At Abbotswood Junior School, we aim to give children a unique learning experience which will prepare them for life in the 21st Century. In such a large school, we pride ourselves on our sense of teamwork with a shared vision for learning.

We provide a broad and balanced, rich and vibrant curriculum that is purposeful and ambitious for all learners. Our integrated, cross-curricular topics provide a context for exciting, purposeful and memorable learning experiences which make it relevant and meaningful for all children. Topics are planned as ‘Learning Journeys’ which inspire the children with an exciting ‘hook’ and finish with an ‘outcome’ to provide a real purpose and audience. Topics are then enriched with a range of memorable, first-hand experiences and high quality texts to bring learning to life (including trips and visitors). This helps children to make links between learning in different subject areas, reflecting the complexities of the world in which we live, and leading to deeper learning - ‘memory is a residue of thought’ because ‘we remember what we think about’. It also allows the meaningful delivery of our intrinsic school values, entwining academic ambition and pupil personal development. Our Abbotswood values are promoted throughout the curriculum so that children have a firm foundation for life-long learning. 

Our curriculum at Abbotswood is a knowledge-based, strategically planned sequence of learning which has been designed and mapped out to give all pupils the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Through our curriculum, we develop the essential knowledge, skills and understanding which are the building blocks for later life. We have designed our curriculum around our local context, with a focus on developing vocabulary and speaking and listening skills, while also providing a range of cultural capital enrichment opportunities. 

Crucially, our curriculum is also designed around the characteristics of learning within each subject to ensure children develop the knowledge and skills they need to become young ‘experts’ in each subject area (historians, scientists, musicians etc.). By knowing, not just what we know, but also how that knowledge is developed, children become more skilled in thinking, questioning, and applying their learning in meaningful ways. This is key to fostering independent, critical thinkers who can succeed across the curriculum.

Intrinsic Curriculum: We believe in living and teaching our shared school values.

• Abbotswood is a happy and caring school community built on five core school values: 

         Stickability, Teamwork, Aspiration, Respect and Stretch

• To encourage children to remember our values, they spell out the word STARS which is integral to our school logo. 

• We aim to provide a happy, secure and rich learning environment where children strive for the highest standards in all that they do. 

• We endeavour to create conscientious, independent learners who are able to persevere when faced with new challenges and who are respectful of others.

Personal Development Curriculum: We believe that education should support personal growth.

• At Abbotswood we strongly believe that, given the right circumstances, every child can achieve extraordinary things. 

• Our curriculum is designed to develop our pupils academically and socially and develop them as responsible members of our community.

• We also believe that the safety, positive mental health and well-being of our children is at the heart of all that we do.

• We seek to create a happy school that promotes positive relationships between everyone within it.

Academic Curriculum: We believe in a broad, balanced and enriching curriculum that is purposeful and ambitious for all pupils.

• We aim to offer a unique brand of teaching at Abbotswood. This is based on the belief that every child has different needs and must be challenged or supported at the earliest opportunity.

• Our individualised teaching style is unique to Abbotswood and we aim to develop independent and resilient children who have a love of learning.

• We believe that a strong grounding in Maths and English is vital for all children.

• Our integrated curriculum provides a context for rich, exciting and memorable learning experiences, planned within half-termly topics. Topics are planned as ‘Learning Journeys’ which motivate the children with an exciting ‘hook’ and finish with an ‘outcome’ to provide a real purpose and audience.