Curriculum

As a new proud member of the DRET family of schools, our curriculum now incorporates the exciting learning opportunities provided by the Trust. From September 2024, we moved fully to the DRET primary curriculum. 

 Trust, Academy and British Values

English 

English

Reading

Currently in Reception and Key Stage 1, we use Read Write Inc Phonics as our approach to the teaching of early reading and we will continue to use this scheme in line with other DRET primary academies. Home reading books in Reception and Key Stage 1 are phonetically-plausible, containing only those sounds ('graphemes') which children have learned and know. Each child in these year groups also receives a 'Reading for Pleasure' picture book. As children progress, they move onto the Talk 4 Reading programme.

Writing

We are use the Talk 4 Writing pedagogy from Foundation stage to Year 6 -  to structure our teaching of writing. Each year group’s writing unit is based on a high-quality text and lessons are delivered in three modes: imitation, innovation and independent writing.  

Maths

Mathematics

Subject Lead- Miss Johnson

Our Mathematics curriculum, and the teaching to deliver this, is carefully planned and sequenced at The Richmond Primary Academy. The lessons are adapted to suit the needs of every child as we aim to lay a secure foundation of Mathematical knowledge for children to not only be ready for Secondary school but to thrive in the real world.

Our Maths lessons

At Richmond Primary Academy, we use Effective Mathematics as a base for the delivery of the curriculum, alongside teachers’ knowledge of the ‘5 Big Ideas’, to provide and embedded mastery approach. This curriculum allows children to securely develop a depth of understanding of mathematical processes through reasoning, fluency and the concrete, pictorial and abstract representations.

Lessons are designed carefully to incorporate the following elements:

• Representation and structure
• Procedural and Conceptual understanding and variation
• Mathematical thinking through reasoning and connections
• Fluency-Number and Table facts
• Small steps and coherence

Planning is based on the national curriculum standards and used to facilitate high quality teaching and learning.

CONCRETE, PICTORIAL, ABSTRACT (CPA)

At Richmond Primary Academy, we use a CPA approach to mathematics. Every new concept is learned first with a concrete (physical) experience in ALL year groups and for children of ALL abilities. This helps to bring abstract concepts to life. This could be a short activity at the beginning of the lesson, or it could be a series across the hour. A range of manipulatives are used within the ‘concrete’ phase. This may include Numicon, Base 10, counters, cubes, or anything else that the children can physically manipulate. Teachers use manipulatives when modelling concepts to children.

Once children are secure with the concrete stage, they can progress to the pictorial stage. The pictorial stage is a vital step for enabling children to move from concrete maths to abstract maths. During the pictorial stage staff help children to make a mental connection between the physical object and abstract levels of understanding by drawing pictures, circles, diagrams or models which represent the objects in the problem. Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp concepts they traditionally find more difficult, such as fractions, as it helps them visualise the problem and make it more accessible.

Once the pupils have mastered maths concepts through using concrete and pictorial resources, they move into the abstract stage. Even when working abstractly in maths all pupils have access to concrete and pictorial resources to support them.

Beyond the daily lessons

Daily Fluency

In addition to the daily maths lesson, all children in Years 1-6 participate in a daily maths fluency session. This is a short (20-30 minute) session. It focuses on using understanding of mathematical relationships, making connections between what is known and unknown. It is also an opportunity to recap previous learning and to revisit concepts that children may need further reinforcing and the discrete teaching of times tables facts, particularly in years 3 and 4. All children have a Numbots and/or Times Tables Rockstars login in order to rehearse the times tables facts taught within these sessions.

Mastering Number

Mastering number is a NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics) backed programme that has a daily taught sessions relating to the children's fluency with key number facts. It moves slowly, uses repetition and repeated refrains to ensure that children develop a sound understanding of each step before moving on.

Mastering Number at KS1 is used in Year 1 and 2 for their fluency sessions daily. These are extra maths sessions that focus on the children's ability to manipulate numbers and use them in a variety of contexts and problems.

Science

Science

Subject Lead- Mr Danks

Our Science Curriculum is sequenced coherently so useful knowledge and skills builds through the three distinct disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. As a result of the accumulation of essential knowledge and skills pupils’ science capital and scientific understanding will be substantial and will provide a secure foundation that will enable them to succeed in the next stage of their education.

At The Richmond Primary Academy, we aim to stimulate children's curiosity by engaging our pupils in science activities that are designed to encourage pupils to plan, observe, predict, investigate and analyse. 

Art and Design

Art and Design

Subject Lead- Mrs Sylvester

At The Richmond Primary Academy, we value art and design and the opportunities it provides for our children to be creative and express themselves. We have carefully designed and structured our art and design curriculum to ensure children develop the knowledge and skills needed to become successful artists.

During their time at The Richmond, children will be given a range of experiences including sketching, painting, printing, textiles and even using 3D programs. As children progress through the school, they will study a variety of different artists and build upon prior knowledge and learning that they can then apply to new concepts.

We believe that children should know how art and design both reflect and shape our history and contributes to culture and creativity around the world.

Computing

Computing

Subject Lead- Mr Danks

At The Richmond Primary Academy School we design computing lessons to ensure all pupils enjoy what technology has to offer as well as ensuring they develop a range of skills. Our aim is to nurture confidence with our pupils so they can access a range of technological devices and programmes – this is vital to their future as we grow in a world of technology!

Our curriculum focuses on the aims of the National Curriculum which ensures pupils are competent with the principles of computer science as well as being creative users with fluency in technology. We also teach beyond this to ensure our pupils are able to access a range of software that will support any future careers, like writing E-Books, creating websites and sending emails.

We endeavour to ensure pupils progress through the curriculum and re-visit skills in order to delve deeper and explore further. Computing is not just taught as stand-alone, we draw on the ideas developing in our computing sessions within our wider curriculum, such as accessing research to support our rich knowledge focus in other subjects, accessing quiz sites to support our maths skills, using word processing programmes to produce extended pieces of writing and considering the algorithms that supports the science of computers.

 Design Technology

Design Technology (DT)

Subject Lead- Mrs O'Dare

At The Richmond Primary Academy pupils have planned opportunities to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Through a variety of activities, we teach the technical skills, knowledge and understanding needed to engage in the process of designing and making. We use the TASC Wheel to ensure that children are familiar with the processes of gathering information, designing and making a product then evaluating it.

Wherever possible, we aim to link our work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, computing and art.

History and Geography

History and Geography

Subject Lead- Mrs Rutherford

Our History Curriculum is sequenced coherently so useful knowledge builds through six unifying themes; humans and the environment, cultural development and interactions, governance, economic systems, system interaction and organisation and technology and innovation. As a result of the accumulation of essential knowledge, pupils’ cultural capital and historical disciplines will be substantial and will provide a secure foundation enabling them to succeed in the next stage of their education.

Our Geography Curriculum is designed so that useful knowledge builds through two distinct strands; Locational Knowledge and Human and Physical Geography.  As a result of the accumulation of essential knowledge pupils are provided with the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time, allowing them to become true global citizens. 

Modern Foreign Languages

Modern Foreign Languages - French

Subject Lead- Mrs King

Modern Foreign Language plays an important role within the curriculum at The Richmond Primary Academy, and is one of many subjects that will help to fulfil our wider trust mission of creating a curriculum that is broadening the horizons of young people within our academy. The teaching of languages to early learners is now widely recognised as a significant contributory factor in developing literacy, building self-confidence and broadening cultural horizons. Through learning a foreign language there are further benefits in terms of gains in listening and speaking skills, laying the foundations for future language learning. 

At The Richmond Primary Academy, we learn French in KS2. In KS1, we celebrate languages. 

Music

Music

Subject Lead- Mrs Sylvester

Music plays a central role within the curriculum at The Richmond Primary Academy and all DRET schools and is fundamental to the wider Trust mission of creating aspirational and knowledge-rich pupils. Pupils will perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. Pupils will also learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and progress to the next level of musical excellence. Furthermore, pupils will understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notation.  

• Sing with a wide range and with a variety of expression 
• Sing confidently in parts 
• Read staff notation 
• Experience playing an orchestral instrument in a class ensemble (and to be given the opportunity to continue learning the instrument in smaller groups/one-to-one) 
• Hear a youth or professional orchestra live 
• Hear a youth, church or professional choir live 

In addition, there are opportunities for those children showing musical aptitude to be able to develop their musicianship through singing in choirs, playing in instrumental ensembles and joining local (and national) musical groups. The school’s Music Lead, guided by a DRET Primary Music Specialist, will direct these children to such ensembles. 

Our ultimate intention is that, as a result of the above, pupils have a love of music and develop fluency and unconsciously apply their knowledge and skills.  

Physical Education

Physical Education (PE)

Subject Lead- Mrs O'Dare

At The Richmond Primary Academy, we understand that teaching correct fundamental movement and basic sports skills at the correct time in a child’s development, significantly increases the chances of children going on to live active, healthy lives. Our extensive PE and sport curriculum, as well as various enrichment clubs, provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports both their physical and mental well-being. 

The children begin in reception developing their fundamental movement skills, which we then develop into more sport specific PE lessons. This allows the children to develop their skills and abilities across a wide variety of sports. Children take part in 2 hours of PE each week, learning new skills and applying these to games and matches.

We encourage each and every child to be a PE star and look to celebrate the children’s achievements by celebrating their effort, attitude and successes in PE sessions.

Children of different sporting abilities have opportunities to compete in a wide range of academy and Trust activities which promote resilience, encourage excellent communication skills and build strength of character as well as instil the values of team building and fairness.

PSHE and RSHE

PSHE and RSHE

Subject Lead- Mrs Harness

PSHE and RSE helps pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe. We use the Jigsaw programme to help us implement our curriculum and it is designed to have an impact on both academic and non-academic performance. Our PSHE curriculum aims to help children know and value who they really are and how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world. The pupils' understanding of protected characteristics and tolerance is essential and we complement this curriculum with material from the 'No Outsiders' programme and the NSPCC. Each year, we review our contextual safeguarding needs and this is woven into the curriculum to ensure our pupils are receiving the skills and knowledge to keep them safe.

The Richmond Primary Academy is part of strong community and the staff have an unwavering dedication to the health, safety and well-being of all pupils and the families of these pupils. PSHE at The Richmond is taught comprehensively and progressively ensuring coverage of key concepts takes place. This gives pupils relevant learning experiences to help them navigate their world and to develop positive relationships with themselves and others. 

Religious Education (RE)

RE

Subject Lead- Mrs Broughton

Our Religious Education Curriculum is sequenced coherently, based on the Jigsaw programme, so the children develop religious literacy by investigating and understanding religion and beliefs, reflecting and interpreting human experience in relation to identity, belonging, diversity, meaning, purpose, truth, values and commitments. To achieve an outstanding knowledge of Religious Education we have a good balance between learning about religion and belief as well as learning from religion by questioning and reflecting upon purpose, truth as well as belonging.

We plan our Religious Education curriculum around our own community carefully considering the demographic of where we are and considering the beliefs of our children before deciding on what to teach. As well as Christianity we teach the five other major religions, following the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus.  

We want pupils to know how religious education promotes tolerance and combats prejudice, producing positive citizens, preparing them for adult life, employment and life-long learning.

Parental right to withdraw their child from Religious Education (RE) 

A parent may wish to exercise the right to withdraw their child from all or part of the RE curriculum. In this case, the school might wish to discuss the matter with the parents to: 

• make sure that their request is based on a clear understanding of what RE involves. 
• make practical arrangements for the supervision of the pupil whilst RE is being taught. 

If parents still wish the pupil to be withdrawn, then this right will be freely exercisable. Parents are not obliged to give reasons for withdrawing their child.  

Modern Foreign Languages

Documents

• 2024 2025 The Richmond Primary Academy Whole School Curriculum Overview PDF
• Music Action Plan 2024 5
• RPA Curriculum Overview

 

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