Our Curriculum Offer
At Scoill yn Jubilee, we have created a learning community where all have the opportunity to achieve personal success. We use the Cornerstones Curriculum to create the best possible learning experiences within stimulating and safe environments.
Challenge is an essential element of this. We aspire for our children to become effective thinkers, able to overcome adversity with positivity and resilience, so they are able to face the challenges of an ever evolving world with self confidence and determination.
Our curriculum is broad, balanced and the development of skills for life (6R’s) is fundamental.
We have a project-based, thematic approach and provides children with a range of rich and memorable learning experiences. The children are set challenges to solve related to their project and will usually create an end product to show what they have learned e.g. a model, a book, give a presentation, and share their learning with a chosen audience e.g. parents and grandparents, a different year group etc.
In common with all schools in the Isle of Man, children coming into the Reception Year (known as the Foundation Stage) follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
This consists of skills and attributes taught within 7 areas of learning :-
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development;
• Communication and Language;
• Physical Development;
• Literacy;
• Mathematics;
• Understanding of the World;
• Expressive Arts and Design.
These areas of learning continue into Years 1 and 2 (referred to as Key Stage One) and become more defined to include English, Maths, Science, Religious Education, Physical Education, Design Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Art and Design, History, Geography, Music and Manx Culture and History. These same curriculum areas are planned for across Key Stage Two (Years 3 to 6).
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSE)
PSE is taught throughout all the year groups in small groups, whole class teaching and whole school assemblies. During these sessions children explore the different monthly values we encourage in school e.g. honesty, respect, and are able to express their opinions on these. These values are used to support children in their social development around school and on the playground. PSE is also taught to children through ‘PATHS’ in their classrooms where all children sit around in a circle and are given the opportunity to individually express their views. A ‘worry box’ has recently been introduced into the school, which enables children to post any worry they may have. Staff check this box regularly and, if appropriate, the worry is addressed during circle time, or on an individual basis. In addition to this we use a range of storybooks and puppets to encourage all children to express their feelings and ideas about the values and concerns which they feel may need to be addressed.
Communication and Language
This includes speaking and listening, reading and writing. These skills are taught and practised through all the different areas of the curriculum. The children learn a wide range of skills to develop their reading and writing, and are introduced to many types of fiction and non fiction texts. From Reception pupils are mark making and beginning to understand that marks have meaning.
This continues as they explore letter formation. Children are encouraged to work with guidance and independently on writing tasks and to write for a range of different purposes.
Key Stage 1 children have daily phonics lessons which are taught in a fun, active way, to learn all the sounds and how they are written, which supports both reading and writing. In these early years it is crucial to develop children’s speaking and listening skills through a whole range of activities and different sized groups – individually, in small groups and whole class.
Pupils in Key Stage 2 further build on these experiences as they begin to use their skills, reading and writing with increasing independence, exploring different styles and formats, presenting work in different ways preparing them for Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9 at secondary school). We build on phonics teaching by learning about spelling patterns, for example adding prefixes and suffixes. In Key Stage 2 children also begin to learn about formal and informal styles of writing and consider grammar in spoken and written forms. To make the learning real for the children we try, as often as possible, to provide opportunities for children to speak, listen, read and write for a purpose e.g. expressing views in Philosophy for Children sessions, writing and replying to invitations, giving presentations explaining to others what they have been learning in class, reading recipes to learn how to make food items, assemblies, role play and drama activities etc. We look for opportunities to bring a wide range of communication experiences to the children – visiting theatre groups, puppet shows, poetry readings and book illustrators. ICT (Information Communication Technology) is used extensively to support communication skills.
Physical Development
From Reception to Year 6, children at Scoill yn Jubilee are encouraged and challenged to improve balance, co-ordination, manipulation and strength as well as gross and fine motor control. Through physical education we aim to develop children’s understanding of the roles that exercise, eating, sleeping and hygiene have in promoting good health.
Throughout Key Stage One physical development is encouraged throughout the curriculum, as it is inseparable from all other areas of learning and development because children learn by being active in all areas. Outdoor play has a significant role in developing physical skills especially for our Reception classes. Year 1 has a dedicated outside area where children can regularly explore learning on a large scale.
During Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 specific skills are delivered weekly in PE style lessons – dance, gymnastics and invasion games, striking and fielding games and net/wall games. In Key Stage 2 children participate in swimming activities and water safety at the National Sports Centre. The lessons cater for non-swimmers and developing swimmers. In Years 5 and 6 children are given the opportunity to experience outdoor and adventurous activities during residential visits to outdoor activity centres on the Island and in the UK.
At Scoill yn Jubilee a number of after school mini clubs are available to children. These include: Hockey, Tag Rugby, Badminton, Netball, Football, Kwik Cricket, Athletics, Golf, Cross Country, Tennis and Skipping. We aim to enable children to enhance fundamental knowledge of the sport and experience fun drills and games that further develop transferable skills in sport. Many of the clubs we provide give children the opportunity to experience competition at local level where they play an Inter-School Festival.
Mathematics
At Scoill yn Jubilee the children take part in mathematical activities on a daily basis. The children learn through maths mastery lessons which teach a combination of different mathematical skills, and problem solving. This gives the children an opportunity to use what they have learned in a real life situation e.g. shopping, telling the time, weighing ingredients for a recipe, which gives them a real purpose for using their knowledge. In Reception and Key Stage 1 maths activities are mainly practically based, with lots of opportunities for the children to learn through investigation, talk and play.
Through Key Stage 2 the children build and develop on the skills and knowledge attained in Key Stage 1 and develop strategies to enable them to confidently use and apply these skills to solve everyday maths. Maths is used throughout all areas of the curriculum, and this leads to a wider understanding. A wide range of resources and ICT are used to support mathematics teaching and learning.
Understanding Of the World
This includes information and communication technology (ICT), science, design and technology, religious education, history and geography.
ICT
In common with other schools on the Island, Scoill yn Jubilee has benefited from the Isle of Man Department of Education Sport and Culture (DESC) investment programme in Information Communication Technology. Each classroom is fully equipped with a multimedia system, which combines the use of DVD and laptop connection. The large screen and fully integrated audio system enhances the cross curricular use of ICT through all areas of the curriculum.
We have a number of ibooks (laptops), printers, i-pads and programmable toys. The ibooks are fully networked and are linked to wireless technology with broadband. Each child has an individual log ins to a DESC managed Itslearning and Google accounts as well as access to their individual folder on the school cloud, where their work is saved and stored. We have developed a robust ICT curriculum based on the Isle of Man ICT Primary Framework, which ensures that the children learn progressively more advanced skills through their time with us. Online learning also plays an important role in connecting school and home. Each child can log in to our DESC online learning platform ItsLearning, where they can access a range of information and activities designed specifically for their year group, to support their learning in class and their school experience.
In Reception and Key Stage 1 the children learn early mouse control through to databases, word processing skills, simple research skills etc. Throughout Key Stage 2 children will continue to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in using text and multimedia, digital images, sound and music, moving images, data handling, modelling and simulations and control and monitoring. Children will learn about personal organisation and communication in ICT enabling them to transfer their skills to the ever evolving wider technological world and develop their understanding of what technology can do.
ICT skills are taught through, and as a means of supporting, other areas of the curriculum. Children are encouraged to be innovative with technology and to make choices about when it is appropriate to use technology, therefore utilising the skills they have attained. Throughout all Key Stages a consistent message about online safety is delivered.
Science
Scientific knowledge and understanding is a vital skill for all children to have to understand the world in which they live.
We teach a wide range of science both through our theme based topics or as stand alone units and cover many different aspects of the science curriculum through each year group.
We aim to develop the children’s higher level thinking skills through scientific problem solving. We place emphasis on scientific investigation and encourage each pupil to develop their learning through inquiry; developing questioning, independent research and drawing conclusions. There are plenty of opportunities for the children to explore and investigate in real life situations, often based around exciting educational visits or theme based challenges.
The school has an excellent range of scientific resources, and children are encouraged to develop their science skills in other curriculum areas, for example maths, music, ICT and literacy.
Design and Technology
In Design and Technology the children are encouraged to think creatively to solve a problem both individually and as part of a team. Each term a challenge or problem is set that is linked to the theme on which the children are working. The pupils begin by developing and planning their ideas. Next, the pupils work with tools, equipment and materials to make a quality product. The final stage is evaluating the finished product. During their time at Scoill yn Jubilee. the children will use a wide range of materials such as wood, clay, textiles and food and to make independent choices about the most appropriate tools and equipment to use safely.
Religious Education
During Religious Education lessons children are taught about different religions, faiths, cultures and festivals. This subject is approached with respect, allowing children to understand that many different people may have different beliefs and faiths and that it is important to show respect towards others and their beliefs. Religious Education is taught through stories, role play, a range of different artefacts and visiting speakers. Here children can experience a range of hands on activities while discovering different faiths and religions. Religious Education may be taught as a weekly lesson or sometimes as a block of work over 2 -3 days in a half term, depending on the focus. In Key Stage 2 the children also focus on aspects of ‘Friends and Heroes’ which helps them to consider moral dilemmas and empathise with characters who have important decisions to make within the context of a story.
History
Children will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of a wide range of past and present events. In Reception children start to develop an awareness of time from reflecting on their own personal experiences, using everyday words to talk about the passing of time. Children will also be given an opportunity to develop a wider historical understanding through studying a variety of significant people and events over time.
Children will be able to find out about Manx, British and World events such as the Manx Herring Fleet Disaster, life during the reign of Queen Victoria and the Olympic games. We encourage children to identify similarities and differences in the passing of time and order events in chronological order. A wide range of educational visits and visitors allow children to gain first hand experience and include visits to Cregneash and the Grove Museum as well as encouraging parents and grandparents to talk about significant changes over time. We ensure that children have opportunities to record their findings in a range of ways and analyse a wide variety of information through looking at different source materials.
Geography
Children will have the opportunity to identify and talk about both human and physical key features where they live and in the wider world. Early development of geography is based upon their immediate surroundings and gradually moves towards studying the wider locality, the Isle of Man, British Isles and finally extended to the wider world. They should be able to ask questions, describe features and express views and opinions using appropriate geographical vocabulary.
Opportunity to look at the human impact on the environment is provided and children are encouraged to recognise how people seek to improve and sustain environments. They develop a wide range of skills: to gather information, record their findings in a variety of ways and communicate their findings to others. There are opportunities to develop geographical skills relating to the environment through use of the school grounds and educational visits. Children are also given opportunities to make comparisons between contrasting localities and to develop a wide range of mapping skills.
Expressive Art and Design
This includes art and design, music and drama.
Art and Design
Children will be given the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills, exploring, creating, improvising, presenting and evaluating their art work. These skills will be developed during the children's time at Scoill yn Jubilee, so that they are able to express themselves in an original and creative way, choosing their own tools and media where possible.
Working on their own, and sharing art projects, children should always feel they can produce valuable and enjoyable pieces of artwork, which will be celebrated in high quality displays around the school.
We endeavour to introduce and experience work by a range of famous artists, past and present. Children should be able to talk about artwork using appropriate language, and compare artists and artwork valuing their own opinion, and that of others.
Music
We have an excellent range of high quality instruments on both sites.
Children are given a broad experience of music through listening, appraising, composing and performing. Musical activities are sometimes linked to the theme or the time of year. An example of this is in Year 1 where the children learn more about rhythmic patterns as part of their Fruit and Vegetables topic. Using the rhythms of fruit names, the children are taught to create their own sound patterns, e.g. peach, peach, cher-ry peach. Specific musical skills are also taught discreetly where appropriate.
Children in KS2 work more independently on a carousel of musical activities linked to a half-termly theme such as 'Space' or 'Recycling' and will then showcase their work to the class.
Music is usually taught to the whole class, but children often develop their skills by working alone, with a partner, or in a small group.
Children experience live and recorded music from a range of styles, times and cultures. We are particularly keen that they will hear, sing and play Manx music and songs in addition to music from around the world.
They have opportunities to practise their music and perform by singing and playing instruments to others in school and for wider audiences, including parents, during school and community concerts. Children have an opportunity to learn the violin, a lower stringed instrument or guitar starting in Year 5 and a brass instrument starting in Year 6.
Drama
Drama begins with role-play. Each classroom has a role play area linked to the current theme. This might be a Baby Clinic within the theme of ‘All Kinds of Babies’, or a Mechanic’s Workshop within ‘Transport’. Children are encouraged to take on the role of different characters in order to work collaboratively to act out everyday or imaginary scenarios. Through drama and role-play children learn to co- operate, to take turns to speak and listen, and to express their own and their character’s emotions.
They perform regularly for others during assemblies and for parents and guests in the Christmas play and Easter Service.
Manx Language
Children have the option to learn Manx from Year 4 but will be withdrawn from classes to do so. At Key stage 1 speaking and singing in Manx is offered as a club for children to join.
Special Events
Each year we have a programme of events in which we encourage the children and parents to take part. These include a healthy week, fair trade focus, eco week and anti-bullying week.
Developing Skills For Life
It is intended that as a result of experiencing the curriculum and the way it is delivered, children will develop the following learning characteristics:
• a readiness to learn and enjoyment of learning,
• relationships which are positive,
• resourcefulness,
• resilience to face new challenges
• good remembering skills
These are sometimes referred to as “The 6Rs”.
We discuss these habits with the children on a daily basis so that they become aware of how they are learning to learn. You may hear the children refer to developing their “learning muscles” to become, for example, ready to learn or more resilient. We believe that these characteristics are in all of us and can be developed by everyone.