Design Principles and the Curriculum

Our curriculum is inextricably linked to and informed by our design principles.

We deliver our curriculum predominantly through cross-subject learning journeys. These are standards based projects that are specifically designed to make connections between, and across, subjects to encourage deep and purposeful learning experiences for our children. These cross-curricular journeys are tightly structured through careful mapping of standards, skills and content and designed by teachers to ensure that all children achieve their potential.  We take great inspiration from Ken Robinson in his beliefs in a creative curriculum.

Following on from the first principle there is a focus on the intricacies not just what they learn but of how they learn. As a BLP school, this goes hand-in-hand with the belief that children need to understand themselves as learners and they can all develop their learning muscles. Therefore we are committed to providing opportunities throughout all areas of learning which promote and support the development of the key traits that will help them to become successful, lifelong learners.

Finally, there is a relentless focus on their character development – crucial for the choices they make throughout life. At the heart of the Larkhall Curriculum is the recognition that every child is an individual with unique strengths and needs. We understand that for many pupils, their success as a learner is directly linked to the development of their emotional intelligence and core character traits.

We take great inspiration from Kurt Hahn, whose vision can best be summarised as a kind of school designed to help kids discover their interests and passions, not just prepare them for tests. And it would be a school devoted to character development.

Finally, in all we do, we hope to prepare children to be agents for improving their own community and the wider world 

As such, we design our curriculum to realise these principles. Our relentless focus is to ensure that our children grow their character, create amazing work and achieve academic success in order that they become the best version of themselves.. Therefore, we develop our curriculum so that learning is relevant, purposeful and authentic. 

We deliver our curriculum predominantly through cross disciplinary learning expeditions. These are standards based projects that are specifically designed to make connections between subjects and encourage deep and purposeful learning experiences. Themes are tightly structured through careful mapping of standards, skills and content and designed by teachers to ensure that all children:

• make better than expected academic progress; 
• produce amazing work; 
• grow their characters in readiness for the world;
• are agents for improving their own community and the wider world 

Our curriculum is carefully designed by teachers so that the level of challenge is high and learning experiences are rich. The thematic approach to our curriculum delivery ensures that teachers can carefully plan learning experiences that link to making the world a better place, starting with our own community.

The Larkhall curriculum is planned so as to expose children to progressively more complex ideas and subject matter which reflects their own heritage and cultural backgrounds. As such, we have mapped a full range of key figures, influences and events for children to learn about throughout their time here, as well as ensuring the texts they are engaging with throughout all curriculum areas reflect the range of backgrounds of the students here.

Our curriculum is designed to support children of all abilities. This is done by carefully crafted learning experiences that are adapted and tailored to meet the needs of all children. Our curriculum is academic, challenging and designed to spark interest in our children by enabling them to work together to achieve both academically and socially. 

The curriculum is designed so that children are ready and able to take their next steps confidently and successfully into secondary school. 

Our curriculum is underpinned by a shared language that is easily accessible and recognisable. This common language allows students to articulate their learning, understand how they learn and how this learning contributes to our positive culture. Language allows teachers and students to engage with our learning intent in a shared way.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure social equity. Students, through the curriculum experience a breadth and range of experiences regardless of their social class, race, gender or any other factor.  

Conclusion

Our curriculum is broad and, through learning expeditions, is designed to be flexible, responsive and exciting. This does not mean we compromise on powerful disciplinary standards and knowledge but that we integrate, connect and immerse our subjects in academically rigorous learning experiences that enable them not only to be ready for their next steps as learners but also as responsible, caring and critical agents for positive social change in their own lives, the lives of others in their community and the wider world. 

Enriched Curriculum Opportunities

In addition to the Larkhall Curriculum, which provides learning both inside and outside of the classroom, we believe it is important for children to have many opportunities for extra-curricular learning. As well as our core curriculum we offer students breadth and opportunity through other curriculum opportunities. A range of ‘enrichment’ activities are offered by our school, within and outside the school day, including lunchtimes and after-school, which include sporting activities, clubs and special interests

Every term children go on trips linked to further developing their PSCD skills which can be local (such as to the local library and local places of interest) or into London. During Phase 3 children are given the opportunity for more extended visits including overnight stays, which as well as supporting several curriculum areas, help to build independence and interpersonal skills.

Competitions are also an important part of the Larkhall experience and children from across the school regularly take part in sporting competitions as well as entering maths, writing, artistic and citizenship projects. Each child is part of one of the four school houses (Marylebone, Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street and Kings Cross) and work together with children in their houses from all year groups to accrue Larks at various events including Sport Day.

Statutory Elements of the Curriculum

The statutory requirements for children’s learning during EYFS and Key Stage 1 and 2 are the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) and the National Curriculum. However, this is the basic starting point!

Larkhall Seven areas of Learning

We organise the National Curriculum coverage into our Larkhall Curriculum through seven core areas of learning which each have a policy laid out below. Each term children are immersed in each area of learning linked to a topic, thus providing a meaningful context for learning. Attached to each is the relevant policy for that curriculum area. 

• Understanding English, Communication and Language (UECL)
• Mathematical Understanding (MU)
• Science and Technological Understanding (STU) including Computer Science and Forest School
• History, Geography and Social Understanding (HGSU)
• Understanding the Arts (UA)
• Physical Health and Wellbeing (UPH)
• Personal Social Character Development (PSCD) including HRE and e-safety/digital literacy

In addition, each of these 7 areas has supporting documents which provide clarity and guidance for how each subject progresses throughout the school. These help children know and remember more.