'Inspire and Achieve'

At Eastnor Primary School we accept the widest possible definition of the word curriculum “All that is experienced in school, whether planned or unplanned”. This definition encompasses concepts such as ethos, crucial to our definition as a church school, and, at the heart of everything, relationships between every person who is part of the Eastnor family.

The aim for our school is to create a curriculum that reflects and serves the needs of the children within the community in which they are geographically and culturally located and to celebrate it. We also value the importance of recognising the gaps in our pupils’ everyday experiences so that our curriculum ensures they are ready and equipped with the skills, attitudes, knowledge and understanding they need to excel and to be ready to successfully navigate the ever changing demands of their world.

Our curriculum develops skills and knowledge for deep and meaningful understanding so that pupils "know more" "remember more" and "can do more." It draws on the creative arts, mathematics, the literary world, dance, theatre, music, language, science and a plethora of other inspiration with the aim of enriching children’s lives.

Children are immersed in language everyday through our core text approach to English. In addition, in French, Music and Sports lessons, the Eastnor teaching staff are supported by specialist teachers to ensure the highest quality outcomes.

We know that children achieve their potential when they are happy, have fun, feel nurtured and grow from a foundation of strong Christian Values. Every child should leave our school with rich and happy memories, confidence and faith in their own unique qualities and that they will strive to do their best in everything they do.

Outdoor Learning

We are privileged to be able to educate our children in such beautiful surroundings. The school is situated in one of the most beautiful estates in England. It sits at the heart of Eastnor village next to the famous castle with its arboretum and lake, and a beautiful deer park, all of which are used by the school regularly in all areas of the curriculum. We encourage children to be responsible for, and respect, the local community and environment giving them a sense of belonging and ownership of the place in which they live. We explore the uses of the local area, integrating subjects so that meaningful activities can be planned and delivered effectively. We encourage children to identify, take and mitigate risks.

Visits and Visitors

In the curriculum we recognise that children’s learning is enhanced by different experiences. We offer children a wide range of educational visits which are used to motivate and engage learning and which bring to life and enrich topics and different areas of the curriculum. Regular visitors in school also give the children another perspective on values, attitudes, learning and understanding. These include charities, people with different faiths and beliefs, people working in different professions and those from our own local community.  

Eastnor's Curriculum Design

From our long term plans, the curriculum is carefully structured and well sequenced through progression documents for foundation subjects which outline the progression of the relevant knowledge and skills across the school. Key knowledge is promoted through the use of 'Flashback', ensuring pupils know more, remember more, and are able to do more.  In addition, Knowledge Organisers provide key learning and vocabulary for pupils in every lesson.

Children begin their journey with the EYFS profile. The ‘Little Wandle' scheme is followed in Reception class and KS1 to establish a firm foundation in phonics. Children experience of a wide range of books and develop a lifelong love of reading. We have embedded a very successful - and popular - core text approach in our English curriculum which enables all of our children to be inspired and challenged each term. This is complemented by a wide range of other reading material, including non-fiction and poetry.

Being exposed to high level texts is crucial. Through reading, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know: it also helps them develop a rich understanding of language and vocabulary which supports high level comprehension skills and writing.

In mathematics, we use the maths scheme White Rose which is influenced, inspired and informed by the work of leading maths researchers and practitioners across the world. With a focus on high aspirations for all, leading the children through the curriculum in small structured steps, whilst providing opportunity to develop fluency, problem-solving and reasoning skills..  

Through educational research on how the brain works, we understand that it is vital that children have regular opportunity to recall and demonstrate their understanding of recently acquired knowledge.  This is further enhanced through a range of effective retrieval practice, including the use of Flashback, topic quizzes and Knowledge Organisers.  

In lessons, you will see highly effective teaching and well motivated and engaged learners through;

• probing questioning;
• high levels of subject knowledge;
• direct instruction;
• effective partner talk / pupil collaboration;
• independence and resilience; 
• well paced lessons and delivery;
• opportunities for reasoning and justifying;
• precise use of subject specific vocabulary;
• opportunities for retrieval practice.

We have high expectations for the IMPACT of our curriculum.  Children will have the relevant knowledge and skills to provide a firm foundation for the rest of their educational journey.  At the end of Year 6, children demonstrate positive personal traits and core values that inform their motivation and influences their conduct so that they are reflective and eager to learn, with high aspirations for the future.  They will be enquiring, independent and resilient learners.  

During their journey through our school, we will provide every child with enriched curriculum opportunities, enabling them to continue to follow their dreams and aspirations, whilst demonstrating good citizenship.  Children will be responsible, respectful citizens who are able to play their part and become actively involved in public life.