At Lionwood, we:
Build Relationships – Show Kindness – Develop Resilience – Value Diversity – Celebrate Learning – Take Responsibility

 We offer a knowledge-engaged curriculum. It is a balance between knowledge and skills. We make links between subjects to make curriculum relevant and meaningful to children, teach the skills necessary to apply what they have learned as well as ensuring they learn a body of knowledge needed for future education and life long learning.

It provides children with rich memorable experiences, always taking into account the local context of our families and the individual needs of all of our children, enabling them to build the knowledge, skills and cultural capital to be successful both educationally in life. High standards of knowledge and skills in English (including a love of reading) and Maths is essential , as we are acutely aware that attaining the Expected Standards in these core subjects equates to better opportunities and life chances for many of our children.

At Lionwood Junior School we have high aspirations for the children who attend our school and strongly believe in the importance of communication, reading, writing and mathematics as the core skills which will give children the confidence to learn and achieve within and beyond the school.

The Curriculum is driven by these principles:

• Meaningful and varied opportunities to use and apply English and Maths skills/knowledge within a broad curriculum.

This means: Language and Communication (including development of a rich and ambitious Vocabulary), Writing across a range of subjects, chances to develop speaking and listening skills in all areas of the curriculum (including presentations), Reading a variety of fiction and non-fiction and the application of Maths knowledge and skills connected to learning in all areas.

• The need for our children to gain cultural capital that they would not otherwise gain due to a social deprivation. (Cultural capital is accumulated cultural knowledge that confers social status and power.)

This means: That children should gain the knowledge of key events and people, places and ideas that allow them to have the opportunities to succeed within society at every level. Children are exposed to the lives, work and contribution by valued cultural figures and events.  There is an acknowledgement that the historical and current prejudice and discrimination that exists needs to be challenged, and that this is part of redefining what cultural capital is in our modern world, as well as addressing the social mobility of girls and marginalised groups. 

• Using the local context including diversity within the school and community so that the children can see the connections between their own lives, history and the environment. Providing children with the knowledge of where they can go locally in order to continue to expand and continue their learning.

This means: that children should be aware of the history, geographical and cultural context they live in as well as their family’s heritage.  To understand they are part of a multicultural society and what this means for their life experience and the experience of others. To know where to go to expand their knowledge and skills of areas of the curriculum that interest them.

• Developing knowledge of good mental and physical health by keeping themselves safe, maintaining successful relationships, effective self-care and resilience in the face of difficulties.

This means that there is a strong and robust programme of PSHE that teaches them how to face the challenges of a modern world, by giving them knowledge about how to keep themselves safe, make successful relationships, how to support others and gives them strategies to prevent and manage anxiety, trauma and depression.  That there is a full programme of Physical Education that educates them in the importance of physical health, teaches them skills and instils a lifelong habit of physical exercise.

• Knowledge and understanding of Climate Change

This means: that children know that climate change is occurring and what urgent changes need to be made on a global scale to address this.  They are taught this carefully so they do not develop ‘climate anxiety’.

At Lionwood, every child will achieve their own personal excellence by making rapid progress in their academic, personal and social development.  This will empower them to succeed at high school and beyond.

We go the extra mile to ensure that inclusion is a reality for all of our children and that everyone feels valued and a part of our learning community.

Our Curriculum ties in with the Vision and Values of the 

INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS TRUST

Purpose
To improve life chances for children by developing a love of life-long learning, preparing children for the next stages of their lives and equipping them with the skills to further develop their own sense of responsibility.

Vision
To inspire children to be successful and have high aspirations by making inclusion a reality and developing and understanding the whole child.

Values
To work collaboratively to champion all children striking a balance between equality of opportunity and celebration of individuality through the determination of all stakeholders going the extra mile to make a difference.

ALL DIFFERENT, ALL EQUAL, ALL LEARNING

We provide our children with an ambitious, exciting and empowering curriculum that:

• is broad, balanced, ambitious and values every area of learning
• is coherent and well-planned in progression of knowledge and skills in every subject
• offers a wide range of quality extra-curricular opportunities
• goes above and beyond the expectations of the National Curriculum
• supports and embraces all children and their families
• helps children see their place in their local community and as a global citizen
• values creativity and encourages learning links across the curriculum

Our curriculum is based on the premise that all children at Lionwood need to have strong English and Maths skills and knowledge across the full range of subjects, that allow them to prepare for the future world of education and work in a fast-changing world. 

We teach all subjects including subjects other than Maths and English with a clear understanding of a progression of skills in each subject and a key bank of knowledge that they are expected to attain by the end of each year and finally by the time they leave us for High School. This is made clear to staff and parents through ‘The LJS Curriculum Map’ and Curriculum Newsletters (that go home).  We have a clear progression of skills and knowledge (in the form of ‘I Can..’ statements for each year group in each subject) that go from Year 3 to Year 6 – building on the earlier progression of skills and knowledge at the Lionwood Infant School.

Our PSHE Curriculum is taught in discreet sessions with a focus, but also permeates through everything we do at Lionwood – it ties in with our Values:

At Lionwood, we:
Build Relationships – Show Kindness – Develop Resilience – Value Diversity – Celebrate Learning – Take Responsibility

Our Educational Visits, School Council, Assembly plan, charity days, extra-curricular activities and after-school clubs are an important part of this provision- as it enriches the curriculum through memorable events and opportunities to extend learning.

The five British Values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs run through our curriculum and our school.