About our school
Our Curriculum
Our Approach
We encourage children to develop a Growth Mindset to believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Our curriculum is planned around the National Curriculum set out by the government. There is a strong emphasis on teaching the basic skills English, Mathematics, Science and IT. Learning also includes the skills and knowledge of other subjects: History, Geography, Art, Physical Education, Music, Religious Education, Information Technology and Personal and Social Education.
The Learning Environment is excellent. Spaces have been carefully planned to inspire pupils, enabling learning to take place in calm, bright and spacious areas. The school is very well resourced including an extensive range of IT equipment and books.
Phonics & Reading
At Huntingdon Primary School, we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme. Children in Reception are taught to read and spell words using Phase 2 and 3 GPCs, and words with adjacent consonants (Phase 4) with fluency and accuracy. Children make a strong start in Reception: teaching begins in the second full week of the Autumn term. Children in Year 1 review Phase 3 and 4 and are taught to read and spell words using Phase 5 GPCs with fluency and accuracy. We teach phonics for 30-40 minutes a day. In Reception, we build from 10-minute lessons, with additional daily oral blending games, to the full-length lesson as quickly as possible. Each Friday, we review the week’s teaching to help children become fluent readers.
We teach children to read through reading practice sessions three times a week. These are taught by a fully trained adult to small groups of approximately six children. The children use books matched to the children’s secure phonic knowledge and are monitored by the class teacher, who rotates and works with each group on a regular basis.
CURRICULUM PRINCIPLES: We strive to develop the children as independent learners who are curious, resourceful and resilient.
H.P.S. Learning Strategy
Pedagogical Priorities
Our strategy is based on close monitoring over time of how children at our school learn best and what they say about learning.
We have also undertaken a range of research into studies about teaching and learning, particularly the work of Guy Claxton, Barry Hymer, Carol Dweck and Stephen Heppell and undertaken work with consultants and professionals from other educational settings, to produce learning systems relevant to our school and our context.
Our Learning Framework
Download our learning framework which talks about how the curriculum is built in each area of learning.
PSHCE
Download our PSHCE Curriculum Overview showing the curriculum topics for each year group over the school year.
Our Commitment
Skills Based: learning will be planned to make sure the children develop a wide range of skills across all subjects.
First Hand Experiences: learning will be through first hand experiences and practical opportunities. Where possible this will include visits in the locality and further afield. We will also try hard to invite interesting visitors into school.
Learning will be Purposeful: different subjects will be linked together in ‘real life’ situations. Learning will Promote School Values.
Learning will be Visual: teachers will use visual resources and objects to engage children in learning
H.P.S. Assessment
Learning Journeys
Children at H.P.S. have their own learning journey booklets, which they record progress in and self assess their understanding and learning. View the booklet for each year group here:
Ultimately, we aim for children to leave our school with the self-belief that they have the capacity to achieve and be successful.
School Outcomes
We have a statutory duty to display pupil outcomes data:
You might also like to view the performance tables for England and the table for Huntingdon Primary School.
Swimming
The percentage of pupils within the year 6 cohort for the 2022/23 academic year who can:
- Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres and Use a range of strokes effectively is 79.36%
- Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations 17.46% (This figure is included within the 79.36%)
- 20.64% of children can swim 10 meters.