Curriculum

What do we want our curriculum to achieve? 

☑  Interested and engaged pupils who want to learn

☑  Pupils who have developed mastery of procedural knowledge (skills) and factual knowledge

☑  Pupils who can, through regular practice and review, apply their knowledge to different contexts (fluency)

☑  Pupils who can confidently express themselves in English, make themselves understood and understand others

☑  Pupils who aspire to be the best that they can be, developing the 'best in everyone'

☑  Create caring citizens of the future, who have a strong moral purpose and sense of social responsibility

Our curriculum is based on the principles of the United Learning Framework for Excellence.

Click here to view our Curriculum Intent

Phonics and Reading

Phonics

At Marlborough Road, we use the commercial phonics scheme, ReadWriteInc.  This scheme is used in EYFS, Key Stage 1 and for some pupils in Key Stage 2.

This scheme was selected for its repetative structure in line with Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction.  The Scheme reviews previous learning and then introduces new material chunked into small pieces.

Reading at Key Stage 1

At Key Stage 1, pupils practice reading using ReadWriteInc scheme books.   

Pupils have access to a well stocked library and phonic banded e-books via the 'Bug Club'.

Background

At Marlborough Road Academy, there are around 47 languages spoken, 50 ethnicities and a range of religions and cultures represented. We celebrate this diversity and aim to develop the ‘best in everyone’. Through an exciting, creative and relevant curriculum, we place an emphasis on achieving the highest standards possible for all pupils. We strive to ensure that all pupils master skills and develop a deep understanding of a wide range of opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom. The curriculum has been constructed in partnership with subject specialists. It is evidence based and regularly reviewed for continued impact. In each subject, in each year group, future learning builds on previous learning and individual lessons build into units of work overtime. Core knowledge and subject specific vocabulary are identified for each topic and a development of skills is threaded through subject year-on-year. Subjects are taught as individual subjects in their own right, with links made between them where appropriate. In all subjects, pupils are taught well so that they know and remember more.

Extended learning and enrichment 

At Marlborough Road Academy, we believe that learning should extend throughout every aspect of the school day and that children should be exposed to as many rich and varied experiences as possible. For this reason, clubs and groups operate during lunchtime and after school, often in mixed age groups. These include football, netball, athletics, cross country, construction, art, den-building, go-karting, street dance, roller skating and outdoor cooking (to name but a few!). 
We also build a wide variety of trips, visits and guest speakers into our curriculum. These include Viking days at Tatton Park, Formby beach parties, visits by the Owl Man, orienteering in Delamere Forest, Shakespearean performances at the Victoria Baths, farm experiences... again to name a few!

All of these activities help to develop our children’s language and vocabulary, as well as providing them with many opportunities to develop their teamwork; creativity and problem-solving; self-management; and communication skills.

Mental health and wellbeing

We want to produce resilient, enthusiastic and happy learners and so we devote time to teaching good behaviour and emotional wellbeing. Every day, we spend class Together Time looking at strategies for overcoming difficulties and exploring our values, with this theme continued in weekly assemblies.

The class and school family are central to developing a sense of belonging for pupils and staff.

We are committed to the ‘Resilience Doughnut’ model which encourages children to focus on the positive aspects of their lives and enables them to cope with adversity. Our highly skilled key workers focus on supporting children who need extra help in order to overcome their barriers to learning. At lunchtime, adult support is available for all children in the quiet room.

In EYFS, lunchtime nurture groups run, incorporating team games, social stories and Lego therapy. Staff are also trained in emotion coaching.

British values at Marlborough Road Academy

At Marlborough Road Academy, we actively promote the fundamental British values of:

• democracy
• the rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith

We do this through our curriculum. Some examples of this include helping children to understand a range of faiths through our teaching of RE; understanding the concept of democracy through our history topic on Ancient Greece and celebrating Black History Month, International Women's Day and LGBT Pride week in PSHE. 

We also promote fundamental British values by ensuring that all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to. We actively promote our School Council which is elected through a democratic process and we regularly survey children’s opinions and ensure that these are carefully considered when making decisions.

Our behaviour policy centres on teaching good character and treating others with respect and kindness; our three simple rules apply to every member of our school community.

Click here to view our Curriculum Intent