English explores themes of respect and kindness in literature and storytelling.
- Practical Examples:
- Anti-bullying initiatives.
- Rewarding acts of kindness and cooperation (Values pebbles, Values badges, house team points, stickers, VIP award, Hot Chocolate Friday).
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
- Link to Curriculum:
- RE introduces students to different religions, beliefs, and practices.
- History and Geography help children understand the diversity of cultures within the UK and worldwide.
- Encouraging discussion and celebration of festivals from various religions (e.g. through RE and Diversity Assemblies).
- Practical Examples:
- Inviting speakers from different faiths to share their experiences.
- Hosting multicultural events or assemblies.
Embedding British Values Across the Curriculum
- Whole-School Approach:
- Assemblies focus on themes like respect, inclusion, and responsibility:
- SLT Assemblies – Picture News (current affairs & British Values), Redwell Values, behaviour expectations
- Diversity Assemblies focus on learning about and celebrating different festivals, beliefs and religions
- Class Assemblies – Picture News (current affairs & British Values), Newsround (current affairs), School Council updates, Anti-bullying updates
- Celebrations of national events (e.g. Remembrance Day) link directly to British Values.
- Teachers and teaching assistants encourage a classroom environment where everyone feels valued and promote these principles daily.
By embedding British Values into both the explicit teaching and the broader school ethos, children at Redwell Primary develop the social, moral, and cultural understanding they need to contribute positively to a diverse society.