Our curriculum at New River College Primary aims to:
We strongly value the principle of thematic teaching, using meaningful and purposeful links that offer pupils a breadth of opportunity for deeper learning. This ensures that pupils acquire and develop a range of skills that are underpinned by knowledge and practical experiences.
Each theme includes a ‘key’ event – an engaging activity to develop pupils’ thinking and capture their imaginations. As part of this, pupils identify what they already know and what they would like to know and so they help steer their own learning opportunities.
Our teaching staff work collaboratively to ensure that skills are progressively taught throughout the school, ensuring that expectations of pupils are high and appropriately challenging. The yearly overviews for each class outline the themes taught and the subject-specific content. The content of our curriculum is customised to meet the needs of our pupils.
Pupils have multiple opportunities to return to content over time to gain fluency in the core curriculum. For example, during Shooting Stars time, activities help pupils by revisiting ideas and concepts in a variety of situations to slowly develop an understanding over time. There is ongoing assessment of pupils learning and teaching addresses gaps, misconceptions and offers daily opportunities to consolidate and develop fluency in key skills.
Classroom environments and teaching foster pupil’s ability to identify resources, equipment and strategies to problem-solve and work independently.
Our teaching in phonics and reading is supported by Lexia, and teachers have developed their own schemes using Power of Reading and Letters and Sounds. To further support the development of reading and writing skills and a love of reading, each class uses a core text that links with their curriculum theme. Daily 1:1 reading and maths is offered to pupils out of class if needed.
All pupils have access to a variety of interventions based on areas of focus in their personal development. Social interaction and communication skills development is embedded throughout school life.
There is a strong emphasis on providing pupils with opportunities to engage in learning within the community and through carefully planned enrichment activities to add value to learning and encourage participation in community activities. This prepares our students for the challenge of being active citizens. Frequent visits and trips are organised regularly throughout the year to complement classroom teaching.
Classes are grouped by year groups or depending on pupils' needs.
For more information on the core and enrichment areas of our curriculum, please click on the yearly overviews for each class below:
Each class has a weekly timetable that outlines all of the learning that takes place. This also includes additional activities such as Brain Breaks. Click on the links below for the timetable for each class
Atlantic Class
Pacific Class
Arctic Class
If you require any further information on the curriculum and learning at New River College Primary, please contact one of Co-Heads of Centre Karen Galvin or Carl Keegan.