The School Curriculum

All learners access a broad and balanced curriculum underpinned by our ‘BEACON’ vision. Our curriculum in constantly evolving as we further develop the Curriculum for Wales, supporting our learners to be and become the four purposes. Our curriculum is built upon the ‘27 Statements of What Matters’ which explain the key knowledge, skills and concepts that children learn about within each of the Areas of Learning and Experience, during their time at school. The process of revisiting and exploring these statements helps the children to link new ideas and learning to what they already know or can do, enabling them to develop to a more sophisticated and deeper understanding of the key knowledge, skills and concepts in each area.

The skills of literacy, numeracy and digital are woven through our curriculum to ensure all learners develop and make progress in these mandatory skills. All of our learners access the Digital Competency Framework (DCF) and the Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) and teachers use these framework to plan for learning experiences.

Our BEACON Vision and the Four Purposes underpin our curriculum. Through rich and engaging experiences, our learners will become:

• Healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society;
• Enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work;
• Ethical informed citizens of Wales and the world;
• Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives.

This is achieved through planning and delivering a curriculum that focuses on the six Areas of Learning and Experience:

• Expressive Arts
• Health and Well-being
• Humanities
• Languages, Literacy and Communication
• Mathematics and Numeracy
• Science and Technology

As a school, we are also committed to equipping our children with essential life skills that prepare them for their future. This includes developing:

• Creativity and innovation skills – where the children have opportunities to explore, communicate, create plans and find solutions.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills – the children are encouraged to ask questions, look at the evidence, make decisions and solve problems.

• Personal effectiveness – where they learn to make the most of their time and talents, which helps them grow in confidence, become aware of different social, cultural and ethical views and learn from their mistakes.

• Planning and organising skills – where they learn to manage their time, set goals, make decisions and check work.

Progression and Assessment

Our curriculum will support learning through designing engaging opportunities that draw upon the pedagogical principles. This is supported by effective learning and teaching that enables our children to make meaningful progress. Over time our learners will ​develop and improve their skills and knowledge, and be able to apply this to new contexts.  Our BEACON curriculum focuses on understanding what it means to make progress in a given area or discipline and how learners should deepen and broaden their knowledge and understanding, skills and capacities, and attributes and dispositions, informed by the Progression Code. This in turn supports our approach to assessment, including using information from assessment to inform future planning for learning. Assessment will be embedded as an intrinsic part of our approach to learning and teaching. All learners will be assessed on entry to the school to allow us to build upon their prior learning and experiences. Regular opportunities are provided in our school to update parents and carers on the progress of their child/ children, and how we can work together to support each individual to make the best progress. This is communicated at least termly through various forms, such as parents’ evenings and written reports.

Delivery of the Curriculum

At Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan, learning experiences are planned and delivered through a progression plan and sequence of learning approach that offers AoLE specific and cross-curricular experiences relevant to learners needs. The focus on a progression plan provides stimulation in a wide variety of situations affording opportunities for all learners to develop and use a range of skills, knowledge and experiences to support learning, and ensure progress. Learner voice is central to our curriculum, allowing learners the opportunity to share ideas, opinions and views to influence school and school decisions, leading to a greater sense of ownership and belonging.  This is achieved through the wide-range of pupil voice groups on offer at Ysgol Golwg Pen Y Fan, including but not limited to: School Council, Criw Cymraeg and Eco Council.

As a school, we have agreed six ‘big ideas’ that will be taught over a two-year cycle. Our ‘big ideas’ will allow us to develop and deliver a creative and aspiring curriculum that is based on engaging experiences.

2 Year Cycle

Year 1 Cycle – Autum Term Cynefin and Belonging

Year 1 Cycle – Spring Term Awe, Wonder and Curiosity

Year 1 Cycle – Summer Term Changes and Journeys

Year 2 Cycle – Autumn Term Enterprise and Creativity

Year 2 Cycle – Spring Term Diversity and Empathy

Year 2 Cycle – Summer Term Discovery and Adventure

This will be enhanced through effective learning environments and enabling adults. The statements of what matters are mapped to our ‘big ideas’, ensuring that our learners can explore concepts in depth, make connections, transfer learning and grow in sophistication in skills and knowledge. This will result in learners making strong progress towards the four purposes and our whole- school vision, BEACON.

Mathematics and Numeracy

We use ‘White Rose’ as a basis for mathematics and numeracy learning.

White Rose Maths follows a teaching for mastery approach. It breaks down the curriculum into manageable, “small steps”, focusing on fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving.

Find out more here – Advice and guidance for parents | White Rose Education

Literacy, language and Communication

Phonics and Spelling

Sounds-Write is the systematic programme we use to teach our children how to read and write. It is a muti-sensory phonics programme used from Reception to Year 2. In KS2, children follow the Sounds-Write programme for spelling.

Support for Parents and Carers – Sounds-Write – Use this link for further information.

Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE)

RSE is a positive and protective part of the Curriculum for Wales. It plays a central role in supporting learners’ rights to enjoy fulfilling, healthy and safe relationships throughout their lives. Central to the Curriculum for Wales is an aspiration for every child and young person to achieve the Four Purposes of the curriculum. A rights and equity based RSE curriculum at Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan helps ensure that all children can develop an understanding of how people’s faith, beliefs, human rights and cultures are related to all aspects of RSE and how these rights can contribute to the freedom, dignity, well-being and safety of all people. Therefore, as a school, we discuss RSE in the context of the Rights protected by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

RSE supports learners to develop the knowledge, skills and values to understand how relationships and sexuality shape their own lives and the lives of others. Learners are taught to be equipped and empowered to seek support on issues relating to RSE and to advocate where appropriate for themselves and others. RSE is a mandatory requirement in the Curriculum for Wales for all pupils from age 3 to 16. This means that all pupils must receive this education. There is no right to withdraw from RSE in the new curriculum.

At Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan we ensure that any RSE content provided is developmentally appropriate for learners. We take account of a range of factors such as the pupils age, knowledge and maturity and any additional learning needs. The RSE needs to be developmentally appropriate for each learner.

Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) and Collective Worship

Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan is not affiliated with any particular religion or religious denomination, however RVE and Collective Worship are delivered to all learners in accordance with the statutory requirements. RVE within the Curriculum for Wales can offer a distinctive contribution to the realisation of the four purposes for all learners. RVE is objective, critical and pluralistic, both in content and pedagogy. At Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan, our learners will be offered opportunities through RVE to engage with different religions and non-religious philosophical convictions in their own locality and in Wales, as well as in the wider world. We also recognise that RVE and Collective Worship make a significant contribution to the school’s aims and ethos.

Our approach to the Welsh Language

We are an English-medium school are committed to Welsh language education and create a positive and welcoming environment for Welsh language learning and embrace Welsh language through daily activities. These include; Weekly Welsh assemblies, Criw Cymraeg lead teacher and pupils across the campuses attend events and promote Welsh in assembly, Welsh phrases across the day, Welsh signage and display around each campus, Welsh language lessons daily, following the Tric-a Clic and Helpwr Heddiw programmes as well as developing Welsh language across the curriculum.

School Experiences and Visits

Our curriculum vision is delivered through rich and engaging experiences. We have worked with the local cluster to develop a range of experiences that children will have during their time in our school. These will include; library visits, participate in performances, visit a place of worship, visit a city, visit a beach, explore the local environment, undertake a hill walk, visit a museum, to name a few.

Sport and extra-curricular activities

At Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan we are proud of the opportunities that we can provide with different sports and activities. Across the year we will encourage children to join and attend different sports events within the local cluster. These include; netball, football, cross country and cricket. We also encourage sport and team games with coaches and instructors that are invited into school to work with classes.