Learning at Lodge Primary School is all about the children. They are at the centre of everything that we do and are the heart of our community.
At Lodge, we encourage our pupils to share and value others because of their uniqueness, whilst celebrating and appreciating difference in our school community. Our children are encouraged to be active, responsible thinkers who care about each other and all members of our society. Through our curriculum, they are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and be active, fully engaged children with a lifelong love of learning.
The value of Art within our curriculum
At Lodge, pupils are strongly encouraged to express themselves through creative means. Children have the opportunity to develop their art skills in key areas such as drawing, clay, textiles, sculpture, painting, print making and collage. These areas are developed continuously throughout the school from foundation stage through to year 6 and are both knowledge and skills based. Children are encouraged to be inspired by the work of great artists, crafts people and designers in history. They have the opportunity to explore select, experiment and refine work using different materials. Children learn about art from different cultures and times linked to their history topics. Creativity is promoted at Lodge through visits to Ingestre Hall, The Fab Lab ( a lab where children can use digital programming to laser cut art work onto wood) along with whole school projects such as ‘Dream Big where all children from early years to year 6 get to take part in University style courses such as fashion design, 3d sculpture, fine arts, photography.
The value of music in the curriculum
The teaching of music at Lodge is based upon the fact that is a creative and social art to be enjoyed. All children have the opportunity to enjoy musical experiences through listening, singing, movement and dance by playing both tuned and un-tuned percussion. Music lessons are delivered by a music specialist. In these lessons children are given the best opportunity to develop both knowledge and skills in the area of the curriculum. In the Autumn term children focus on a composer and in the Spring and Summer term music is linked towards children’s history topics.
We have and will continue to be involved in many exciting projects recently: The year 6 Lion King production which used a range of musical skills, Lodge Choir, Guitar and Recorder club and Dream Big Lodge University Challenge which allowed children to take part in a sample ‘Musical Theatre’ university course and finally The ‘Young Voices’ project.
The value of Computing within our curriculum
At Lodge we believe that Computing and the use of ICT is central to the education of all children. We aim to give each child the opportunity to apply and develop their technological understanding and skills across a wide range of situations and tasks. Children learn how to keep safe on the internet aswell as how to write and use simple codes through the use of ‘Espresso coding’. With the knowledge that Computing and ICT will undoubtedly continue to form a major part in the children’s life at home, in further education and places of work, we ensure the Computing and ICT experiences and abilities that the children are equipped with at Lodge, are effective and transferrable life skills.
The value of DT within our curriculum
Design and Technology at Lodge is about producing a range of products linked to other areas of the curriculum, such as the history topics. Every year group has the opportunity to research a product to aid their planning, practise the skills that will be needed to make their product, as well as evaluate and critique their final product. At Lodge Primary School we aim to engage the interest of all children, and help sustain their motivation and enjoyment of learning. Each topic ignites curiosity, imagination and creativity. We aim to develop and maintain the confidence and ability of all children to solve technological problems whilst working as a member of a team or independently.
The value of English within of curriculum
At Lodge Primary School we passionately believe that reading is the key to the rest of the curriculum, and indeed in life itself. Through our skills based reading curriculum we aim to provide our children with rich and exciting opportunities for reading that develop them socially, emotionally and intellectually and build within them a real 'love of reading' that will stay with them forever. We aim to achieve this through the development of a curriculum that immerses children in high quality literature and the spoken word. Daily exposure to books and reading throughout the curriculum will enable our children to hear written English in its correct form, develop listening skills and introduce them to a wide variety of books, genres and authors. Early reading is taught through the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme. Children learn to read accurately and fluently within differentiated groups across EYFS and KS1. Progress is monitored closely and teaching is adapted accordingly to meet the needs of learners.
It is our vision that every child will learn to write by being given real and exciting materials and opportunities. Using a ‘Talk for writing’ approach, we show and explain everyday occurrences to the children and inspire them to write about them. We share excellent writing to inspire children to emulate styles. We encourage children to read their work for enjoyment, to read it aloud to others and provide audiences for writing. We want children to have an understanding that writing has a real purpose and that word choice and style can bring about change.
The value of French within our curriculum
At Lodge Primary School we teach a modern foreign language (French) to all KS2 children as part of the school curriculum. Learning French was unanimously voted for by both the students and staff as they felt learning this language would be meaningful in the future as this language is taught at our nearest feeder school, George Salter and is regarded as an official language in twenty-nine countries across the world. Therefore, learning French provides our students with an appreciation of the rich, diverse world in which we live. The majority of our children already have a home language that is different to the one they use in school and this too is celebrated within school. Ensemble (Language Projects Scheme) and Linguascope have been used and adapted to design our French curriculum. A French specialist helps us to deliver our French curriculum and provide our staff with continuous CPD. Across school, this year, we are celebrating the culture and traditions of France during the spring term.
The value of Geography within our curriculum
At Lodge, we engage pupils with a relevant, exciting and challenging geography curriculum which equips them with knowledge about diverse places, people and a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Some geography units are taught through BIG enquiry questions that are divided into smaller enquiry questions that focus on: human and physical geography, location and place knowledge and geographical skills and fieldwork. Our geography lessons are focussed around both skills and knowledge which is progressive as the pupils move through the school. In our planning, we have made meaningful links between history and other subject areas of the National Curriculum including Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC). Each term, we provide enrichment experiences which support the learning in history as well as developing cultural capital.
The value of History within our curriculum
At Lodge, we engage pupils with a relevant, exciting and challenging history curriculum which inspires curiosity and is appropriate for preparing pupils for an adult life in the 21st century. History is taught through BIG enquiry questions that are divided into smaller enquiry questions about significant events, people and changes. Our history lessons are focussed around both skills and knowledge which is progressive as the pupils move through the school. In our planning, we have made meaningful links between history and other subject areas of the National Curriculum including Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC). Each term, we provide enrichment experiences which support the learning in history as well as developing cultural capital.
The value of Maths within our curriculum
We want children at Lodge to be confident mathematicians. This confidence will come from a deep and sustained understanding of concepts and procedure. Planned opportunities will enable connections to be developed between the maths we learn in school and its real-life application. We have adopted a White Rose ‘Mastery’ approach to teaching. This will enable more children to find maths accessible and engaging. It ensures that children develop their understanding in small and coherent steps.
Teachers will move all children through using concrete resources, showing pictorial representations before moving onto abstract methods (CPA); this enables children to gain a greater understanding of mathematical concepts.
The value of PE within our curriculum
At Lodge, we engage pupils with a high-quality physical education curriculum that inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. Here at Lodge Primary we provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health, wellbeing and fitness. Our PE lessons are focussed around skills which are progressive as the pupils move through the school. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect throughout the whole school.
The Value of RE and PSHE within our Curriculum
At Lodge Primary School, we aim to develop children’s skills of enquiry, reasoned argument and reflection. We are a multi-faith school and offer a rich and varied curriculum to reflect this. By following the Sandwell Agreed RE Syllabus (RE SACRE), our children are taught to be both respectful and tolerant of all other cultures and faiths.
Children are taught about a range of religions and learn to respect and ask questions about different religions, traditions and cultures around the world. Across the school year, we aim to make R.E relevant by studying and celebrating real events. We achieve this through class assemblies and productions that are linked to key festivals and religious celebrations. During these productions, children exhibit their religious educational learning in many ways including dance, writing and role-play. In addition to this, we have termly whole school assemblies, led by Birmingham City Mission, which focus on Christian Bible stories.
Children are encouraged to think about their own school and personal values and to develop their understanding of how people of different backgrounds or beliefs may share similar and differing values. Children are given many opportunities to answer questions as well as asking their own questions in order to develop their critical thinking, self-belief and self-confidence.
At Lodge Primary, we strive to give our children real life experiences in order to enhance their learning. We aim to achieve this through the use of real life religious artefacts and by visiting local places of worship.
The PSHE coverage at Lodge Primary School is comprehensive and aims to give children the best start in life. We use the Home Office endorsed Dot Com Foundation journals and the regional ‘Healthy Mind, Happy Me’ curriculum that work in conjunction with each other. Every child from Reception to Year 6 is given a personal journal to complete which will cover key aspects of the PSHE curriculum in relation to safeguarding and personal safety and wellbeing. Using a range of characters each journal is specific to the particular year group and helps give understanding of issues such as ‘dealing with feelings’, respecting and valuing yourself and in upper KS2 discussing substance misuse, the value of friendships and living in a community.
The Sandwell ‘Healthy Mind, Happy Me’ curriculum relates specifically to Emotional Health and Wellbeing and this is explored using fictional characters from the Sandwell Borough. In 2019, Lodge Primary achieved the Sandwell Charter Mark Award in recognition of our focus on improving emotional health and wellbeing within the school.
Our PSHE coverage includes an understanding of the law, individual liberty and related responsibilities, acceptance and tolerance resulting in mutual respect and a deeper understanding of diversity and how this impacts society for the greater good. We teach and foster a culture of tolerance and acceptance in all aspects of school life but specifically through, PSHE RE and collective worship.
We examine democracy and encourage the pupils to articulate their views and beliefs through debate and discussion using our school council model as a vehicle. We promote a programme of self-awareness and responsibility. We expose pupils to a wide range of social and cultural events that are celebrated by our diverse communities in Sandwell. Lodge is a positive learning environment where all members of our community are valued.
The value of Science within our curriculum
We believe that a high-quality Science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through biology, chemistry and physics. Through building up a body of knowledge and concepts, we want children to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. At Lodge, we teach science through ‘ Snap science’ where children have a chance to explore scientific concepts. Each half term children take their learning outdoors and take part in A ‘Let’s investigate’ lesson where learning follows the children’s interests.