READING

Our aim is for children to become life-long readers who read through childhood and adulthood for pleasure and with confidence and accuracy. Teachers and Learning Support Assistants teach children to read in guided reading sessions each week. We focus on decoding new words, reading with expression and comprehension.

Children may borrow books to take home from their classroom or from the well stocked school library. In addition, the children may also read electronic books assigned by their teacher from the same scheme as our guided reading books. We expect children to read at home at least 4 times per week and we have a whole school Reading Challenge in place to reward the children for their efforts.

SPELLING

We place great importance on children learning to spell. We believe that it is more useful and efficient for children to learn skills that are transferrable from word to word, rather than memorise a list each week. However, in each year group the children do have a set of words to focus on each week which reflect the aspect of spelling that is being taught in class; the words usually relate to the unit of English work that is being covered. We tailor our teaching to the preferences in learning styles that the children may have and this is reflected in the homework that we expect in, so children often have a choice in how they complete their spelling task.

We want children to be confident spellers and support a ‘have a go’ attitude but we also provide a range of resources in class to promote accuracy of spelling. We believe it is a key aspect of all work and this is reflected in our Marking and Presentation Policy.

MATHS

Our aim is to encourage children to become life-long mathematical thinkers with a deep-seated conceptual understanding of mathematical processes and their application in formal situations. Through our teaching of the National Curriculum objectives we aim to instil a confident understanding of the practical maths skills that the children will use in everyday life (such as time and money); as well as the formal and theoretical skills (such as written methods and algebra) that will enable them to develop further in their academic journey. In addition to this, we place a strong emphasis on logical thinking and reasoning: which we believe are widely-transferable life-skills. Work carried out in class is reinforced with related weekly homework which is designed to embed the learning that has occurred in school. In addition, the children may also carry out electronic learning games and activities assigned by their teacher in our online learning platform.

Times tables underpin many of the mathematical skills that the children encounter in class. Consequently, we place great importance on children learning their times tables. We recommend that children practise their focus times table daily and use a wide range of methods to embed the information and understand its application in different contexts. For example, verbal repetition (including songs); visual representation of arrays; use of other number facts, e.g. doubling / halving, to work out unknown multiplication facts; and inverse multiplication facts for division. Throughout the school, children undergo a Times Table Challenge each week and receive certificates rewarding them for progress made.

SCIENCE

At Brackley Junior School, we aim to nurture an enjoyment and love of science for all of our children. Our aims are to:

• To deliver the National Curriculum programme of study in science;
• To promote the study of science through activities which include questioning, investigating, measuring, observing, classifying and researching;
• To promote learning by using a variety of teaching and learning styles;
• To develop scientific working skills through relevant practical tasks;
• To encourage use of appropriate scientific vocabulary to express ideas.

The children also engage in science through other enrichment activities throughout the year, such as: British Science Week, outdoor learning and educational visits.

Science Programmes of Study

Science at Brackley Junior School is often taught discretely but where possible, it is linked to each term’s topic in each year group. Cross curricular links are embedded whenever possible. Included in the document below, you will find a breakdown of which science is covered in each term by each year group within those topics.

RE

Our RE curriculum follows the Northamptonshire Agreed Syllabus, Growing Together, which allows pupils to explore their own beliefs and traditions and those of others in a meaningful and engaging way. We encourage pupils to grow individually and together with sensitivity and respect towards people of all faiths and none. The curriculum for RE consists of units based on Christianity and other worldwide religions and contains clear clinks to the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as well as their understanding of Christian and British Values.

A daily act of Collective Worship takes place as a whole school and as a class.  Following discussion with the Headteacher parents have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education and Collective Worship.  We are very proud of our status as a Church of England Voluntary Controlled School. We pride ourselves on our links to the church, especially, St.Peter’s Church Brackley, our history and tradition and our distinctively Christian Values. These support our commitment to the Christian Faith and the high standards of the school. A weekly Act of Worship is led by the vicar or his representative and the school celebrates Christian events throughout the year with special services at the church.

BROADER CURRICULUM

At Brackley Junior School, we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and builds upon the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children as they progress through our school, whatever their starting points. Children fully engage with a variety of exciting topics such as Extreme Earth and Automata Animals where we will enable children to learn skills such as woodwork, cookery, map work and historical enquiry. We believe our curriculum teaches necessary life skills to enable pupils to have the skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education and beyond.

PSHE

PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a planned programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future.  We aim to develop the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

Our PSHE lessons promote the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of our pupils, prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life; and promote British values.

We follow the Jigsaw scheme of work, which is a whole-school approach and embodies a positive philosophy and creative teaching and learning activities to nurture children’s development as compassionate and well-rounded human beings as well as building their capacity to learn.

MUSIC

At Brackley C of E Junior School we are very proud of our outstanding musical activities.  Music is taught by a specialist Music teacher each week.  All pupils across the school  learn about notation through the recorder and ukulele as part of their weekly music lesson. In year 5 all children have the opportunity to learn a brass or woodwind instrument through the First Access project in conjunction with the  Northampton Music and Performing Arts Service. Singing is wonderful and important part of the life of our school and our children sing with joy and enthusiasm during Collective Worship and in music lessons.  We have a strong choir and an orchestra, and peripatetic music teachers provide lessons in string, woodwind, guitar and brass.  In lessons pupils enjoy using a range of percussion instruments to compose, play and perform in groups and as a class. We have an amazing collection of high quality instruments including  enough djembe drums, glockenspiels and xylophones, ukuleles, recorders and hand held percussion for a whole class to play together. They use their voices and play musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control. They appreciate the music of different composers and listen to music from different times, places and cultures.  All pupils are given the opportunity to perform in concerts, church services and the whole school productions at the end of the school year.

Physical Education

At Brackley Junior School, children have the opportunity to develop their fundamental skills in PE which will allow them to successfully access a variety of sporting activities in their later years. 

In games activities in lower school, children are taught how to hit, roll, throw and catch; first using their body and then increasing difficulty by manipulating equipment to perform tasks.  As pupils move into years five and six, activities become more closely related to specific sporting activities, leading to larger game situations.  Children will be able to apply the fundamental skills they have developed in earlier years as they begin to learn about tactics and playing as a team; encouraging co-operation and sportsmanship.  In all years, pupils also have the opportunity to participate in gymnastics and dance activities which greatly benefit co-ordination, balance, flexibility, strength and musicality.  In PE lessons, pupils will also learn about muscles and how their body changes during exercise. 

Extra-curricular clubs are offered throughout the year and there are opportunities to participate in competitions within the cluster group and county.  Some activities on offer are run by coaches from external clubs and organisations whilst others are run by the specialist PE teacher.

Our aim is for the children to enjoy physical exercise and begin to understand the importance of activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. 

If you would like to find out more about our curriculum, please speak to your child's teacher.

We follow the National Curriculum and if you would like to find out more, you can visit their website by clicking here.