Curriculum

At Little Parndon Primary Academy, we carefully thought about “The Little Parndon Child”, our values, our drivers and our mission when developing our curriculum.

Challenging Social Inequality through Education

We believe all students are entitled to an ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum that opens doors and maximises life chances. We address social inequality by instilling powerful shared knowledge through an academic curriculum that is both broad and balanced. Each subject specifies, in detail, the knowledge (both substantive and procedural) students will retain, grounded in the National Curriculum and broader subject domains. This ensures students are well-prepared for national assessments and acquire knowledge from diverse cultural domains, building their cultural capital.

Carefully Considered Knowledge and Skills

Our curriculum is designed with a clear vision of the knowledge and skills we want our students to master in each academic field, supporting our aspirational mission of ‘shaping futures through education.’ High-quality planning ensures that each phase builds on previous learning and prepares students for future challenges. This meticulous approach provides the richest educational narrative possible for our students.

Evidence-Based Learning

Our curriculum is informed by the latest research from cognitive science on memory, forgetting, and practice, helping students retain and apply the best of what has been thought and said. By employing our curriculum as a progression model, we make knowledge stick so it can be flexibly applied in various contexts and situations.

Sequential Knowledge Curriculum

Our sequential knowledge curriculum starts in Reception (EYFS curriculum), enabling students to access a broad and balanced curriculum throughout their education. This is supported by structured phonics, writing, and mathematics lessons in EYFS, ensuring core procedural knowledge is secured and the transition into Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) is smooth. Continuous provision extends into Year 1, benefiting students through independent play-based learning.

Focused Learning in Key Stage 1

During Key Stage 1, we emphasise reading, writing, and mathematics. Our goal is for all students to be reading by the age of seven, allowing them to access an ambitious curriculum successfully. Through the Mathematics Mastery programme, we ensure core mathematical knowledge is mastered and practiced. PE is taught by subject specialists, while humanities and computing are intricately planned to ensure students make connections across the curriculum.

Development in Key Stage 2

Throughout Key Stage 2, students continue to benefit from bespoke planned curriculum subjects and specialist teaching. This phase develops the fundamental knowledge gained during their primary education and builds schemas in students’ minds. We encourage pupils to think more coherently, critically, and creatively, acquiring powerful knowledge that enhances their cultural capital and prepares them for high-currency qualifications that improve their life chances.

Co-Curricular Programmes

Alongside our specialist curriculum, we offer robust co-curricular programmes. From Early Years through the entire school, students have opportunities to learn beyond the formal curriculum through extra-curricular clubs and representing the school in various events. They develop resilience, confidence, and new skills through diverse electives such as school council, sports clubs, dance, and gardening.

Preparing for the Future

At Little Parndon Primary Academy, we teach our students powerful knowledge that enables them to understand and interpret the world and think in new and unexpected ways. By democratising knowledge, we ensure our students are incredibly successful during their time with us and go on to achieve great things in the world.