Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to foster thought, curiosity and a desire for learning in all pupils, regardless of their backgrounds, strengths and needs. It provides imaginative starting points through a topic-based approach, where creatively-linked subjects are enriched by educational trips, inspirational visitors and targeted home learning. Our curriculum aims to be a gateway to opportunity and to a fulfilling and prosperous life in modern Britain and beyond.
Our curriculum is broad and balanced, providing a solid foundation for future learning and ensuring that the key skills in English and Mathematics are taught well through creative and enjoyable lessons. From an early age, we focus on developing pupils’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, as these are crucial to them accessing the full breadth of the curriculum.
The whole school literacy programme is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.
Phonics is taught to all children in daily sessions that are differentiated in accordance with pupils’ abilities, starting in Reception and continuing throughout Year 1 and Year 2. We use the well-known Read, Write Inc approach to phonics. Pupils also benefit from regular guided and individual reading sessions.
Our curriculum is both coherent and cumulative, with an emphasis on developing, securing and mastering the skills required to meet and exceed age-related expectations.
In line with the Star Quality Standards, the curriculum actively promotes equality for all through both its content and delivery. Full details are contained in the Annual Equalities Statement.
We aim to ensure that all pupils have access to the curriculum and are not disadvantaged by any disabilities or special educational needs. Full details are contained in the SEND Information Report, Policy and Guidance.
Our curriculum aims to:
- Cultivate well-rounded, intelligent and socially-aware pupils
- Mould pupils into good citizens, with a sense of responsibility for their actions
- Encourage civic and social participation within the community
- Promote the development of young leaders
- Allow pupils to develop their individuality
- Empower pupils with the necessary skills and abilities to play a full and inclusive role within society
- Provide a solid foundation for future learning at every stage
- Deliver excellent results
To find out more about our curriculum, please email Sameera Naz, Assistant Principal, the curriculum lead: sameera.naz@rainbow.staracademies.org
Educational Excellence
Educational excellence is fundamental to our educational philosophy. We are committed to providing a rich, sequential curriculum that will provide our pupils with an outstanding foundation preparing them for their secondary education.
Alongside the National Curriculum, the ‘Core Knowledge Sequence UK’ (CKS) is used as a springboard for additional knowledge-rich learning in Science, History, Geography and Art and Design. The CKS is an engaging and exciting source of lesson content and compliments the curriculum, ensuring a coherent and cumulative approach to building pupils’ knowledge across the curriculum as a whole. This equips them to make sense of the world around them, enabling them to become resilient independent learners, problem-solvers and critical thinkers and therefore preparing them for the important exam years at secondary school.
We use the well-known Read Write Inc approach to phonics. This whole school literacy programme is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.
Character Development
Our curriculum for Character Development includes a programme of Physical Education, sports, cultural, creative and other extra-curricular activities. This helps pupils develop key personal skills and aptitudes including leadership, oral communication, self-confidence, personal effectiveness, entrepreneurship, self-actualisation, problem-solving and enhanced emotional intelligence. These curricular dimensions of learning are at the heart of the school.