The Courtwood Curriculum

We provide a broad and balanced curriculum, which is enhanced with the option to participate in many extra-curricular clubs and activities. Maths and Literacy are taught every day for at least an hour and links made to applying knowledge in real-life contexts. Foundation subjects such as science, history and art are taught via Learning Journeys which immerse the children in a topic.

Literacy

We teach literacy using a scheme of work called The Power of Reading. Reading and writing skills are embedded and taught by studying a whole text from beginning to end, lasting anything between a week and six weeks. As well as reading and writing there are opportunities for speaking and listening, drama, art and music.

Numeracy

Numeracy is taught using a scheme of work called Abacus. All areas of maths are covered within this scheme including calculation, data handling, shape and space, geometry, measurement and mental maths. Children are regularly taught problem-solving skills and given the opportunities to apply these to a real-life context.

Learning Journeys

Learning Journeys bring together many of the remaining school subjects such as art and geography. Class trips are often organised to enhance a topic and support the learning taking place at school. Junior children receive French lessons for a term and Year 3 receive a years’ worth of SoundStart music tuition. Some subjects such as RE, PE, PSHCE, Music and French are taught discretely, whilst others such as history, geography, DT and art are usually taught through Learning Journey’s in a cross curricular way. Please see the Curriculum map in this booklet for a wider overview.

Homework

Homework is set half-termly and matches the class Learning Journey for the half term. There are non-negotiable tasks that must be completed weekly such as spellings and times-tables practise. In addition there are a further nine tasks (either literacy, numeracy or topic based) that the children can choose to complete (a minimum of three must be completed.)

Extra-Curricular

We provide a wide-range of extra-curricular clubs and activities throughout the year at Courtwood. Clubs include: Multi-Sports, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Street Dance, Ball Skills, Craft, Gardening, Cookery, German, Science, Computing and Lego. Years 5 and 6 may have the opportunity to represent the school in teams such as Netball and Football.

What Will You Be Learning About in Year 6?

During the year you will go on many Learning Journeys with your class. You can find information about some of these below.

Could Spiderman Really Exist?

Could the attributes Spiderman has, exist in real creatures? You will learn how living things are classified based on their characteristics, similarities and differences including animals, plants and micro-organisms. We will classify the living things that can be found on the school grounds and discuss what special attributes help them to survive. We will consider why some animals are endangered and have the opportunity to do research and paint/draw some of these animals.

Were the Vikings always Victorious and Vicious? 

On this Learning Journey discover why the Vikings came to Britain and how they made the journey. You’ll learn what life was like for an 11 year old Viking, what they ate and have a go at recreating a meal, as well as what we have learned from the Vikings that we still use in Britain today. You’ll also have the opportunity to design and make your very own Viking long boat.

By the end of this topic you will be able to identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system and describe the jobs of the heart, blood vessels and blood. You will understand the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle on the way your body functions and we’ll go for a short run to observe what happens to our bodies!  

To Be or Not to Be, That is the Question?

On this Learning Journey you’ll find out about life in the time Shakespeare lived. You’ll learn all about the Globe theatre (with a possible trip), how Shakespeare’s plays would have been performed at the time and have a chance to research and learn about some of his most famous characters. We’ll consider how Shakespeare coped without an iPad or laptop and have a go at turning a Shakespearian tragedy into a rap.

I’m a Year 6 Pupil, Get me out of Here!

The Learning Journey starts with an orienteering activity around the school. You will learn to use the eight points of a compass, four-figure grid references, symbols and keys to read maps. We will look at our local area and how it has changed over the years and create sketches, maps, graphs and photos. You’ll also get to plan a trip to a European City including the cost and time.

Could you be the Next Nintendo Apprentice?

We’ll start this exciting Learning Journey by looking at a range of board games that use batteries and evaluate them. You’ll have the chance to create circuits with buzzers, switches and motors, as well as learn how to sequence lights and then use the scientific symbols to draw these. Finally, you’ll design your own board game and market your product using persuasive language.

Will You Ever See the Water you Drink Again?

This topic focuses on the water cycle and why water is a major necessity in any town, village or city. We’ll find out why some places have lots of rain and why others go for a long time without any. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how water is used as a source of energy and design and build your own moving toy that requires water to power it. We’ll think how water is represented by music and try composing our own pieces.

Wise Owl Woods (WOW)

The woods were gifted to the school in 2013 and officially ‘opened’ by the Deputy Mayor of Croydon in September 2013. They are a superb resource and we use them as often as possible, to enhance learning across the curriculum. Trained teachers and Teaching Assistants lead Forest School sessions and Year 5 and Year 1 children attend scheduled Forest School sessions on Friday afternoons during the course of the school year. Class teachers will use the woods at any other time to support outdoor learning. 

The Tree House Enhanced Learning Provision

The Tree House is a purpose built SEN unit for children on the Autistic Spectrum, built and opened in 2014. The Tree House can cater for up to 14 children, two per class from Reception to Year 6. There is an infant classroom (Holly class), a junior classroom (Chestnut class), a therapy room, sensory room, meeting room and toilets. There is also an outdoor area. Where appropriate, children from the Tree House will join their mainstream classes for lessons.

Reading – Year 6

• Refer to text to support opinions and predictions.
• Give a view about choice of vocabulary, structure, etc.
• Distinguish between fact and opinion.
• Appreciate how a set of sentences has been arranged to create maximum effect.
• Recognise:
  • complex sentences with more than one subordinate clause
  • phrases which add detail to sentences
• Explain how a writer has used sentences to create particular effects.
• Skim and scan to aide note-taking.

Writing

• Use subordinate clauses to write complex sentences.
• Use passive voice where appropriate.
• Use expanded noun phrases to convey complicated information concisely (e.g. The fact that it was raining meant the end of sports day).
• Use a sentence structure and layout matched to requirements of text type.
• Use semi-colon, colon or dash to mark the boundary between independent clauses.
• Use colon to introduce a list and semi colon within a list.
• Use correct punctuation of bullet points.
• Use hyphens to avoid ambiguity.
• Use full range of punctuation matched to requirements of text type.
• Use wide range of devices to build cohesion within and across paragraphs.
• Use paragraphs to signal change in time, scene, action, mood or person.

Mathematics

• Use negative numbers in context and calculate intervals across zero.
• Compare and order numbers up to 10,000,000.
• Identify common factors, common multiples and prime numbers.
• Round any whole number to a required degree of accuracy.
• Identify the value of each digit to 3 decimal places.
• Use knowledge of order of operations to carry out calculations involving four operations.
• Multiply:
  • 4-digit by 2-digit
• Divide:
  • 4-digit by 2-digit
• Add and subtract fractions with different denominators and mixed numbers.
• Multiply simple pairs of proper fractions, writing the answer in the simplest form.
• Divide proper fractions by whole numbers.
• Calculate % of whole number.

Rights and Responsibilities

We use our Courtwood Rights and Responsibilities as a way for all the children in the school to understand the school rules. The principle is that children understand that they have a right to certain things, but with that right comes a responsibility to behave in certain ways. We have a right to: 

RIPPLE

The RIPPLE effect is a set of six learning behaviours that we believe will enable the children to do the best they can in their learning, whilst at Courtwood. These were developed in partnership with our children, governors and staff. They are: 

Our children understand the language of learning and are able to articulate how these skills are used in their daily lives at Courtwood. Achievement is celebrated weekly. 

PSHE Curriculum

At Courtwood, we see PSHE as central to everything we do.  We teach PSHE as a discreet subject at least once a week, but it is also integrated in all aspects of daily school life. We place great importance on helping children to learn the knowledge, understanding and skills required to live healthy, safe, responsible and rewarding lives. We recognise that in order for children to achieve their full academic potential they must also develop socially, emotionally and morally.