Curriculum
All things are possible for one who believes – Mark 9:23
Every member of Waverley Abbey is a child of God who learns to live a life of love, compassion and hope within our school family on their way to fulfilling their God-given potential. We want children to leave having grown in faith and courage and established on their spiritual journey.
At Waverley Abbey, we want our children to develop a strong sense of who they are and an understanding that they are part of a wider community. We aim to teach children to love themselves and love each other, relish challenges, be ambitious and have a positive Growth Mindset.
‘Waverley Abbey provides a stimulating, balanced and broad based education’ - Ofsted 2018 - which, within the Framework of the National Curriculum, affords every child the opportunity to excel wherever their strengths may be. We want them to fulfil their potential and nurture them into good citizens, conscious of their responsibilities to each other, their family, society and the world in which we live.
The aim of our curriculum is for pupils to have the requisite skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education. It is important that the curriculum considers the development of the whole child. The curriculum is underpinned by the school’s Core Values (hope, courage, growth, love, honesty and compassion) and these are taught on their own and through other areas of the curriculum, including assemblies.
Knowledge underpins and enables the application of skill. We strive for children to learn new skills alongside knowledge, ensuring that both are explicitly developed. Recognising that knowledge and skills are intertwined, ensuring teaching and learning is relevant and meaningful.
At Waverley we are very fortunate to have several specialist teachers. Our Physical Education specialist teaches much of the Physical Education curriculum and our French specialist teaches all French lessons. Music is taught using the ‘Charanga’ programme and is supported by instructors and teachers from Surrey Arts and Music Works with further lessons available to those children wishing to learn a specific musical instrument. We also use Kapow to support the teaching of computing.
Curriculum Enrichment:
Our curriculum extends beyond the National Curriculum and includes a wide range of enriching experiences and opportunities both within and beyond the school day. This includes an extensive programme of after-school clubs, that support the core curriculum offer, as well as those which develop specialist skills (Cultural Capital). A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, creating a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for learning. Each year group has a specific focus regard to our curriculum enrichment, these are:
Year 3 - Forest School
Year 4 - Surrey Arts Clarinet lessons
Year 5 - Global Citizen
Year 6 - Waverley Abbey Challenge
Our school takes pride in providing a highly inclusive environment, where learners demonstrate high levels of enjoyment in their education and make very good progress across the curriculum. Children at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for greater depth and those who can struggle are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.
Theme weeks, whole school activities and opportunities within and outside school all enrich and develop the children’s learning. After school clubs and events extend these opportunities further. Whilst adding to the child’s personal development, enhancing the values we believe are vital if one wishes to be successful in today’s society.
Residential experiences are available for all pupils; the school embraces the opportunity for all pupils to experience learning away from home in a residential setting.
Pupils have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based and external exhibitions, performances, competitions and events. Developing their independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.
Curriculum Impact:
The impact and measure of our curriculum is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the curriculum but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points. In shaping our curriculum this way, progress is measured and evidenced for all children, regardless of their starting points or specific needs. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and excellent behaviour.
When our children leave us, as well as being ready for a KS3 curriculum, they have a wealth of transferrable skills which have been developed throughout their time at our school in an inclusive and nurturing environment. Our children enjoy lessons, and we believe this early love of learning stimulates children to become life-long learners.
We are proud that once the children from Waverley Abbey have moved on to secondary school, they have been supported through their transition; have been exposed to rich vocabulary and have high aspirations and self-belief all through the teaching of our broad and balanced curriculum.
Please use the links below to download ‘Curriculum Overviews’ for each term and year group.
Please use the navigation on the right to find out more about Teaching and Learning at Waverley Abbey School. If you would like to find out more about the curriculum please make an appointment to see your child's teacher who will be happy to discuss this with you, you can do this by contacting school through the office via - info@waverley-abbey.surrey.sch.uk