Curriculum
Curriculum Subjects
Read more about our curriculum design and ethos HERE or see the links below for the detailed curriculum subject plans.
OFSTED says:
“Most teachers lead a subject. They do this skilfully. As a result, pupils enjoy a very interesting and stimulating range of lessons in all subjects.”
Art
Mr Jack Goodens
When being artists at Denmead Junior School, children will experience art in seven mediums; drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, digital media, print and textiles. Across the key stage, children will develop their mastery in these skills, giving opportunities to be resilient, curious and to self-improve, all whilst fostering a creative outlet. At its heart, art will inspire children’s curiosity so that they love learning. Children at DJS will have an opportunity to hone their creativity and build their confidence and ability to self-reflect. In all units, children will get a chance to exhibit their work, appraising and appreciating their efforts and those of their peers. Art will also give the children the opportunity to explore other cultures and people unlike themselves; aiding their own personal development and their ability to make sense of the diverse world around them, outside of Denmead Junior School.
Computing
Mr Carl Restall
At Denmead we foster responsible digital citizens with a strong foundation of digital literacy and a growing understanding of coding. All children at Denmead Junior School will have access to a range of hardware and software and will learn how to apply them to a variety of tasks.
Children at DJS will learn through a progression of knowledge and skills that aims to develop their confidence when using technology, no matter what their barriers to learning may be. Children will be introduced to concepts first through ‘unplugged’ teacher led lessons, then allowed to modify pre-existing examples where possible and finally applying their new knowledge to create something of their own. They will develop the learning power of co-operation by applying the ‘driver/navigator’ approach when applicable.
Children will develop the learning power of resilience and self-improvement through the process of debugging their code. Due to the exposure children at Denmead have to technology, both at school and at home, we instil respect and a knowledge of how to safely use technology in an ever expanding digital world.
Design & Technology
Mr Jack Goodens
At Denmead Junior School children will learn a range of strategies to help them design, manufacture and evaluate solutions to everyday challenges. Our Design & Technology curriculum has been designed to follow three main strands of project, each encompassing the overarching themes of creativity, practical expertise and evaluative critique. These strands include textiles (decorative and practical application), manufacture (structural and moving parts) and food technology (nutritional choice and cooking techniques).
The curriculum has been carefully planned so that pupils build on their learning from prior years, including their time in Reception to Year 2, and develop their metacognitive understanding of problem solving and critical reviews of their work. Children will learn to explore the key facets of a problem, discuss potential approaches to the task, experiment with different solutions and the establish their final solution through design and evaluation; all of these key skills will assist them in their knowledge of how the world around us is constantly being developed with new and exciting technologies and their own ability to help develop solutions to problems in the future.
English - Drama
Children perform two class assemblies a year, and there is an annual year 6 production every July.
English - Reading
Mrs Joy Painting
At Denmead, reading gives pupils a window to the world.
Pupils will be confident readers, clear on the purpose they are reading and how their text that matches their need.
Pupils will have the opportunity to work with a range of multi-media texts through carefully planned lessons that build, year on year, on the skills needed to become a confident reader. These skills will be clearly modelled to them, giving pupils the opportunity to apply them in groups and individual tasks. We believe that the subjective nature of reading is important and pupils will be able to learn how their understanding and opinions of what they have read are of value to others and are necessary to develop a love of reading.
At DJS we value the idea that all pupils should be able to see themselves in the books that we promote, regardless of ethnicity or gender. A wide range of texts spanning both fiction and non-fiction are available in our well stocked library, regularly replenished through the Schools Library Service. Pupils visit weekly to spend time choosing new books and reading. We pride ourselves on directing pupils to a range of new and familiar authors that will continue to increase their enthusiasm and deepen their love of reading.
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English - Writing
Mrs Joy Painting
At Denmead, we are a school of budding authors.
Children will be confident and fluent writers, deepening their understanding of the power of who they are writing for and why they are writing through thoughtfully planned units based around an engaging text driver chosen to stimulate creativity and build success.
Children at Denmead will be exposed to a range of texts covering different media, themes and cultures, purposes and audiences. They will be taught to analyse the impact on the reader, building their vision of ‘writing as a reader’ and the knowledge and skills to do so.
Children will experience carefully planned learning journeys that build a wider ranging vocabulary, develop their understanding of the importance of punctuation, sentence structure and text organisation to create writing that is carefully matched to the purpose and audience intended.
They will have the opportunity to write freely for a range of purposes, in a range of styles, applying their knowledge of how to construct texts.
Mrs Painting runs annual workshops for parents on different aspects of English learning. Please find below his latest presentation:
English - Speaking and Listening
Mrs Joy Painting
At Denmead, we speak from the heart.
Pupils will be confident speakers, able to communicate to each other one on one or to a wider audience clearly and effectively. We pride ourselves not only on how we communicate but how we listen, developing pupils who can inspire confidence in those speaking through their ability to show they are listening and communicate what has been shared. We trust each other.
The development of our knowledge and skills of how to communicate and how to listen is weaved throughout our curriculum. From the quiet discussion of ideas in lessons to the presentation of learning in school assemblies, confidence when speaking and listening is continually developed to give pupils a stronger voice for later in life.
Geography
Mr Jack Earl
Intent
To inspire a curiosity and fascination about the world we live in. Children will deepen their understanding of physical and human geography through thoughtfully planned units, based around answering a key question, to give purpose and real life application to our learning. Due to our location, Children need to be exposed to environments which can be compared and contrasted to our area of Denmead to enhance their understanding of where they live, and how it differs to other areas around the globe. Children will develop their geographical skills and fieldwork knowledge as they will experience a range of lesson mediums to engage them and allow them to thrive regardless of learning barriers.
History
Miss Meg Ayres
When learning about History at Denmead Junior School, all children, including those with SEN, Pupil Premium and disadvantaged, will have the opportunity to be historians. By delving into different time periods and cultures, children will experience what life was like for people like and unlike themselves, and will leave our school having had the opportunity to reflect on these events and their impact on the diverse, modern world around them.
History learning at Denmead Junior School is linked from Year 3 to Year 6 with our Golden Threads- key areas of focus that will allow children to make connections between time periods, people and events, that might not otherwise be linked. They are: Inventions and Innovations, Culture and Civilisations and Conflict and Resolution. These themes will be explored in the different units taught across the school and will allow all children to explore the human side of historically significant events that are important not only to British history, but wider world history.
Throughout their time here, children will hone their historical skills like questioning, interpretation and analysis and comparing and contrasting. Whilst imperative as an historian, these skills are also transferable, allowing children to explore all aspects of their learning more deeply, giving opportunities to use critical thinking. Children will be able to express their knowledge and understanding of themes, dates, people and events through different mediums, ensuring that all learners are able to develop their own historical theories and opinions based on historical fact and speculation.
By the end of KS2, children will leave Denmead Junior School having had the opportunity to go on engaging school trips to further develop their knowledge of history in the wider and local context. They will have engaged in historical discussions about artefacts and the limitations of primary and secondary evidence from different time periods. Children will be curious about the world around them, and had the opportunity to explore a perspective that is not their own and to analyse and make judgements based on historical record and evidence on events that have shaped the world.
Mathematics
Miss Amanda Brady
Children have two maths lessons a day – an hour long lesson following the Hampshire Maths curriculum which is linked to the new phases of teaching designed to bring about mastery in the subject. Once children have learned a particular maths concept, they then apply their knowledge to a range of contexts.
The second lesson is our Denmead Maths Express. This is a fast paced 25 minute lesson which enables children to constantly revisit and revise their maths skills so that they are efficient calculators of everyday maths questions. This builds up fluency in Maths.
Children have regular times tables tests (weekly in year 3 and 4 and fortnightly in 5 and 6). It is vital that children learn their number bonds for 10, 20 and 100 and the related subtraction facts and times tables to 12x12 and the inverse division facts.
Below are the end of year expectations for Maths as set out in the new 2014 curriculum:
Mrs Marks usually runs two workshops for parents each year. Below please find the recent presentations:
Music
Miss Louise Gill
At DJS, we provide high quality, inclusive music education that engages and inspires a love for music in our children, as well as a desire to perform musically at home and in the community. Music is an opportunity for self-expression and creativity and we want our pupils to develop this as performers and have a feeling of self-achievement during their time at DJS.
Pupils develop their understanding of the interrelated musical dimensions through listening and responding to music, composing and performing their musical ideas. By the end of year 6, pupils will have built knowledge and understanding of music from a broad range of cultural and historical backgrounds. This teaches children to respect and show appreciation for a rich and diverse range of music. They will also learn how to record and write down their musical ideas. Every child gets an opportunity to learn an instrument in class, where they will learn how to read musical notation and perform with pride. During music lessons, children regularly demonstrate the school's learning powers as they have opportunities to work together collaboratively and to explore their creativity.
Throughout their time at DJS, children have the opportunity to perform and to feel like they are part of a community. We work with Hampshire Music Service, who support us in providing resources and create opportunities for children to learn about and make music. All children have weekly music lessons with their class teacher, and one term of learning to play a musical instrument as part of the Listen2Me programme, provided by Hampshire Music Service. Children are able to demonstrate their musical skills and understanding of performing to an audience, as well as taking pride in what they have achieved.
All pupils take part in regular singing assemblies, as well as singing together for Christmas and Easter services each year. There is also an active choir for children to join, where they regularly perform in the local community. At DJS, we offer a range of extra-curricular activities. These include the school choir, recorder club and Rock Steady. Children also have the option to learn an instrument through individual lessons from our visiting peripatetic teachers. Children can currently learn guitar and violin.
Outdoor Learning
Miss Zoe Halford
Wherever possible DJS takes the children outside to learn within our extensive Forest Garden area, which include an outdoor classroom, raised beds, a performance stage, a woodland walk, Buttercup the Caravan, a range of ponds and a wildlife area. In addition, two outdoor Adventure Residentials are run in year 4 (3 days and 2 nights) and year 6 (5 days and 4 nights).
PE
Miss Lauren Shute
Children learn about key physical attributes such as stamina, speed, balance, co-ordination and agility as well as passing, shooting/striking, throwing, catching and fielding to help them access and be successful at a range of sports.
Children have 2 PE lessons a week – one taught by their class teacher. They are taught basic skills and individual sports such as Cricket, Rounders, Football and Hockey.
In year 5 we teach all the children to swim 25 metres confidently in a range of different strokes. Children travel to Waterlooville Leisure Centre for 10 weeks in the spring term.
In addition, we have a number of after school sports clubs including Multi-Sports, Volleyball, Football, Fencing. Some of these are run by external providers where there is a charge, and others by class teachers which are free.
Personal Development Learning (PDL)
Mrs Kristen Baker
At Denmead Junior School, children will learn to value, trust, respect and love themselves and others as individuals who are all different. They will develop knowledge to remain safe (in the real world and online), using strategies to maintain good physical and mental health. Children will learn, and take increasing responsibility for how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way, including conflict resolution and forgiveness. Children should be given the opportunity to discuss, have respect for others opinions and share their own opinions about a range of topical issues, problems and events. Children will understand physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty and have the skills to make informed choices; develop and maintain positive relationships; and learn strategies to cope with negative emotions.
Religious Education
Mrs Natalie Pettit
At Denmead Junior school, we believe that children should have an awareness of major faiths: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. We want our children to understand the different views of other people across the school, the local area and the world. In doing so, our children understand other members of the community to make them more empathetic world citizens. We have links to our PDL curriculum where we teach our children that difference is something to be celebrated as we live in a diverse world.
Each year group teaches a different unit every half term where we explore different concepts in line with Living Difference VI. All concepts are fall into one of three categories. ‘A’ concepts are common to all people e.g. celebration, power, belonging. ‘B’ concepts are shared by many religions e.g. God, worship, symbolism. ‘C’ concepts are unique to a particular religion e.g. Dukkha (Buddhism). Each unit follows a concept cycle and is divided into 5 sections, starting at either ‘communicate’ or ‘enquire’. ‘Communicate’ is when children are encouraged to reflect on their own beliefs values and experiences. ‘Apply’ is when we give them the opportunity to consider how other people are affected by a concept. ‘Enquire’ allows our children to define what the concept actually means. During ‘Contextualise’ children have the opportunity to find out more about one or more religions and how the concept is special to them. This includes special events, rituals and celebrations. Finally, ‘Evaluate’ allows children to unpick the importance of this concept to certain groups of people.
Throughout the school, children have opportunities to show a deeper understanding of the main religions. Year 3 learn about Hinduism, Year 4 Judaism, Year 5 Buddhism and Year 6 Islam. These are not exclusive and within their learning journeys our pupils have the opportunity to explore other faiths and discover similarities between them. This allows children to demonstrate their understanding of common themes across world religions and how these are relevant to their lives. Each cohort also has the opportunity to find out about the Christian faith. We have close links with the clergy at All Saints church in Denmead, which gives the children the opportunity to take part in a service at the church and receive regular input from the All Saints team. By the end of year 6, pupils will have built upon their knowledge of both the story of the nativity and of holy week whilst having the opportunity to experience a variety of stimuli and practical experiences to bring RE to life
Science
Mr Ian Addison
At Denmead Junior School, science will give children the opportunity to learn about themselves and the world around them, stimulating their curiosity and demonstrating their link to the real world. The children will be able to explore the key science ideas in a range of contexts and they will understand the linked key vocabulary. The children will have opportunities to use a range of scientific methods and to work as scientists.
Pupils will learn key science ideas through units of linked lessons which build upon previous knowledge, skills and experiences as mapped out across all four year groups. They will have the opportunity to work as scientists by planning and carrying out fair tests and making observations, asking questions and making predictions based on what they have seen. They will learn how to take accurate measurements using a range of equipment and record their data in a variety of different ways. They will deepen their understanding of how to interpret their own and others data to try and reach conclusions.
Pupils will have the opportunity to develop science knowledge and skills through their own experiences by carrying out classroom based investigations, describing examples of key ideas in contexts they have experienced, using the school grounds, going on science focused school trips and through brought in experiences.
We believe that safety and the knowledge of how to work and learn safely is important. Pupils will have the opportunity to identify potential hazards and will recognise ways to minimise risks and know what actions to take to keep themselves and others safe.
Science will provide opportunities for the children to develop their DJS learning powers
• To be curious by making observations, noticing patterns and connections and asking questions
• To concentrate by managing distractions and focusing on the learning tasks
• To be resilient by being excited by new experiences, not worrying if things go wrong and learning from mistakes
• To co-operate by listening to others, working together and sharing ideas
• To self-improve by looking for ways to improve investigations