Primary Curriculum
Subjects
To see the curriculum for each subject, click on the links below.
At Horizon Academy we promote an inclusive, restorative environment in which each individual is valued and respected. We have an ethos of setting high expectations of attainment for all pupils with consistently applied support, tailored to each individual child where needed. We recognise that all children and young people need a solid foundation of positive mental health to benefit fully from all of the opportunities that are available to them. We want our children to be resilient and mentally healthy, so that they can succeed.
Our vision for the curriculum is that it will inspire our pupils to make positive choices, have high expectations of themselves, and always strive to do their best. We have designed, organised and planned our curriculum to ensure every child receives an appropriate mix of academic and personal development. We understand that children will only be successful learners if they are emotionally secure, and that all children need to feel safe and secure as a prerequisite for learning. We therefore devote time to developing trusting relationships with our children and stabilising behaviour.
We carefully monitor children’s progress within their personal development and our planned and thoughtful approach to spiritual, moral, social and cultural learning helps to ensure that every child is well cared for and supported. The balanced approach to our curriculum is not at the expense of high expectations in core and foundation subjects. We have the highest expectations of students. Many children who come to our school have missed out on their learning and there is no time to waste, so high standards and enabling children to fill the gaps so that they can reach national expectations and above is vitally important to us. All students are set targets which are regularly reviewed. Parents and schools are kept informed about the children’s progress both informally and formally.
We hope that pupils will succeed at the next stage of their education whether that be back in mainstream or specialist setting, so that they go on to achieve full and happy lives and careers. We provide a full and rich curriculum at a level appropriate to attainment, in a secure, stimulating and caring environment for our children, to enable them to achieve, develop, learn and grow. To enable pupils to be successful we follow the national curriculum and other national strategies. The normal curriculum of the school is also supplemented by activities that help the children with the things they find particularly difficult like managing their anger, playing games with other children, or coping better with sitting in the classroom.
*The Right of Withdrawal from Religious Education
In England, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education. This right of withdrawal exists for all pupils in all types of schools. Parents and carers also have the right to withdraw their child from part of RE and can do so without giving any explanation.
Religion and belief have become more visible in public life in recent years, making it important that all pupils should have an opportunity to engage in RE. However, the parent of a pupil may request that they be excused from all or part of the religious education (RE) provided.
Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it.
If you wish to withdraw your child from RE, or parts of RE, please contact Head of School, Ms Lane.
Important – limitations to withdrawal
If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching. A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as the library or break out area.
Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children may also encounter religions and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.
On occasion, spontaneous questions about religious matters are raised by pupils or issues related to religion arise in other curriculum subjects such as history or citizenship (PSHE) For example, schools promote community cohesion and help pupils to understand ideas about identity and diversity, feelings and emotions within both religious and non-religious contexts.
Photography © Meg Khan
