Learning in Year 1 to Year 6

In Year 1 to Year 6, the school curriculum is based on the statutory National Curriculum, 2014.

National Curriculum

• Art and Design
  Art and Design

  The subject lead teacher for art and design at Frith Manor is Emma Jacobs who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  At Frith Manor we follow our own unique progression map for teaching Art and Design that follows the DfE programmes for KS1 and KS2. EYFS uses the Expressive Art and Design thread of the Development Matters document. A diverse range of artists and craftspeople are taught to support the teaching of skills. We believe that creativity starts young and it's affects threads through the whole curriculum. Our principal aim is to develop the children's knowledge, skills and understanding in art and design. The school uses a variety of teaching and learning styles e.g. we ensure that the act of investigating and making something includes exploring and developing ideas. We do this best through a mixture of whole class teaching, individual/group activities and year group workshops. Children are encouraged to evaluate their own ideas and methods, and the work of others, and say what they think and feel about them. Teachers draw attention to good examples of individual performance as models for others. Children work in two and three dimensions and on different scales. Children also have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources including ICT. KS 1 and KS 2 pupils work with sketchbooks to develop their ideas and for rough sketching prior to undertaking final work. Staff will be receiving training on the links between scrapbooks and their affect on wellbeing this year.

  At Frith Manor we celebrate Art and Design through whole school events such as 'The Big Draw', 'Take One Picture', 'Black History Month' and 'Children's Art Week'. The school takes part in competitions and projects in the wider art world and we have had success with submissions to the Royal Academy of Arts 'Young Artists Summer Show 2021' as well a being competition winners in the 'Show & Tell' photography competition. The school links with the community and has shown pupil's work in local shop windows. These events give teachers the opportunity to plan and create cross curricular links to support the teaching of History, PHSE, Literacy, RE, Mathematics and Science. We are also collaborating with The Arts Depot, A Line Art and The Arts Council in 2021/22 on two 'Creative Schools Projects'.   We encourage parent artists to share their skills and continue to collaborate with the community to support art education at Frith Manor School. We also have exciting plans to team up with the Art department at Copthall Secondary School.

  The Frith Manor Facebook page and website regularly post photographs of current displays and projects to share with parents and the wider community. Stock is updated and ordered by the Subject Leader. A curriculum review is carried out annually where the Subject Leader evaluates strengths and areas of improvement and identifies areas for further improvement within Art and Design. The forms part of the School Development Plan.

• Computing
  Computing

  The role of technology in our lives has changed massively over the past decade, and along with that, our duty to prepare children for this world.  The shift in the primary school curriculum in 2014 from a subject called ICT to Computing was primarily focused on ensuring that our children are not only users of digital technology, but that they can also be creators - right down to the level of coding. In order to achieve this, the computing curriculum is split into three main areas of skill, with each requiring differing approaches to their teaching and study.  

  Information technology is perhaps the most familiar to many adults - the ability to create and edit files, use software to collect and present information, use web browsers to send and receive information.  While it is often said that children are experts at using computers, it's important remember how much the landscape has changed in the lifetime of current primary school children.  With the rise of smartphones and tablets, many have not grown up using laptops and desktops in the same way as their slightly older peers who are now moving into adulthood.  The use of a keyboard and computer mouse to navigate traditional programs as well as apps remains vital skills.  

  Digital Literacy. Similarly, it is imperative that we prepare our children for a world in which the internet is ever-present.  Internet services have been incredible tools for human development and we work to enable our children to use them for productivity, research and development. Likewise, we endeavour to make sure they are aware of the risks associated with the internet, and are empowered to safeguard themselves and deal with them in an appropriate way.  This includes understanding who to speak to when something does not feel right, how to report concerns about other people on the internet, and using cross-referencing skills to verify information they read online, knowing that is may not be true.

  Computer Science.  The programming aspect of the curriculum is perhaps the most alien to many adults.  We teach the children to use computational thinking - understanding the ways in which a computer program actually works - to translate real-world ideas into simple programs a computer can understand.  From a young age, children control programmable toys by creating algorithms expressed as code the toy can follow.  This includes creating animations and games that others can use and play.

  At Frith Manor we work to ensure all of our pupils are equipped with the skills to work in the digital age.

   

• Design and Technology
  Design and Technology

  The subject lead teacher for Design and Technology at Frith Manor is Naomi Winters who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  At Frith Manor School Design and Technology is a vital component of our curriculum which brings learning to life. It is a subject area that gives all children the opportunity to design and construct but it also encourages them to become independent, creative problem-solvers and thinkers. Design and Technology prepares children to deal with tomorrow's rapidly changing world and it helps them to become astute and informed future consumers and potential innovators.

  Design and Technology (DT) is everywhere! From our use of phones and tablets to our cars, furniture and toys. It is inspiring and practical, drawing on skills and disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. When engaged in the subject, pupils learn how to take risks and become resourceful and innovative, giving them the opportunity to contribute to a creative culture. For some children, DT gives them the chance to shine.

• English
  English

  The subject lead teachers for English at Frith Manor are Rebekah Ellis and Rhodri Thomas who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions

  An overview English teaching and learning at Frith Manor can be found here.

• French
  French

  The subject lead teacher for French at Frith Manor is Jackie Shaw who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  Learning a modern foreign language promotes an interest and curiosity about the wider world, a sense of European/International identity and raises awareness of what it means to be a global citizen.

  At Frith Manor we believe that the learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils and fosters respect and understanding of other cultures. It helps children develop their communication, including key skills of speaking and listening, and extends their knowledge of how languages work.

  At Frith Manor all children in Key Stage 2 have weekly French lessons which include a wide and varied range of activities and aim to develop an enthusiasm for language learning and an awareness of the benefits of understanding and speaking different languages.  In a typical lesson, children will learn and then practise new vocabulary and structures through the use of games, singing, drama and other activities.  As the children become more proficient they will move from being able to say and write individual words to being able to express themselves with longer sentences and paragraphs.

  We are building strong links with our partner school in Calais in France and all children across the whole school are involved with this project.  We have already exchanged a video and other packages of information and some classes have taken part in joint live virtual lessons.

• Geography
  Geography

  The subject lead teacher for geography at Frith Manor is Rhodri Thomas who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  “From quiet homes and first beginning,
  Out to the undiscovered ends,
  There's nothing worth the wear of winning,
  But laughter and the love of friends.”  Hilaire Belloc 

  This poem reminds us when we enter the world, we start small in our own homes and step-by-step reach out into the world, explorer-like. In coming to school - first nursery, through KS1 and KS2 and beyond, a child's world gets bigger and bigger, as should their place in it.  Each step of the way, children experience new things including the enjoyment of the world and the love of others.

  Provoking children to ask and answer questions related to physical features of our Earth, and how human activity affects and is affected by these features - that is the aim of the geography curriculum in our school. Our geography curriculum intends to inspire in children a confident curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Children must be encouraged to develop knowledge and understanding of the world, including their places in it. The geography curriculum also develops children's knowledge and skills in ways transferable to other curriculum areas including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. 

  A child's journey at school in England begins in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) .  Here, one of the specific areas in which we develop children is in “Understanding the World”. Children are guided to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. The subject known as Geography clearly plays a part in “Understanding the World”.

  From EYFS children move into KS1 and then KS2 where the framework for our curriculum subject called geography comes from the National Curriculum for England and from the EYFS framework. The school has developed a progression map for the subject from Year 1 to Year 6 grouped into the National Curriculum geography thematic areas of locational knowledge; place knowledge; human and physical geography; and geographical skills and fieldwork.

  Other school initiatives that support geography-aware thinking and action include:

  • a progressive Geography curriculum mapped out by year group.
  • using the Eco Schools framework to develop environmental awareness and responsible citizenship amongst its children and through them the wider community.  For example, Eco Warriors are elected in each class to champion the environment and to give children leadership opportunities.
  • the whole school community investing in reinvigorating its use of the school's rich outdoor spaces - so that more of our curriculum takes place beyond the classroom in our Peace Garden, around our mini-lake, amongst the trees of our orchard, in the depths of our forest and around our raised growing beds.
  • “Country of the Month” in which the school foregrounds the diverse country origins of its community with a display board to which children with some connection to the country are invited to contribute
  • Bikeability - training children in safe cycling to widen their choice in sustainable travel to school and beyond.
  • Geography Day.

• History
  History

  The subject lead teacher for history at Frith Manor is Sara Pareathamby who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  At Frith Manor Primary School we want all of our pupils to have an understanding of the past and how History can shape the future. Children at Frith are passionate about History and enjoy all lessons.

  We believe that high-quality History lessons encourage critical thinking; enhance the ability to weigh evidence, generate arguments and develop chronological understanding.

  The learning objectives of each lesson draw from knowledge and skills included in the National Curriculum.

  Our History Curriculum is full of topics which foster awe and wonder and actively motivate children to ask 'why'. Where possible, links are made between subjects using overarching themes that incorporate a range of subjects.

  As a school, we strive to teach about a range of historical figures from a range of backgrounds and religions. Each year, we celebrate Black History Month during October.

• Mathematics
  Mathematics

  Mathematics at Frith Manor

  The subject lead teacher for mathematics at Frith Manor is Marjory Hilton who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  The aims of our maths teaching at Frith Manor are threefold.

  • To ensure all children become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics. We do this through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
  • To ensure all children are encouraged to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.
  • To ensure all children are taught to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

  We stress the importance of knowing multiplication tables.  By the end of year 4, pupils should have memorised their multiplication tables up to and including the 12x table.

  All pupils are taught to develop efficient strategies for mental and written calculations which are clearly outlined within our school calculation policy.
  
  Pupils should also be able to read and spell mathematical vocabulary, at a level consistent with their increasing word reading and spelling knowledge.

   Mathematics is taught daily. Teaching methods include discussions between teacher and pupil, discussions between pupils, practical work, group activities, individual work, practice of basic skills and routines and investigative work. Each lesson begins with a starter activity; this is followed by the main teaching input and pupil activities. The main teaching points are consolidated in a plenary session in which pupils are given time to review, reflect, discuss and evaluate their work and learning.   In KS1 there is also a separate 15-minute daily maths meeting and we are in the process of rolling this out into KS2.

  We follow a maths mastery approach using the National Curriculum Programme of study as the basis for the teaching of Mathematics across the whole school supported by the White Rose Maths Hub curriculum resources.  Other resources used to support learning include Numicon interactive software, Mathletics (for homework) and Times Tables Rock Stars.

   

• Music
  Music

  The subject lead teacher for Music at Frith Manor is Ruth Cohen who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  Children learn in many different ways. Music allows them to express themselves in a unique way, which motivates their learning and helps build their self-confidence. Music is a universal language. It helps children connect to other cultures and understand the world around them.

  At Frith Manor we use Charanga Music School, which supports all the requirements of the national curriculum. The learning within this scheme is based on: Listening and Appraising; Musical Activities — creating and exploring; and Singing and Performing.

  In addition to Music as a National Curriculum subject, we offer a range of music opportunities to our children beyond the classroom, details of which can be found on our general Music page.

• Physical Education
  Physical Education

  The subject lead teacher for PE at Frith Manor is Adam Wilsmore who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  Our PE curriculum is built around the Complete PE scheme which defines the progession of skills from EYFS to Y6 across a range of games and disciplines.

• PSHE/PSED
  Personal, Social, Health Education & Personal, Social & Emotional Development
  PSHE/PSED

  The subject lead teacher for PSHE at Frith Manor is Alex Athanasi who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  At Frith Manor Primary School we are passionate about making sure that all our students not only progress academically, but also develop physically, socially and emotionally during their time with us.  When they leave Frith Manor they not only leave with a strong sense of academic confidence, but also a better and more confident sense of themselves as individuals.   

  Our PSHE/PSED progression map sees students learning about a number of factors that contribute to their social and emotional development, from understanding about their place in the wider world, to looking at factors such as diversity and discrimination. All subject areas are taught in some capacity during their Early Years development in Little Acorns and Little Oaks and grow and progress through the school, building on previous learning.

  Whilst at Frith Manor, students get a healthy diet of academic learning as well as social and emotional development so that the school, the students and their families can feel secure in the knowledge that Frith Manor students, from Little Acorns to Year 6, will be ready for the next stage in their life whether that be moving to a new year group or moving on to secondary school.

• RSE
  Relationship and Sex Education
  RSE

  The subject lead teacher for RSE at Frith Manor is Mr Alex Athanasi who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  “The Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019, made under sections 34 and 35 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, make Relationships Education compulsory for all pupils receiving primary education”

  Relationship and sex education (RSE) and health education at Frith Manor follows a progression plan which means the lessons children are taught develop from year group to year group, building on previous knowledge.  By the time they leave in Year 6, they have developed on and consolidated all their knowledge from previous years and therefore have the most well-rounded education. 

  The RSE curriculum introduces elements of health, relationships, mental health and well-being and eventually when it is deemed age-appropriate according to the DfE, sex education.

  This means that typically the first lesson of RSE in every year group reviews the information taught the year before, to make sure no topic is taught that the students don't have some sort of understanding of, so as not to overwhelm them with new and possibly daunting information. 

  The school follows the guidance of the National Curriculum and uses a teaching scheme called the 'Christopher Winters Project' which gives clear guidance as to what is to be taught during each lesson, year group and key stage.

• Religious Education
  Religious Education

  The subject lead for Religious Education at Frith Manor is Helen Munnukka who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  At Frith Manor, RE lessons encompass elements of the six main faiths of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism. The curriculum aims for our children to have an understanding of each other's beliefs and cultures. Through sharing this knowledge we hope our school community can be equipped to grow up in a society that challenges them to understand the polarity and diversity of beliefs, opinions and practice.

  We follow the Barnet SACRE -Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education guidance. The curriculum focuses on explicit RE teaching that thinks about 'Golden Threads' that encompass content and concepts from learning. Learning is made explicit through religious vocabulary, artefacts and rich texts.

  We encourage guest speakers and visits to religious places of worship where possible so that RE lessons are enriched and learning is memorable. We hope children will enjoy RE lessons through rich and complex lessons that allow children to learn about and learn from religion. This will allow them to embrace the diversity of the society/community in which they live.

  Please refer to the link which encompasses the Barnet Agreed Syllabus from EYFS to the end of KS2 and beyond.

  https://wwc.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/barnet_syllabus_for_re_october_2019_0.pdf

• Science
  Science

  The subject lead teacher for Science at Frith Manor is Abigail Symons who can be contacted via the school office if you have any questions.

  At Frith Manor, science is taught in line with the National Curriculum objectives with the intent that our pupils will develop an in-depth understanding of the world around them and of how major scientific ideas have played a vital role in society. This will prepare them for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.

  Each year group's planning builds upon prior knowledge and shows a development of skills as part of the school's clear progression maps. Pupils are encouraged to enhance their creativity and be challenged through both theoretical and practical lessons. As they advance through the school, pupils may cover different topics, but the 'working scientifically' strand, which is apparent through all areas, encourages them to be self-motivated, independent, curious and resilient learners by developing inquiry-based skills and sessions. Frith Manor boasts a Discovery room with excellent resources where science experiments and lessons take place.

  Science plays a vital role within our school community and events such as competitions, (Little Inventors' being a prominent feature), STEM Ambassador visitors and themed trips help create the scientific 'buzz' at Frith Manor throughout the year. Science week in March is a particular highlight, with a much-anticipated visit from a mobile planetarium and a 'bubble-making' entertainer, and also visits from many parents and carers having professional careers within scientific fields and industries. We embrace their expertise and recognise the valuable contributions that families can make to the delivery of an engaging science curriculum.

  Frith Manor is at a pivotal moment in outdoor classroom learning as a dedicated group of parents are restoring a peace garden, forest garden, allotment area and are building a pond. We are excited by the opportunities this will bring for all scientific learning and for the pupils to be able to create meaningful experiences within their natural environment.

  By the time they leave for secondary school, pupils will be equipped with the scientific knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the next stage of their education. They will have a secure understanding of key science concepts, so that they inspired to continue to use science in their everyday life and future careers.