Our Curriculum

Leaders have designed and developed an ambitious curriculum. They have carefully selected the most important knowledge they want pupils to learn in each subject.

Ofsted 2022

Our Curriculum Intent

At Ickleford Primary School, we are passionate about fostering a community of curious, lifelong and ambitious learners. Our commitment is to provide a broad, rich, relevant and challenging curriculum that we continually enhance to meet the unique needs of our pupils. The children at our school have a thirst for knowledge and we are dedicated to nurturing their talents and interests.

Our goal at Ickleford Primary School is to cultivate a diverse range of skills and talents in our pupils. We aim to develop young writers, performers, readers, mathematicians, scientists, engineers, historians, geographers, artists, designers, musicians, athletes, entrepreneurs and digital innovators. In addition, we provide them with opportunities to develop essential soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication, organisational skills, making positive choices and adaptability.

Our pupils are encouraged to pursue their passions while embodying values like dignity, forgiveness, justice and service. We strive to make our pupils aware of the diverse world in which we live, fostering an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. By promoting these values and skills, we help children become holistic learners, well-rounded individuals and responsible global citizens.

At Ickleford Primary School, we believe in empowering each child to thrive in their journey, fostering a love for learning and a solid moral foundation that will last a lifetime.

IPS Curriculum Policy 2024

Organisation and Planning

Subject Areas

Our curriculum is planned and delivered through distinct subject areas, ensuring a comprehensive and well-rounded education for all pupils. The National Curriculum core subjects are English, mathematics and science. Additionally, our foundation subjects include art & design, computing, design & technology (DT), modern foreign languages (French), geography, history, music, physical education (PE) and religious education (RE). Each subject has an allocated time for providing focused and discrete teaching and learning, which allows pupils to develop a thorough understanding and proficiency in each area.

Personal, social, health, and economic education (PSHE); and relationships and sex education (RSE) is taught discretely as well as integrated into our curriculum, with provisions for a daily act of worship, reflecting our Christian distinctiveness as a Church of England school. This integration ensures pupils receive a holistic education that aligns with our values and supports their development.

Curriculum Design and Sequencing

Our curriculum carefully meets the expectations of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through its carefully sequenced and delivered content. Each subject delivery follows a detailed scheme of work, which breaks down into titled learning units. We further organise these units into a subject progression map with schemas (structured knowledge and skills) and vocabulary lists tailored for each year group. This structure helps track and build progress in pupils' learning.

We emphasise the frequent and regular retrieval of previously learned content to enhance storage and retrieval strength, ensuring pupils retain and apply knowledge effectively. This approach helps us assess whether pupils know, remember and can do more over time.

Technology in Our Curriculum

At Ickleford Primary School, we are proud to support our curriculum with digital technology. We have 2 mobile banks of  laptop computers and a bank of iPads, ensuring access to digital resources across all subjects. Each classroom is equipped with a large interactive smart screen, providing dynamic learning opportunities for our pupils.

Our school benefits from wireless internet throughout the building, securely provided by Hertfordshire County Council. This ensures that only appropriate websites are accessible, maintaining a safe online environment. Online safety is integrated into every lesson that involves internet use, and our children are well-versed in what to do if they encounter inappropriate content.

  Curriculum Principles and Values

Inclusion

Teachers set high expectations for all pupils. They will use appropriate assessment to set ambitious targets and plan challenging work for all groups, including:

• More able pupils
• Pupils with low prior attainment
• Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Pupils with English as an additional language (EAL)

Teachers will plan lessons so that pupils with SEND can access every National Curriculum subject, wherever possible, and ensure that there are no barriers to every pupil achieving.

For pupils with specific needs, individualised curriculums are guided by the SEND Co, based on the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) where appropriate. This ensures that each child's unique requirements are met and supported throughout their learning journey.

Teachers will also consider the needs of pupils whose first language is not English. Lessons are planned so that teaching opportunities help pupils develop their English and support their participation in all subjects.

Our Equality Policy and Accessibility Plan and our SEND Policy and information report provide further information.

Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Learning

Our curriculum fosters positive attitudes and behaviours towards learning by enhancing engagement and motivation across all subject areas. We assess the impact of learning by measuring 'sticky learning' - knowledge that remains with pupils and can be applied in various contexts. For detailed assessment practices, please refer to the school’s Assessment Policy.

Curricular Links

To enrich learning experiences, we create curricular links between different subjects, ensuring a cohesive and comprehensive educational experience. Each subject's policy outlines its intent, contributing to a well-rounded curriculum.

Local and Community Context

Our curriculum incorporates community relevance, regional context and responsiveness to our pupils and their families' unique needs. This integration ensures that our curriculum remains relevant and responsive to our pupils' context.

Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural Development

Our curriculum supports our pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. We provide opportunities for them to explore and reflect on their values, beliefs and identities while fostering respect and understanding for others. Through diverse activities and discussions, we encourage the development of empathy, responsibility and personal integrity.

British Values

Throughout our curriculum, we embed British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. These principles are integrated into all subjects and activities, helping pupils appreciate the foundations of our society and preparing them to contribute positively to their communities and engage thoughtfully with the wider world.

By integrating local context, spiritual and moral development and British values, our curriculum provides a comprehensive educational experience that prepares pupils to be responsible and active citizens both within their local community and the broader society.

Reception - Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

Intent Statement

Playing, exploring, active learning, creating and thinking critically are all essential building blocks crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, at Ickleford Primary School. This is also vital for building their capacity to learn to form relationships and thrive.

Implementation

The EYFS curriculum is divided into three prime areas and four specific areas:

Prime Areas:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social, and Emotional Development

Specific Areas:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

The needs of the EYFS statutory framework is integrated into each curriculum subject’s progression map and vocabulary lists to ensure that children have opportunities to explore concepts, knowledge, skills and vocabulary they will continue to develop in Year 1, where the National Curriculum begins.

When planning schemes of work, the EYFS lead also considers the children’s interests, life events, weather and seasons, the learning environment and relationships with families and the community.

All children are valued as individuals and work at their own pace, with the support of knowledgeable staff who are able to differentiate activities specifically tailored to the needs  of our children. Children learn and develop through opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments that is crucial to their personal, social and emotional development.

As well as following a structured approach to synthetic phonics, Little Wandle Scheme, to reading and writing and a maths curriculum based upon the White Rose Scheme that encourages the use of manipulating equipment to support conceptual understanding within small groups or as a whole class, there are many opportunities for children to participate in a very active timetable. Such activities may include music, PE lessons and free flow opportunities to explore and learn in our redeveloped outdoor space. This area is equipped with mud kitchen, stage, adventure play frame and outdoor classroom. Depending on the theme or topic there are a wide variety of trips throughout the school year that have included visits to an animal park and farm. The children have also enjoyed visits from people who help us in our community.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Resources for Parents

EYFS Policy

English

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, we believe that a love of reading is fundamental to a child's development and success. Our English curriculum emphasises the importance of early reading with phonics as the foundation for strong literacy skills. We aim to create a stimulating environment where books are central to learning and every child is encouraged to discover the joy of reading from an early age.

We are committed to offering a rich literary experience that builds reading fluency and instils a deep passion for literature. Using a carefully selected range of texts, we model essential writing and composition skills, helping pupils develop their writing techniques. We ensure that our children engage with diverse genres and themes, enhancing their comprehension, critical thinking and creativity. Our curriculum also emphasises oracy, nurturing confident public speakers who can express their opinions respectfully and sensitively. It is also a route to social mobility, empowering all children, to find their voice to succeed in education and life. 

Our approach to the English curriculum at Ickleford Primary School is designed to prepare pupils for success not only in English but also in all subjects. By integrating English skills across the curriculum, we aim to unlock learning in all subjects, recognising that strong literacy skills are the key to academic success. Our comprehensive approach equips our children with the skills for lifelong learning and achievement, preparing them to excel in English and beyond.

Implementation

Reading should be a pleasurable experience for all children. We encourage parents to take an active role, as we believe children need to be supported at school and home alike. In all our classes, children will bring books home on a daily basis to practice and enjoy. It is also important that children are also read to, talk about and write about what they are reading. We use the systematic synthetic phonic approach to teach reading, following The Little Wandle Scheme. Our reading book scheme dovetails this approach and we introduce banded nonfiction and fiction of different genres as early as  possible. We also integrate real books into the scheme, which our children enjoy. The teaching of reading skills is an integral part of every lesson in school and children develop their reading ability in a wide range of contexts through all curriculum areas. Throughout school, staff develop children’s reading skills through ‘guided reading group’ sessions on a daily basis. The children tackle a variety of reading material that is appropriate for their age and stage of development. We aim to engender a love of reading in all our pupils through enrichment activities such as author visits, trips, visiting Book Fairs and World Book Day celebrations.

Our bespoke scheme of work to develop writing has been carefully considered to ensure all children are actively engaged and stimulated to write. Throughout each year group, the children will be exposed to a variety of genres and techniques centered on a significant text. They will be given the opportunity to explore a diet of fiction, nonfiction and poetry composition. Within each unit, we teach the essential skills of grammar and punctuation. We routinely and regularly teach spelling building on our systematic approach to teaching phonics. After acquiring phonics skills and high frequency words to spell in Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 follow a detailed spelling program that ensures they are taught the skills required by the national curriculum. We place an importance on developing legible and fluent handwriting from an early age, ensuring correct pencil grip, pressure and posture, correct cursive formation of letters, with the introduction of joined handwriting in year 2. Beyond this children are then encouraged to develop speed, fluency and style for different audiences.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Resources for Parents

Mathematics

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, we believe mathematics is a creative and essential subject crucial for everyday life and understanding the world. We aim to provide a high-quality maths education that equips pupils with the skills they need for scientific, technological and financial literacy, preparing them for a wide range of future opportunities. We strive to nurture a deep understanding of mathematics in every child, fostering an appreciation of its beauty and power while encouraging curiosity, enjoyment and a positive attitude.

Our curriculum ensures that all pupils build fluency in the fundamentals of maths through regular practice and engagement with increasingly complex problems. We encourage pupils to think mathematically, following lines of enquiry, make and test predictions and confidently justifying their thinking. By applying their mathematical knowledge to a variety of real-life situations, we aim for our pupils to become resilient problem-solvers who can approach challenges with confidence, think critically and adapt to new situations.

We aspire to create an environment where children feel supported and empowered to explore mathematical concepts, take risks and learn from mistakes, understanding that perseverance is crucial to success. We want our pupils to leave Ickleford Primary School with strong mathematical skills, a confident mindset and a lifelong passion for learning, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Implementation

Our detailed scheme of work ensures coverage of the full range of national curriculum areas, including, number – counting, calculations and fractions; measurement; geometry; and statistics throughout each year group. Within our daily maths sessions, teachers place  great emphasis on pupils acquiring rapid recall of number bonds and times table facts.

However, teachers also develop our children's understanding of the different elements of reasoning and they enjoy the challenge when asked to justify, prove and conject. We call this a ‘mastery approach’ to the teaching and learning to maths, where pupils:

• are provided with the opportunity to develop a deep, conceptual understanding of the different facets of mathematics;
• are empowered to develop their reasoning, thinking skills and grapple with problems; and
• can apply their knowledge, use multiple strategies and representations.

Using our addition and subtraction calculation policy and our multiplication and division calculation policy to ensure consistency, teachers expertly use manipulatives (hands-on equipment), such as tens frames, Cuisenaire rods, bead strings, and Dienes equipment; and representations (symbols, images and diagrams), such as cherry (part, part, whole) models and bar models to expose underlying mathematical structures, to deepen thinking and challenge understanding. Precise mathematical language is used consistently by teachers  to ensure all pupils can naturally explain their mathematical thinking. Teachers and TAs intervene swiftly to address children’s gaps and misconceptions to secure learning or provide greater challenge to deepen learning.

White Rose Maths Advice and Guidance

Science

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, we built our science curriculum to ignite curiosity and foster a deep understanding of the world through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. We believe science should be dynamic and exciting, where children actively explore concepts and develop their knowledge through practical activities. Our approach integrates metacognitive strategies to help pupils embed scientific knowledge, regularly recapping and reviewing their learning within and across units. Our curriculum emphasises ‘working scientifically’ by nurturing essential skills such as asking questions, planning enquiries, making predictions, observing and measuring, recording data, interpreting results, and drawing conclusions.

We celebrate the contributions of diverse scientists and reiterate their impact on our world, helping pupils to build their ‘science capital’ and see themselves as part of the scientific community. By connecting scientific learning to real-life applications and showing how scientists have changed the world, we aim to equip every child with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make sense of the world around them and to inspire them to be future innovators and problem-solvers.

Implementation

School has adopted Plymouth Science: a published scheme of work with flexible teaching strategies that supports the delivery of dynamic and interactive science lessons. Teachers introduce scientific ideas, required by the national curriculum, in a way that is meaningful and accessible to our children. Great emphasis is placed on cultivating the skills of working scientifically through practical exploration and investigative activities throughout the year groups. We endeavour to  place an excitement around science through whole school science weeks, where children  enjoy external workshops.

Art & Design

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, we have designed a unique art & design curriculum to ignite every child's passion for creativity and self-expression. We aim to inspire and engage pupils, helping them create their unique artworks while developing an appreciation for the art of others. Children start their art journey immersed in a rich art environment. In Reception, they explore art and design through child-initiated activities within the EYFS expressive arts and design curriculum. As they advance through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, they encounter diverse media and techniques and explore the works of artists and designers from around the world, both historical and contemporary.

Our curriculum is designed to foster practical, theoretical and disciplinary knowledge. It empowers children to make informed choices and think critically about their own and others' artwork. We encourage them to work with increasing independence and imagination, equipping them with the skills to confidently explore and express their creativity.

 Computing

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, our computing curriculum is a gateway to the digital world, sparking curiosity and creativity. We place a strong emphasis on three key strands: computer science, where children begin to delve into the inner workings of computers and programs; information technology, where they learn to create and manage digital content; and digital literacy, a paramount focus that equips them to navigate and use information technologies responsibly, ensuring their digital security.

Our curriculum displays our commitment to preparing children to thrive in a digital age with confidence and creativity. It ensures that children apply their digital skills in various, meaningful ways, from using spreadsheets in math to creating graphics in art and conducting research online. We integrate computing skills across subjects, demonstrating the practical application of our curriculum.

Design & Technology 

Intent Statement

Ickleford Primary School's design & technology curriculum is crafted to spark creativity and innovation. It inspires children to express their unique ideas and appreciate the design work shaping our world. Grounded in designing, making, evaluating and developing technical knowledge, our teaching encourages a resilient approach where children design purposeful products, test their ideas and continuously improve upon them.

From Reception onwards, children dive into design and technology in a playful, child-initiated manner through the EYFS expressive arts and design curriculum. As they move through Key Stage 1 and 2, they engage in hands-on projects, exploring textiles, food technology, mechanical and electrical systems, and structural design. Alongside their practical learning and problem-solving, children are inspired by the work of pioneering designers across the globe, past and present.

Our curriculum equips children with the knowledge, skills and mindset to think critically, make informed choices; and embrace independence, resilience and creativity. We aim to empower the next generation of designers and innovators shaping the future.

History

 Intent Statement

In history lessons at Ickleford Primary School, we aim to stimulate the children’s curiosity and understanding about the lives of people who lived in the past. By teaching them about chronology via aspects of local, global, and national history, we aim to help children develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage. As historians, children develop enquiry, analysis, interpretation and problem-solving skills.

Our history curriculum and resources will reflect the diversity within our school and local community. Through their history learning, we encourage children to reflect upon and value their own and other cultures in modern, multicultural Britain. We ensure that the children understand how events in the past have influenced our lives today and ask them to investigate these events, thereby demonstrating the practical application of historical knowledge. 

Geography

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, the teaching of Geography should ignite a lasting curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We aim to inspire children to understand their locality and place within the broader global context, fostering an awareness of their values and responsibilities towards others and the environment.

Through our Geography curriculum, we seek to develop a comprehensive understanding of both natural and human worlds. We encourage children to explore and question the diverse aspects of global places, peoples, resources, and environments. By doing so, we aim to enhance their cultural awareness and appreciation for diversity, preparing them to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

Our teaching will sensitively reflect the diversity within our school, local community and global community, ensuring that children gain insights into different cultures and environments. We will guide them to investigate how geographical processes and human activities have shaped our world today, fostering a deeper connection to and respect for the planet and its people.

Modern Foreign Language - French 

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, our modern foreign language curriculum is designed to spark a passion for language learning and celebrate cultural diversity. Prior to Key Stage 2, our younger children sing songs, recite rhymes and greet each other in a variety of languages, introducing them to the rich world of language and communication.

We aim to build older pupils’ confidence in using French for practical communication, both written and spoken, making learning engaging and fun. Our scheme of work provides a strong foundation in French, encouraging pupils to apply their skills to future language studies and enhancing their understanding of English. We strive to open doors to exciting opportunities for study and work abroad, fostering a lifelong love for languages and cultures.

Music 

Intent Statement

Ickleford Primary School is committed to instilling a deep and enduring love for music in every child. Our rich and diverse curriculum aims to inspire and engage pupils through a wide range of musical experiences. We believe in providing every pupil with the opportunity to create, perform and enjoy music, with a special emphasis on learning to play a variety of percussion instruments, both tuned and untuned. Our goal is to nurture the children’s' ability to use their voices expressively and to develop their skills in composing music, both independently and collaboratively.

Through our curriculum, we strive to cultivate pupils' appreciation for diverse musical forms and empower them to form informed judgments using evocative and technical language about music. We are dedicated to helping pupils understand the significance of music in different cultures and histories. Music is an integral part of our school's identity and community spirit, contributing to the personal and social development of all children. We are committed to helping every child build confidence, unleash their creativity and foster a deep and lasting connection to music that enhances their lives.

IPS Music Plan Summary 2024-2025

Personal, Social, Health, Economic and Relationships and Sex Education

 Intent Statement

Ickleford Primary School is committed to nurturing resilient, healthy and responsible children prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world. By developing strong social and emotional skills, children will be better equipped to achieve their academic potential, maintain positive mental and physical health and contribute meaningfully to society.

 Implementation 

Through our PSHE lessons, we aim to foster a deep understanding of core values such as respect, justice, and forgiveness, helping children build strong, positive relationships and a healthy sense of self-worth. We want our pupils not just to understand diversity but also to embrace it, understand their rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be part of a wider community. By providing a safe and supportive environment, we encourage our children to explore the challenges they may face, build resilience to overcome them and develop the confidence to make informed, positive choices that promote their well-being and the well-being of others.

PSHE and RSE

Our PSHE scheme of work sets out learning opportunities for EYFS, in 3 core themes:

• Self-regulation
• Building Relationships
• Managing Self

In KS1 and KS2, in separates out into 6 core  themes:

• Setting Ground Rules 
• Family and Relationships
• Health and Wellbeing
• Citizenships
• Economic Wellbeing
• Safety and The changing Body

We have used the learning opportunities flexibly to plan our scheme of work according to our pupil’s development, readiness, needs and take into account prior learning, experience  and understanding. The curriculum overview for PSHE is available below.

In order to meet the needs of all the children and to make our lessons engaging, we aim to deliver our PSHE curriculum (including RSE - see below) through a variety of teaching methods and quality assured interactive activities, as mixed groups, friendship pairs or individually. Using engaging activities such as: responding to videos, scenarios and pictures, discussion and questions, quizzes and questionnaires, circle time, role play, hot seating or other drama techniques, or comic strips, mindmaps, sorting and mapping, points on a scale, diamond 9, open-ended drawing and written tasks including, ‘explain to an alien’.

A new Relationship and Sex Education RSE Policy was made statutory by the Government in September 2020. After close consultation across the school community, this subject is now taught throughout the school. Ickleford Primary School has devised a bespoke scheme of work that offers high quality, evidence based and age-appropriate teaching which will help children prepare for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

Throughout the school, opportunities are taken to discuss and learn about different types of relationships in PSHE; and animal life cycles and human reproduction in science when age appropriate. It is currently the policy of the School's governing body that the sex education element of RSE is offered in Year 5 and 6. In Years 5 and 6, all children will be given the opportunity to discuss the emotional and physical changes which are taking place or are about to take place in their bodies. As part of this topic, a DVD is shown to support the children’s learning. Parents will be given an opportunity to view the DVD before it is seen by the children.

Our RSE policy is available below. It also explains, in detail, that parents can request the right to remove their children from sex education lessons, after consultation with the headteacher. Alternative provision would then be made for a child if removal was granted.

Relationship and Sex Education Policy

PSHE Scheme of Work 2024-2025

Physical Education and Extra Curricular Activities

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, PE is vital in fostering a child's holistic development and well-being. We aim to inspire pupils to participate actively in various physical activities, including dance, games, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, and outdoor adventure. We introduce structured learning pathways for each sport, promoting a comprehensive understanding of physical fitness and its importance in everyday life and learning.

Our PE curriculum is about more than physical fitness. It is about building children's vocabulary, knowledge, skills and confidence to perform effectively in various physical contexts. In outdoor and indoor lessons, we encourage pupils to explore their physical capabilities, make informed decisions and adopt positive habits contributing to their overall health. Additionally, we emphasise the development of essential soft skills such as teamwork, collaboration, negotiation and resilience, fostering a cooperative spirit and an ability to work effectively with others.

We aim to provide a rich array of opportunities that inspire all children to excel in PE while nurturing critical life skills. Promoting active engagement, we help pupils build confidence, enhance their physical abilities and develop a lifelong commitment to maintaining their well-being. We aim for every pupil to feel empowered to make informed choices about their physical activity, embracing an active and balanced lifestyle both now and in the future.

Here are our Learning Ladders, which show the progression of skills across the school for the first half of the Spring Term. The units covered this half term are gymnastics and health related fitness. 

Gymnastics Learning Ladder Spring 202Health Related Exercise Learning Ladder Spring 2025

Implementation

Our broad ranging P.E. curriculum is  delivered by our classteachers, who all trained in teaching PE. Each class receives two P.E sessions a week that averages two hours a week. Our PE offer includes: tennis, athletics, cricket, football, tag rugby, netball, basketball, dodgeball, gymnastics and dance, repeatedly ensuring us a School Games Mark Gold Award.

As well as our well-equipped school hall, we have a large school field marked out in the winter with a football pitch and an athletics track and rounders pitch in the summer. There is also a netball court on the playground. The time allocated to sport varies according to the weather, the time of year and the age of the child. Year 5 and Year 4 children have swimming lessons at Hitchin Swimming Centre for one term to enable them to become confident swimmers and achieve the National Curriculum standard and beyond. Year 5 also take part in outdoor adventure activities, off site with trained staff at Grafham Water residential site, as part of the PE curriculum with activities such as: climbing, abseiling, archery and kayaking.

As a whole school, we hold a traditional athletics sports day, when all the children compete  in house teams for the school trophy. We have recently extended that to include a carousel of field activities that the parents can walk around and spectate. Each class takes part in a daily mile run to promote physical health and wellbeing on our daily mile track, an all-weather circuit around the school field.

The children at Ickleford School are encouraged to be fit and active. Even from an early age their skills develop and are able to take part in a range of inter-class, outer-school sporting events and festivals. Netball, cricket and football skills are practised during lesson times but there are also after school clubs that form school teams. The school teams regularly play in rallies and matches with other local schools. We also offer a broad timetable of extracurricular clubs such as:  rounders, cricket, gymnastics, athletics, multisports,  netball and rounders.

 

 

Religious Education

‘High quality leadership of both RE and collective worship by senior leaders has resulted in excellent practice which is shared with staff to develop and inspire them. The raised profile of each area is recognised and celebrated for the important and essential contributions that they make to this outstanding church school.’ 

SIAMS Report 2018 Graded Outstanding

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, our RE curriculum is integral to supporting our values education and distinctive Christian character while embracing the diverse religious landscape of British society. We aim to give pupils a deep understanding of Christianity and the other five major world religions, fostering their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Our curriculum encourages pupils to explore sacred texts, religious diversity and personal beliefs, helping them reflect on their values and engage with philosophical and ethical questions. Promoting respect and compassion through dialogue and cooperation prepares pupils to navigate and contribute positively to a multicultural society.

Values Education is central to our approach, with opportunities for pupils to reflect on universal values through collective worship, class work and positive role modelling. Our RE curriculum is designed to equip our children with the insights and skills needed to thrive in a diverse and dynamic world, fostering thoughtful reflection and respectful expression of their and others’ beliefs.

Implementation

Religious Education is taught at the school, following the Herts. Agreed Syllabus. We are proud recipients of a Silver Mark RE Award which celebrates the high quality of RE teaching and learning in School. Our curriculum is devised to creatively and effectively teach key knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the five other significant religions in the UK: Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Buddhism. This vital knowledge empowers our pupils for life in a multicultural world.

 

Collective Worship

‘Class collective worship is both inclusive and inspirational. It challenges every child, at an age appropriate level, to ponder on the chosen value and to develop strategies for how these can become an integral part of how they behave to others, modelling the teachings of Jesus.’

SIAMS Report 2018 Graded Outstanding.

Intent Statement

At Ickleford Primary School, as a Church of England school, our collective worship reflects and upholds the Christian values and vision of our community. We aspire to create opportunities for all pupils and adults to explore and embody moral values such as compassion, gratitude, justice, humility, forgiveness, and reconciliation, while nurturing virtues like resilience, determination and creativity that contribute to both character development and academic progress.

Through encounters with the teachings of Jesus and the Bible, we help our community appreciate the relevance of faith in today’s world, fostering understanding of the Christian belief in the Trinitarian nature of God. Worship provides a space for spiritual growth, offering pupils and adults moments of prayer, stillness, reflection, and worship without compulsion, encouraging personal spiritual journeys.

Our worship embraces the diverse ways Christians worship, incorporating music, silence, storytelling, prayer, and reflection, as well as the varied liturgical traditions of Anglican worship, festivals, and where appropriate, the Eucharist. We value pupil engagement in collective worship by providing opportunities for them to plan, lead, and evaluate worship practices, helping to foster a deeper connection to faith and improving the quality of our collective worship experience.

Implementation

A whole school collective worship takes place on four days each week. On Friday, we hold separate celebration assemblies in the classrooms. This is the opportunity for children to share any in-school and out of school achievements with each other. Whole School collective worship always includes a time for self-reflection, an invitation to pray and may include a hymn in celebration. If our school  community is not able to gather in the hall for collective worship, class teachers hold class collective worships which follow the same principle. Rev. Margaret or Rev. Mary regularly lead our collective worships, and we visit the Church for festivals, such as Harvest, Christmas and Easter.

Parents have a right to withdraw their child from religious education and collective worship if they so wish; alternative provision would then be made. 

Collective Worship Policy