Art

Our children learn and develop skills in a full breadth of media. They take pride in their finished work, exhibiting within school and to the local and global community.  They are taught to recognise, value and explore an extensive range of visual art forms: drawing and painting, printing, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, architecture, installations and conceptual art.  They learn about and explore the works of artists and craftspeople who represent the rich and diverse cultural heritage of people within our country and across the world.  They are empowered to create a strong sense of identity through personal and meaningful artwork.  While drawing and painting are fundamental skills which are important, art and design at Greenacres is more than this.  It is our intent that every Greenacres child views themselves as creatives who are not limited by common perceptions of what makes a good artist but are empowered by their artistic experiences, imaginations and the wider world.

Computing

At Greenacres our children will become confident members of an ever changing digital world. They will equip themselves with the skills and knowledge to function both now and in the future at work and socially.  At Greenacres, our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of knowledge and skills development in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited through a range of creative themes to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed.

Design and Technology

Our children will design and make a range of functional products with themselves and others as their intended user.  Through the study of design and technology, the children will combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues.  They will explore and research the designed and made world in which we all live and work.  Attention to detail and accuracy will enable them to be successful when making what they have designed and their evaluations will help them think about how they can improve.  It will prepare children for the developing world and encourage them to be ambitious problem solvers both as individuals and as part of a team.

Drama

Our children will be provided with opportunities to explore their views and ideas throughout the curriculum using dramatic functions.  We encourage our children to be imaginative, express themselves creatively and to find their individual voice which in turn helps them to build confidence to become effective communicators.  This will involve the exploration of feelings in order to deepen their own understanding and empathy towards others.  At Greenacres, children are encouraged to share and cultivate ideas without judgement, supporting their personal and social development.  As performers our children will use their bodies and voices to share with and respond to others.  They will challenge themselves and take risks which will enable them to develop a positive sense of self.

English

Greenacres children will foster a love of literature.  Our English curriculum will promote curiosity and broaden their understanding of the literary world by having broad and varied exposure to authors, this in turn generates a desire to be creative, imaginative and free thinkers. Immersion into worlds which are culturally diverse enables children to engage emotionally and connect their existing knowledge to the broader world around them.  Reading is given a high priority at Greenacres, enabling our children to become enthusiastic, independent and reflective readers across a wide range and types of literature, including different text types and genres, book, posters, magazines, signs and newspapers. We want our children to be ‘readers’, not just children who can read.  

Geography

Starting points in our geography curriculum engage our children’s interests in a way that is meaningful and relevant to them. Connections are made between existing knowledge and what they want to find out. Learning in geography opens doors to our children’s immediate community and then in turn broadens their horizons and the connection they have to the people and places of the world around them. They are encouraged to be inquisitive about the natural and human world and are empowered to recognise their combined responsibility and role in securing the future of the planet for generations to come.

History

Our children will be able to challenge ideas and investigate events of the past, developing skills of enquiry and interpretation.  History at Greenacres helps children to gain knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world.  It involves understanding the process of change, the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and society today.  We encourage children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, evaluate evidence and examine arguments.

Languages

Our children will learn to speak and write in French, while also celebrating the cultural diversity of the countries where French is widely spoken and acknowledging the influence that Europe has on our lives within our own multicultural society.  As linguists, our children will develop the skills required for remembering and using a new language, focusing on pronunciation and dialect.  Early acquisition of a foreign language facilitates the learning of other foreign languages in later life and by opening the doors to language learning at Greenacres, we are providing our children the opportunity to further develop their interest in the wider world.

Maths 

Our children will be logical and systematic learners who use their key fluency skills to solve problems and reason mathematically.  As mathematicians, they will explore all areas of maths using concrete materials to aid understanding and consolidate their learning. They will become confident children who have the resilience to work through a problem and remember key number facts to help them to do this.

Music

At Greenacres, music is taught as a practical and creative subject where our children are encouraged to develop their musical skills. They are also encouraged to express personal thoughts and feelings through sound. Music is also used to develop an awareness of different world cultures through the use of listening resources and instruments from different parts of the world. We aim to engage and inspire our pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

Outdoor Learning

Our children will be able to develop their personal, social and emotional skills through opportunities to work together in the natural environment, without the confines of the classroom.  They will be able to communicate clearly and with ease and have a strong sense of worth and value. Reluctant talkers will become more confident speakers through their experiences within the outdoor environment.  They will have the skills to explore the outdoor environment and world around them.  We aim to enable them to connect with nature, to build a healthy mental well-being, and for them to learn how they can then take this skill with them through their further education and their adult life.  Our children will use their outdoor learning environment to explore all areas of the curriculum and this in turn will help to consolidate learning in their long-term memory. 

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Our children learn how to be healthy, independent and responsible members of society.  We aim to help them to understand how they are developing personally and socially and explore ways to tackle and questions many of the moral, social and cultural issues they may be faced with.  Our children are provided with opportunities to learn about rights and responsibilities and value what it means to be a member of a diverse community.  We aim for our children to have a strong sense of self; playing a positive role in contributing to school life and within the wider community.

Physical Education

Our children will foster a love of physical activity and sport which will allow them to leave Greenacres with the skills and mindset to be successful in their sporting challenges and active lifestyles at secondary school and beyond.  They will develop into confident and resilient children who will strive for their personal best in a wide range of physical activities.  Our children will to be able to work collaboratively, think creatively and challenge themselves physically.   They will obtain the values and skills required to celebrate and respect the success of others, as well as modestly celebrating their own success.

Religious Education

Our children will develop a ‘religious literacy’ where they are able to appreciate and value differing belief systems to their own and cultivate a community of respect and understanding.  They will engage in a systematic enquiry into significant human questions.  Our children will explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live.  They will gain knowledge, understanding and skills needed to ask big questions to find out more about the world around them; deepening their thinking and exploring the religious, philosophical and spiritual views presented to them.  British values will be a continuous strand to support learning providing the opportunities for children to make connections between religions, belief and the experiences that all humans share.

Science

Our children will be interested in exploring the world around them and question how things work and why.  As scientists, they will enquire by carrying out their planned investigations and use their results to present conclusions and handle their data.  These skills will make them resilient and confident learners, able to work together in a team as well as thinking independently.