Academic Curriculum

English

• Literacy skills are fundamental for every stage of a child’s life
• They equip a child for their current and future life
• These skills are a powerful tool which will empower the child and adult to become secure communicators by a variety of means in order to understand their life through informed opinion and be able to make a contribution to their world
• It is a stimulus for pleasure and enjoyment and opens up an understanding of the past, present and future, the secular and non secular

Aims

• To communicate effectively and accurately both orally and on paper
• To understand the wider role in life of reading and writing
• To boost the confidence and competence of children as writers, speakers and readers
• To encourage and nurture the enjoyment of reading, books and literature
• To expose children to the culture of theatre
• To help each child reach their own potential

Mathematics

Mathematics equips children with a uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world. These tools include:

• Logical reasoning
• Problem-solving skills
• The ability to think in abstract ways

Mathematics is a creative discipline, an Art and a Science. It can stimulate moments of pleasure and wonder when a pupil:

• solves a problem for the first time
• discovers a more elegant solution to the problem
• suddenly sees hidden connections

Aims

• Pupils should look forward to Mathematics lessons and develop a positive attitude towards the subject
• To encourage breadth of experience in the development of mathematical skills without in any way prejudicing thorough grounding
• To encourage the development of investigative thinking and the application of mathematical knowledge to unfamiliar problems
• Pupils should develop mental arithmetic skills and become confident in using a selection of mathematical tools and new technology
• Pupils should learn to communicate their mathematics, orally and literally
• To provide opportunities for pupils to undertake investigative work, allowing them to consider the knowledge they have at their disposal that may be appropriate to a particular situation

Science

Science is a body of knowledge essential to our understanding of the modern world.

It incorporates the skills of questioning, investigation, research, evaluation and interpretation. It involves the study of the living world, physical processes and materials and their properties. Scientific awareness encourages a responsible participation in our developing world and society.

Science is exciting and should be taught in such a way that it builds on children’s natural curiosity. Where possible, cross curricular links with other subjects in the school (including PSHE and citizenship) should highlighted.

Aims

We aim to offer a broad, balanced course placed in a global and historical context, which will:

• Encourage children to have an awareness of both the physical and biological aspects of life around them and in so doing to begin to arouse in children , values for the world and the part which they have to play in it, thus ensuring that the next generation is able to enjoy it in a worthwhile condition.
• Develop methods of scientific enquiry in observation, investigation and evaluation
• Develop a cross-section of scientific skills, to begin to prepare children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world
• Encourage open mindedness, self criticism, perseverance and responsibility
• Allow a greater appreciation of the everyday applications and importance of science.    
• It is hoped that children will gain a firm foundation and have an enjoyable experience of the subject so that they can, and will want to pursue this at a deeper level when they move on.

French

The educational purposes of teaching French at Bilton Grange are:

• To develop the ability to use the language effectively for the purposes of practical communication
• To form a sound base of the skills, language and aptitudes required for further study, work and leisure
• To offer insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries where the language is spoken
• To develop awareness of the nature of language and language learning
• To provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation
• To encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations
• To promote learning skills of a more general application (e.g. analysis, memorising, drawing of inference)
• To develop pupils’ understanding of themselves and their own culture

Aims

In studying French, pupils should have opportunities for and experience of:

• use of the target language where appropriate
• the integration of language skills
• imaginative and creative tasks and activities
• the use of authentic materials to develop cultural as well as linguistic awareness
• the use of ICT and other resources to develop independence
• where possible, trips to France and links with French schools
• links with other subjects

Classics

The primary aim of the department is not to present the language as an end in itself but ultimately as a means of gaining access to a wealth of literature and the culture from which it springs.

The study of Latin in the 21st century is a broad-based learning experience, made up of two interlinking elements, linguistic and cultural. By learning how a language quite different from English functions, we develop a much better grasp of the workings of English. Alongside study of the language, a positive attitude to other cultures is encouraged as pupils gain a deeper insight into the multicultural world of ancient Rome and its Mediterranean empire.

Pupils should:

• Acquire a knowledge of Latin sufficient for the demands of the level for which they will be entered at CE or scholarship, enabling them to translate and comment on a variety of material in the language.
• Develop reference skills and an understanding of context.
• Develop some awareness of how language works.
• Develop an understanding of, and an insight into, the civilisation whose language it was.

Geography

Geography is a subject which links and binds together all other subjects. Language (English) is a communication of ideas; Mathematics studies spatial and numerical relationships, while the Sciences seek to explain natural phenomena in various ways.

 In many ways, Geography’s problem is its non-specific nature – it is a good straightforward sort of subject which would be easy, were it not for its enormous breadth – it goes on forever and includes everything! It is, in effect, the study of the Earth and Mankind and his interaction with the variety of Environments found therein.

Far from being a secondary subject, it is one of vital importance as a link between all the other disciplines. Indeed, if no other subject were taught, Geography alone of all subjects would or should at least embrace to a certain extent the spheres of most of the other disciplines. It is this aspect which makes Geography so important.

Aims

These are many and varied.  However, they can be broken down somewhat. These wider aims include the following:-

• To extend pupils’ awareness of and develop an interest in their surroundings.
• To identify and explore inquisitively features of the local environment.
• To identify changes in the local area.
• To try to relate different human activities to specific places within the area.
• To become aware of different land uses and construction methods in the area and the reasons lying behind them.
• To develop ideas and concepts, this will begin to enable them to recognise the relative Positional and Spatial characteristics of their own environment.

In so doing there is a further and more important aim to develop an understanding of people and places beyond their own environment and experience.

• A wider aim is to develop the necessary observation, enquiry and language skills as well as Mathematical concepts.
• To develop skills of communication in the form of picture, diagram and map.
• To develop knowledge of the physical structure of the Earth and the processes acting upon it, thus having strong links with Science.
• To develop a knowledge and understanding of the different natural environments existing on Earth and Man’s interaction with them.
• To develop a sense of Man and his place within the total environment in relation to the Past, Present and Future and to assess man’s effect on his environment.
• To gain a knowledge of the surface of the Globe and the names given to important physical and human features.

History

History is the known record of past human societies. This record forms the body of knowledge comprising the content of history. Gathering, analysing and interpreting that record is the process of history.

History is important because:

• It fires the pupil’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world.
• Pupils are able to consider how the past influences the present by investigating what past societies were like, how these societies organised their politics and what beliefs and cultures influenced people’s actions.
• Pupils are able to develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.
• Pupils are exposed to a diverse range of human experiences and therefore can understand and appreciate themselves as individuals and as a member of a multicultural society.
• History is an important subject within our school’s curriculum because the skills of questioning, research and analysing evidence in a logical manner can be applied across the whole school curriculum and in everyday life.

Aims

Our aim in teaching history is that all pupils will;

• Learn about the past and present events in own life and family members and other people she/he knows (Foundation Stage)
• Understand that the society in which they live has been shaped by developments in the past.
• Learn about the roles that individuals, movements and events have played in the past.
• Learn to study historical evidence, asking questions and solving problems.
• Develop the ability to communicate historical knowledge and understanding, orally, visually, and in writing, using appropriate techniques and vocabulary.
• Appreciate how and why some aspects of the past are subject to different interpretations.

Religious Education

At Bilton Grange, Religious Education (RE) is learning about and developing an appreciation of human belief in relation to the fundamental issues of our existence.  Religious Education is an exploration into human beliefs about God and Truth and how those beliefs have impacted and continue to impact, upon the lives of believers.

The Statutory requirement for Religious Education to be taught in the school underlines the importance of its place in the curriculum. The 1988 Education Reform Act requires schools to, ‘promote the spiritual, moral and cultural development of pupils at the school and in society’ (paragraph 1:2) through the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum.  At Bilton Grange, Religious Education plays a key role in promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children.

We teach Religious Education because:

• It allows the children to reflect upon and express their own beliefs
• It fosters tolerance and appreciation for others who hold different beliefs
• Its aims help to promote the ethos of the school.

ICT

• We believe that Information and Communication Technology plays a very important part in enriching children’s learning experiences, both as a tool and as a source of information.
• ‘Give a child a fish and you feed him for a day, give a child a rod and line and teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime’.
• As a school we encourage children to become more independent, to take more responsibility for their own learning and our curriculum also identifies a wide range of opportunities for learning through first hand experience and investigative work. We believe that by equipping pupils who are naturally enthusiastic and keen to learn, with the necessary skills, they can learn ‘how to learn’ and how to use the wide range of ICT resources at their disposal effectively.
• We believe that children can learn from each other and encourage them to share and discuss their use of I.C.T., working collaboratively where appropriate but learning a level of independence that can in due course allow them each to produce extended pieces of I.C.T. assisted work for projects and portfolios.
• We aim to deliver fair and equal opportunities for all pupils to experience a wide range of I.C.T. activities and to encourage them increasingly to identify their own opportunities for the use of Information & Communication Technology in their work.
• We aim to provide a continuity in I.C.T. experience throughout their school career; pupils in Homefield use computers as an integral part of the curriculum, including timetabled use of their own I.C.T. room, and we continue to develop close links with the I.C.T. departments in the senior schools to which our pupils proceed.
• We aim to develop children’s understanding of the applications of I.C.T. in the wider world, recognising both that Information & Communication Technology now plays a major role in business and commerce, also that it is continually changing; children need to be able to adapt their skills to new hardware and software and new possibilities.

Art

Mission Statement

 The Art Department at Bilton Grange exists to provide a broadly based education in the Visual Arts; all students are encouraged to develop and fulfil their artistic potential. 

Aims and objectives

• The art curriculum is taught within a philosophical context which recognizes the central role that art plays in developing a young person’s ability to communicate feelings and ideas in personal and powerful ways.
• Art education develops in students the understanding of what it means to be creative and unique.  
• Art is important for both daily living and lifelong learning.
• Children’s experiences in Art promote thinking, emotional development, and practical abilities.
• Art is fun; children enjoy it.
• Art stimulates imagination, and helps us to create ideas and images that reflect, communicate, and change our views of the world.
• Many students can be successful in their exploration of visual art, which in turn promotes their self-esteem.

The art curriculum reflects recent findings that “art education is fundamental to personal development, sharpens perceptual and analytical ability, and nurtures the creativity and imagination necessary for innovative thinking and problem solving.” - Eliot Eisner
The art program is designed to foster growth in these important areas in all students, while at the same time, offer an alternative and stimulating learning environment to that of more *academic subject areas.

* I am recording a simple recognition of the argument that Art is a non-academic subject in the context of traditional Prep school curricula; it is my firm belief that in itself, Art is a highly academic subject, that requires students to develop higher order thinking skills, challenges their beliefs and helps to develop positive attitudes and much deeper understanding of the world around them than any other subject.

 

Visual Arts Belief Statements

The following statements are intended to form the philosophical framework for visual arts lesson plans and curricular decisions. Many of the following principles, assumptions, and standards are derived from a variety of sources, including National Curriculum statements from countries around the world (UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand).Art has been a part of humanity from the very beginning. People create art to make connections and to construct meaning, and these connections serve as bridges to each new generation. Art is deeply embedded in our daily life, whether we realize it or not, and is an inseparable part of our humanity.

• Art has both intrinsic and instrumental value; it has worth in and of itself and can also be used to achieve a multitude of purposes.
• Art played a valued role in creating cultures and building civilizations.
• Art is a way of knowing; students grow in their ability to comprehend the world when they learn about art.
• Art is indispensable to freedom of inquiry and expression.
• The modes of thinking and methods of visual art disciplines can be used to illuminate situations in other disciplines that require creative solutions.
• Art provides forms of nonverbal communication that can strengthen the presentation of ideas and emotions.
• Attributes such as self-discipline, the collaborative spirit and perseverance, which are so necessary to art, transfer to the rest of life.

Music

Music is a unique symbolic mode for expression that can inspire and motivate children and it offers a means of creative expression outside of the linguistic framework. It provides opportunities for group work, listening, appraising, performing and instilling confidence in young performers. Music-making at Bilton Grange contributes a sense of vitality and energy to the life of the school. It plays an important part in helping children feel part of a community and is an integral and vital element to school chapel worship on a daily basis. 

Music as an academic subject within the curriculum is important not only for advanced performing musicians but for all pupils, allowing them to develop a sense of culture and to explore a wide range of musical styles. Through our lessons we hope to encourage an understanding of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural heritages of the world. A large part of the enrichment it offers centers on the opportunity to explore topics, such as; the history of the blues, Medieval church music, and aspects of British, African and Latin American social history through musical and oral traditions.

Our aim in curricular music lessons therefore is to excite and motivate the enthusiast as much as the specialist, taking into account their widely varying levels of ability. The benefits of a musical education are life enhancing and its value cannot be underestimated, indeed there is growing research to suggest that music improves children’s concentration and actually helps to develop intelligence.

Two fundamental ideas under-pin and shape the vision of the music department: firstly the idea of providing opportunity for pupils of all abilities and aspirations to participate in musical activities at an appropriate level, and secondly to recognise and nurture individual talent so that the musical pupil may be challenged and enabled to realise their potential.

Learning Development

We believe that at Bilton Grange School we must encourage all pupils to develop their personal and academic skills and become independent learners.  Our aim is that each pupil will be given every opportunity to achieve his or her full potential, academically, socially and emotionally regardless of gender, age, ability, ethnic origin, faiths and culture.

Pupils with a disability or with special/individual educational needs, or all of these, may require educational provision to be made within the School to ensure that they have every opportunity to access the curriculum, and to work to their potential. Much of this will be achievable within the classroom environment through such things as teacher awareness achieved by INSET training, differentiated tasks and the use of ICT and other electronic aids.

 

Tags: Pre-Prep, Prep

• Academic
• English Blog
• English Downloads
• Mathematics Blog
• Science Blog
• French Blog
• Classics Blog
• Geography Blog
• History Blog
• RE Blog
• ICT Blog
• DT Blog
• Art Blog
• Music Blog
• Drama
• PSHE blog