Our Curriculum

Geography

As Geographers at Highfields Spencer Academy, children will be inspired to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people, including of our local area, where they will have opportunities to explore, observe, question and compare how children, including themselves, live around the world; this will remain with them for the rest of their lives.  We will aim to bring the wider world into the classroom/school through practical activities, fieldwork visits and themed days.  Children will understand the physical processes that form the world around them as well how they can play a responsible part in how human geography affects our planet.

 

History

“The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see” (Winston Churchill)

“The important thing is to not stop questioning, curiosity has its own reason for existing.” (Albert Einstein)

“The aim of the historian is, like an artist, to enlarge the picture of the world.” (James Joll)

As Historians at Highfields Spencer Academy, all children will be inspired to develop a natural curiosity and fascination about Britain’s past and that of the wider world.  Through an engaging range of history driven topics, which are accessible to all, our children will develop their knowledge about the history of Britain and how it has influenced and been influenced by the wider world; research and analyse significant aspects of the history of the wider world such as ancient civilisations and empires; investigate historical changes in their own living memory and beyond; interpret and reflect on the lives of significant people of the past; understand the methods of historical enquiry and be able to ask and answer perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence and develop their own judgements.  They will always be asking “why?”  The children will enjoy and love learning about history by gaining this knowledge and skills through experiences in the classroom and via the use of visitors to school and educational visits to places both within Littleover, Derby and our surrounding areas.  As Historians, Highfields children will learn lessons from history to influence the decisions they make in their lives in the future.

 

Art

At Highfields Spencer Academy we aim to ensure our Art Curriculum embodies the highest form of creativity that is accessible to all, maximising the development of every child’s ability and academic achievement. We want our pupils to be engaged, inspired and challenged in order to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to experiment and express themselves through art. Our curriculum will enable children to think independently and critically whilst develop an understanding of how art contributes positively to our world.

 

Design Technology

At Highfields Spencer Academy children will use creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils will learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they will develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

 

Physical Education

Highfields Spencer Academy recognises the importance of PE and the role it has to play in promoting long term, healthy lifestyles. The intent of our PE curriculum is to provide all children with high quality, inspiring and engaging PE lessons which are enjoyable, challenging and accessible to all. Our vision is that every pupil will achieve their full potential as well as lead and understand the importance of a physically active lifestyle. We will strive for our pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. It is our belief that opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help embed our school values of: courage, respect, determination and friendship. Our curriculum will provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.

 

Music

At Highfields Spencer Academy we believe children should be able to sing and play musically with increasing confidence and control. They should develop an understanding of musical composition, organising and manipulating ideas within musical structures and reproducing sounds from aural memory. Children will have the opportunity to play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression. They will develop their ability to compose music for a range of purposes using the dimensions of music, use and understand staff and other musical notations, appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians and have an understanding about the history of music.

 

Religious Education

Here, at Highfields Spencer Academy, we will have a rich heritage of culture of diversity that is ever changing. The aim of Religious Education is to promote the spiritual, moral, and cultural development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. RE also contributes to pupils’ personal development and well-being, as well as to community cohesion, by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. Throughout our curriculum, we focus on Christianity, Buddhism and Islam, looking at the concepts of these religions and how they may apply to their own personal lives. Pupils will be given opportunities to compare the contrasting concepts across the religions as well. We provide important experiences to help the children become well rounded pupils, accepting of all, such as visiting places of worship and speaking to people of different faiths. As a school, we will also encourage pupils to celebrate all cultures and religions through many different activities, which will help them to further their understanding of the community they live in.

 

MFL: Spanish

At Highfields Spencer Academy we realise the value of communication and our role as global citizens. We aim to provide all pupils with the opportunities to regularly hear and speak Spanish, through teaching key vocabulary and providing contextual events and experiences in which this new learning can be meaningfully employed. We will also provide opportunities for pupils to learn about the Spanish culture and other cultures and languages around the world through their topic studies.