Junior School Curriculum

Sidcot School takes a holistic approach to education, one with the child at the core. We build students’ self-esteem by identifying their abilities then creating tailored approaches to provide a solid foundation for the next stage in their education. Find out what we offer in our Junior School Curriculum Guide.

What Matters When Creating A Curriculum

The National Curriculum sets out core subjects and standards that school students are expected to learn and to meet. This is so all school age children learn the same things. At Sidcot School we’re conscious of the National Curriculum but not constrained by it. Our independence allows us to build a curriculum that includes all of the formal requirements, but also focuses time on enrichment activities that develop skills and knowledge beyond what’s assessed on the National Curriculum.

At Sidcot School we are committed to the education and academic pursuits of our students, but also tailor our curriculum to encourage self exploration and a focus on what matters to each individual child. What matters at Sidcot is that children learn and develop in the subjects they are taught and that they grow their passions, hobbies, and self-esteem too. We do this by creating a holistic approach to education. 

Our teaching uses many creative learning experiences that encourage students to develop an understanding of concepts through collaborative exploration and discovery. There’s also a packed programme of after school and extracurricular activities running throughout the year. Equally important is the ‘hidden curriculum’ of the school - what the children learn from the way they are treated and expected to behave. 

Key Stage 1 Curriculum

The Key Stage 1 curriculum is tailored to children aged 5 to 7 who have just left the Early Years Foundation Stage. Key Stage 1 is the foundation for learning in Key Stage 2, and the Key Stage 1 curriculum at Sidcot helps children to become acquainted with core subjects and to start to understand their learning journey.

Our school curriculum aims to enable all children to learn and develop their skills to the best of their ability, become positive citizens, and understand the basic skills of literacy, numeracy, and information and communication. The Key Stage 1 curriculum puts our students on the path to achieving these goals and their potential.

Key Stage 2 Curriculum

The aims of the Key Stage 2 curriculum are the same as for Key Stage 1. We want to promote a positive attitude towards learning, so that children enjoy coming to school and

acquire a solid basis for lifelong learning. The Key Stage 2 curriculum builds on this from Key Stage 1 to start further developing children aged 7 to 11, helping them to prepare for the next stage of their school life.

A Holistic Approach to Education

In order to achieve our aims across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we follow the guidelines set by the National Curriculum but, as we are not bound by it, we explore many other ways of learning. Our Junior School activities make the most of our beautiful surroundings in North Somerset. Teachers encourage children to take part in multiple activities and events so they can find something that truly sparks their imagination. Music lessons engage students in singing and learning different types of music, and our emotional health focus ensures that pupil wellbeing is at the forefront of everything.

This is all in addition to literacy, numeracy, and ICT lessons, as well as subjects such as geography, history, and religious education. We monitor pupil progress, communicating with parents regularly. Sidcot is a SATs free zone, as we believe there are other ways of assessing pupil progress that are in line with traditional Quaker and Sidcot School values.

Learn More About the Sidcot Curriculum

If you’d like to find out more about our Key Stage 1 curriculum and Key Stage 2 curriculum, please contact us or arrange to visit us in North Somerset. We’d be delighted to talk you through our holistic approach to education and the wonderful opportunities that await students at Sidcot School.