The children are at the heart of our curriculum.

We believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop and build their self-esteem and self-confidence.  We encourage our children to have high aspirations and strive for the best. We want our children to be responsible and effective by the time they finish their journey at The Berkeley Academy and move onto the next phase of their lives.

With the introduction of the new Primary Curriculum we have taken the opportunity to customise our curriculum content with the aim of providing ever more relevant and appropriate learning experiences for the children of The Berkeley Academy.  We plan for and deliver this curriculum with consistency across the school so that over time there is a real impact on academic standards and our children’s personal development.

Drawing on the knowledge and experience of our staff, with consideration of our aims and objectives, and by carefully analysing the needs of the children of The Berkeley Academy, the following Curriculum Drivers have been developed to enable our children to grow as learners and approach new experiences with endeavour and confidence:

Knowledge of the World

Enterprise

Emotional Awareness

Enquiry

Our Curriculum Drivers should prioritise and personalise our learning and support us to constantly consider how and what we teach.

What do we mean by Knowledge and Understanding of the World?

Knowledge and Understanding of the World (Discovering the Differences and Variety of the World)

• Widen general knowledge
• Involvement in local community
• Celebrating diversity
• Real life learning
• Be inspired by the impact of important individuals in our world
• Use technology
• Determination to explore the living world around us

What do we mean by Emotional Awareness?

Emotional Awareness (Thinking of Others and Improving Yourself)

• Teaching empathy, courtesy and honesty
• Growth mindset to strive and have a passion for excellence
• Helping children be a caring friend
• Developing spiritual and moral values
• Children help by taking on responsibilities within the school
• Love challenge and reflect on their own learning
• Be motivated, committed and positive

What do we mean by Enterprise?

Enterprise (Preparing for Life and Working Effectively as a Team)

• Teach financial awareness and responsibility
• Work effectively as a team
• Think creatively and flexibly to solve problems
• Equip children for the future and to be forward facing
• Listen and communicate effectively with others
• Support and encourage
• Develop enterprising skills

What do we mean by Enquiry?

Enquiry (Finding Out Answers to Challenges and Problems)

• Encourage children to be inquisitive and questioning
• Develop resilience and perseverance
• Promote risk taking to achieve
• Support collaborative learning
• Empower children to be independent learners
• Provide opportunities for application of skills
• Nurturing problem solvers

At The Berkeley we recognise that each child is unique and special and has his/her own personality, abilities and aptitudes. We are proud that our curriculum recognises these differences and provides the means and encouragement for every child to achieve their potential. We expect high standards in both work and behaviour, and we want the children to enjoy their learning and tackle their work with enthusiasm. Study workbooks give children the opportunity to show high quality work and to follow their enthusiasms and provide meaningful writing experiences.