Our vision for Pontllanfraith is as easy as...
Achieve, Believe, Care
At Pontllanfraith Primary School, we are committed to working in a partnership with our parents to ensure that our children achieve the highest possible standards in their education.
We pride ourselves on the good relationships that we establish with our parents and the wider community.
Our Aims
In Pontllanfraith Primary School we aim to provide:
● A safe and happy environment where children behave well, feel valued, respect themselves and each other and benefit from high levels of wellbeing;
● An engaging, skills-based curriculum that responds to the needs of all learners and provides a wide range of experiences so that children can broaden their horizons; find new interests and discover their talents and equip them for personal, national and international challenges and opportunities;
● A well-resourced school that maximises the impact of the curriculum, makes the most of its environment and keeps abreast with developments in technology, preparing the children for an increasingly competitive, globally connected and technologically advanced world;
● A school that fosters links with its local, Welsh and global communities; to foster positive relationships that impact on the wellbeing of our children and the experiences that we can provide them, inspiring the m to achieve in a collaborative and innovative education community;
● High standards: appropriate challenges for all in a supportive environment so that children develop confidence and the skills that will prepare them for the complex, connected and exciting world in which we live.
Curriculum for Wales
The four purposes are the starting point and aspiration for our curriculum design. They are the starting point for all decisions on the content and experiences developed as part of the curriculum. More than that, they are designed to influence how practitioners plan, teach and assess.
Curriculum for Wales includes:
6 Areas of Learning and Experience from 3 to 16:
Languages, Literacy & Communication, Mathematics and Numeracy, Humanities, Expressive Arts, Science & Technology, Health & Wellbeing,
- 3 cross curriculum responsibilities: literacy, numeracy and digital competence
- progression reference points at ages 5, 8, 11, 14 and 16
- achievement outcomes which describe expected achievements at each progression reference point.
Our Curriculum Vision for Pontllanfraith
“Building confidence, self-belief and greater ambition.”
Our curriculum is everything a learner experiences in pursuit of the four purposes. It is not simply what we teach, but how we teach and crucially, why we teach it.
Engaging all stakeholders to inform curriculum development
Our curriculum is built in co-construction with learners, their families and the wider community. This is an ongoing conversation for the whole school and beyond and helps us to identify What Matters in Pontllanfraith. The views of stakeholders are taken into consideration when planning authentic teaching and learning contexts.
Throughout our curriculum development phase, we have been considering the following:
What should we teach and why?
How should we teach it?
Our Curriculum Model
In Pontllanfraith our aim is to develop a curriculum that is authentic, flexible and relevant for all our learners.
If our children are to realise the 4 purposes outlined within successful futures we need a curriculum that fosters a strong sense of ‘Cynefin’; belonging to the school, community, Wales and the wider world.
We support children to develop a sense of identity and empathy towards others so that they can recognise and celebrate differences; respecting and appreciating the landscape and history of their local community and the wider world.
We want to shine a light on the opportunities available to our children to provide them with aspirations and self-belief.
Our curriculum model reflects this vision with three whole school termly themes that guide our teaching and learning: Relationships, Time and Place.
Autumn: Relationships
The Autumn Term curriculum is underpinned by the theme of relationships. Our youngest pupils explore themselves, family and friendships whilst our oldest pupils explore more complex relationships and the lives of people who have made a positive impact on the world, inspiring our children and firing their imaginations. Black History Month and Antibullying week support the exploration of the concepts of identity, belonging, citizenship, diversity, empathy and tolerance. Our focus is on our local community during this term.
During the Autumn term all pupils explore the above through progressive ‘Big Questions’
What makes me, me?
What is it like in my school community?
Where do I live? What can I do there?
How is Blackwood multi-cultural?
Is Cardiff multicultural?
How is Cardiff more multi – cultural than Blackwood?
Spring: Time
The Spring Term curriculum focuses on time. The choices we make, our aspirations and hopes for the future, and how we can learn from the past: the impact on Wales of power, leadership, peace and conflict, supporting learners to reflect on resolving differences. This term is all about reflection and there is an emphasis on supporting our pupils to express and communicate their thoughts and opinions throughout.
The Spring Term curriculum focuses on the following time periods over a four year rolling programme:
Industrial Revolution – our mining heritage, the Chartists, exports and imports around the world
Age of castles – South Wales is rich in medieval history and the children grow up with opportunities to visit many local castles and learn about the part they played in local history along the border between Wales and England
20th Century – The 20th Century is the children’s first connection with the past as they are able to connect with local family history provided by relatives living in this time period. There are many opportunities for pupil voice to influence the topic choices, for example: Pontllanfraith is home to GelliGroes Mill, where a local radio enthusiast was the first person to report the sinking of the Titanic; Our school was built in the early part of the 20th Century and hosted evacuees during WWII.
Roman Wales – in Pontllanfraith we are near to Caerleon and Caerwent; rich in Roman remains that provides our children with an insight into early civilisation.
Summer: Place
Our Summer Term is all about developing a respect for our planet. It has a Global Dimension and considers change and sustainability. We explore emotions linked to change and transition; changes in the environment and consider innovation and enterprise with a focus on changing our world for the better.
In alternate years, learners study:
Weather and Climate - Recognise, describe and explain the effects we have on the natural world, spatial patterns and change over time.
Landscapes - To recognise, describe and explain how places, landforms and environments have changed over time; the impact that physical processes have had on people, places and landscapes, past and present
Areas of Learning & Experience
We have collated a broad range of experiences, knowledge and skills that are explored through a range of contexts, topics and activities selected in the process of curriculum design. We support learners to engage in their learning with increasing depth and sophistication over a period of time through a spiral of learning model. We assist learners to apply their learning in increasingly challenging contexts and allow for diversion, reinforcement and reflection as their understanding and application of the key learning develops and becomes more refined over time, provoking deep thinking, discussion and inquiry.
Humanities
The Humanities: Religion, Values & Ethics, History and Geography are at the forefront of our topic themes. Other Areas of Learning and Experience are delivered alongside these topics, carefully map to maximise opportunities for our learners to make authentic links between them.
Science & Technology
Our science & technology curriculum runs alongside our termly topics and is carefully planned to enable us to make meaningful links, deepening understanding.
In Science we refer to the Principles and Big Ideas of Science Education, edited by Wynne Harlen and supported by a group of experts in Science Education.
Our digital technology curriculum covers: communicating, coding, modelling, data handling, creative multimedia and exchange and sharing information. E safety is a focus throughout the year.
In the summer term we run a mini Enterprise topic and this provides opportunity for design technology.
At Pontllanfraith Primary School we hope to inspire our children to become skilled critical thinkers, problem-solvers, collaborators, designers and innovators. Through real life and first hand experiences we aim to provide rich learning opportunities that enable our learners to explore, experiment and discover. We hope to ignite their creativity and imagination and instil a never-ending curiosity about Wales and the wider world.
Our vision is to facilitate a Science and Technology curriculum which enables pupils to:
Become curious about their locality and their world.
Develop an understanding of how their actions will impact other living things and our planet.
Become aware of how they grow and change throughout their school life.
Ask questions and become confident problem solvers.
Develop into digitally competent learners.
Understand the dangers that can come from our digital world- our digital footprint, e-safety.
Confidently use a range of devices to deepen learning
Understand the features and technical language within the digital world.
Health & Wellbeing
“Learning in Health and Wellbeing ensures that children develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.”
At Pontllanfraith Primary School our vision is to facilitate a health and wellbeing curriculum which enables pupils to:
Make informed decisions in order to improve their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing
Experience challenge and enjoyment
Experience positive aspects of healthy living and activity for themselves
Apply their mental, emotional, social and physical skills to pursue a healthy lifestyle
Make a successful move to the next stage of education or work
Establish a pattern of Health and Wellbeing which will be sustained into adult life.
Enables pupils to form and maintain healthy relationships.
Exercise my own rights and respect the rights of others.
We aim to encourage children to develop good physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing in order to create positive, motivated pupils who strive to get the most out of life.
We believe that these opportunities will ensure that our children are confident, life-long learners who will explore individual interests, the Welsh culture and the experiences of the wider world.
In Pontllanfraith we use the Jigsaw scheme of work to teach children: emotional literacy, social and life long skills, Relations & Sexuality Education and resilience in an age appropriate manner.
Children are taught that developing physical health and well-being has lifelong benefits. Children are given opportunities to take part all aspects of physical education, and regular visitors to the school are Cardiff City FC and Gateway Rugby (led by the Dragons).
As part of the wider Islwyn Cluster of schools, we are working with the Wales Restorative Approaches Partnership to build positive relationships within and beyond the school community, reduce conflict and exclusions, improve attendance and support the quick resolution of problems.
We have a number of pupil voice groups that facilitate our learners having a say in matters that affect them.
Expressive Arts
At Pontllanfraith Primary School we want to provide learners with opportunities to explore, refine and communicate ideas while thinking creatively and engaging their imagination and senses. Through Expressive Arts experiences across art, dance, music, drama, digital art and media, we want our pupils to achieve the following:
knowledge, skills and tools to be creative
know that their voice is important, and to appreciate the creative works of others
care about working collaboratively
embrace new experiences
Our aim is to encourage children to seek, enjoy and have the benefit of working with creative practitioners not only within the school environment, but also as a result of community and national partnerships. We want our pupils to use what they have experienced as a result of Expressive Arts to nurture and develop deep, healing and life-enhancing practices, relationships and global connections. We believe that these opportunities will ensure that our children are confident, life-long learners who will explore individual interests, the Welsh culture and the wider world.
Throughout the year we take advantage of natural opportunities such as St David's Day to enjoy all that the Expressive Arts have to offer.
All aspects of the Expressive Arts are used to support our Humanities led topics - the arts run throughout the curriculum.
Languages, Literacy and Communication
Learning in languages, literacy and communication ensures that children can access the wider curriculum and develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for understanding and contributing to the world around them, now and in the future.
At Pontllanfraith Primary School our vision is to facilitate a Languages, Literacy and Communication curriculum which enables our learners to:
Make informed decisions about what they see, hear and read.
Experience challenge and enjoyment in a range of literary and non-literary experiences.
Experience positive aspects of learning and applying languages in a variety of contexts.
Apply their skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in order to be confident and competent communicators.
Make a successful move to the next stage of education or work
Use language to develop and sustain meaningful and respectful relationships being open to the views of others.
Our aim is to encourage our learners to develop as critical readers / viewers and creative contributors fostering respect and empathy.
We believe that these opportunities will ensure that our learners are confident, life-long learners who will explore individual interests, the Welsh culture and the wider world.
Mathematics and Numeracy
Learning in Mathematics and Numeracy ensures that children develop the knowledge and understanding, skills and capabilities that will support them throughout their lives, enabling them to become confident and proficient problem solvers and reflective adults, able to make sound, reasoned decisions.
Our aim is to encourage children to develop a positive mindset towards mathematics so that they are resilient, confident mathematicians.
At Pontllanfraith Primary School our vision is to facilitate a Mathematics and Numeracy curriculum which enables pupils to:
To develop numerical reasoning skills so that they are able to draw on these skills as adults, across a range of contexts, supporting them to problem solve in everyday life.
To become confident in their use of number and the place value system as these are the foundations for further numerical understanding. Without these foundations further knowledge and understanding is not secure.
To develop a competency in the mathematical proficiencies that will support them in taking measured decisions throughout their lives.
To ensure that they have a proficiency in mathematics that they will be able to apply in future careers, allowing them to be ambitious and enterprising in whatever careers they encounter.
Assessment
At Pontllanfraith Primary School we recognise that the main purpose of assessment is to support the progression of learners and this is at the heart of curriculum design.
The Curriculum for Wales guidance describes 5 mandatory principles of progression for the curriculum as a whole and for each individual Area of Learning and Experience. These articulate the ways in which learners make progress in their learning and contribute to the four purposes.
Within Curriculum for Wales there are 27 mandatory statements of What Matters within the 6 Areas of Learning and Experience. These form the basis of learners’ progression. It is through exploration of the key ideas and principles contained in these statements that learning is developed.
Effective assessment supports us in promoting pupil wellbeing as well as encouraging learners to play an active role in their own progression. Formative and self-evaluative approaches ensure that pupils and teachers work together to develop learning experiences that consistently meet the full range of abilities of pupils within our school. We aim to provide teaching and learning experiences, underpinned by the 12 pedagogical principles, that are suitably broad, inclusive and challenging.