Our Curriculum

Intent, Implementation and Impact 

At Bamford Academy we have created an ambitious curriculum designed to help every child thrive. We focus on growing the whole child - nurturing their unique skills and talents - so that each pupil leaves us with the best possible start in life. Our curriculum prepares children for life in modern Britain, and gives them the knowledge, skills, values and learning habits they need to become confident, lifelong learners. 

Background 

The National Curriculum sets out what primary schools must teach, and the standards children should reach. Schools decide how to deliver this content. At Bamford Academy we have shaped a curriculum that is tailored to our children and our community. It celebrates diversity, draws on the strengths and cultural richness of our local area, and supports every child’s spiritual, moral and cultural development. It also promotes fundamental British values - democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs - which are woven through our lessons and everyday school life. 

Our Curriculum Intent - What we want for your child 

Everything we do is guided by our five core values: Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, Kindness and Acceptance. These values give us a shared, everyday language for talking about fairness, kindness and respect, and they sit naturally alongside the British values we promote. 

We believe in educating the whole child. This means looking after their emotional, physical, academic, social, moral, spiritual and cultural development. We recognise that every child is unique and we value that uniqueness. 

Our curriculum celebrates the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our families. Children learn about different faiths, cultures and ways of life, so that they develop understanding, empathy and respect for people whose beliefs or backgrounds may differ from their own. We adapt learning to meet children’s needs and interests, offering a broad, culturally rich education that prepares them well for the next stage of their schooling. We teach knowledge, skills, concepts and values, and we design lessons that challenge every pupil and encourage them to think hard. There is no ceiling on what children can achieve. 

We also provide a wide range of extra opportunities so children can discover and develop their individual talents and ambitions. Community involvement is important to us - children learn about local traditions and take part in events throughout the year. They also learn that their voice matters, through class discussion, pupil leadership roles and our House System, which builds belonging, teamwork and shared responsibility. 

Your child’s mental and emotional wellbeing is a priority. Through our PSHE curriculum, which follows the myHappymind approach, we help children understand their brains, recognise their feelings, learn ways to manage them, and build self-esteem and resilience. Children also learn what makes a good friend and how to build kind, respectful relationships, which are the foundation of mutual respect. 

When children leave Bamford Academy, they do so with confidence, the ability to make decisions, evaluate their own learning, make connections, and continue learning throughout their lives. We want every child to understand what it means to live in a democratic society, to respect the law, to value individual liberty, and to show mutual respect and tolerance towards others - whatever their background, faith or beliefs. 

How we deliver the curriculum - Implementation 

We carefully plan our curriculum so that children build knowledge step by step and practise the skills they need. Skills are mapped progressively across each year group and subject. Knowledge is revisited regularly so children remember and can use what they have learned. 

Subjects are taught clearly and separately so children know exactly what they are learning and gain a solid understanding of each subject. At the same time, we help them transfer useful skills across different areas of learning. Our classrooms are designed to be stimulating and to support independent learning. 

Feedback - from teachers and from peers - is an essential part of every lesson. We use a range of teaching approaches to help children remember and apply what they learn. 

How we teach 

Our teaching is guided by well-researched principles. In every lesson you can expect teachers to: 

  • Start by reviewing previous learning 
  • Introduce new ideas in small, manageable steps 
  • Ask lots of questions 
  • Show clear models and examples 
  • Give children time to practise 
  • Check understanding regularly and correct mistakes quickly 
  • Aim for a high success rate 
  • Provide support (scaffolds) when needed 
  • Allow independent practice 
  • Review knowledge and vocabulary weekly and monthly 

Wellbeing and British values in everyday school life 

Our PSHE curriculum follows the myHappymind approach, which we use from Reception to Year 6, and we are proud to be a myHappymind Bronze Accredited School. myHappymind is a whole-school programme, grounded in science, that helps children understand how their brains work and builds resilience, confidence and self-esteem. It also teaches children how to manage their emotions in stressful times, so that they can be their very best selves. 

Through five modules - Meet Your Brain, Celebrate, Appreciate, Relate and Engage - children learn how to look after their minds, celebrate their character strengths, practise gratitude, build positive friendships and set meaningful goals. Alongside myHappymind, children take part in Healthy Relationships Education. To help your child at home, the myHappymind Parent App is available - please ask at school for the link and your own login code. 

British values are not taught as a separate subject. They are woven through our curriculum, our daily routines, our relationships and our wider school life, and they sit alongside our core values. Here is what this looks like for your child: 

  • Democracy - children learn that their voice matters and that fair decisions can be made through listening, discussion and voting. 
  • The rule of law - children learn why rules and laws keep everyone safe and make our community fair, and that rules apply to everyone. We support this with clear, consistent expectations of behaviour. 
  • Individual liberty - children are encouraged to be independent, make informed choices and take responsibility for their actions within a safe and supportive environment, while understanding the rights of others. 
  • Mutual respect - respect is one of our core values. Children learn to treat others with kindness, consideration and fairness, and our House System brings children of different ages together. 
  • Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs - through RE, assemblies, stories and discussion, children learn about different faiths, cultures and perspectives. We challenge prejudice and promote inclusion. 

You can find out more on our British Values page, and on our Mental Health and Wellbeing, myHappymind and Healthy Relationships Education pages. 

The difference it makes - Curriculum Impact 

Every lesson has a clear learning goal (often called a WALT – We Are Learning To/That). In many subjects these goals are framed as questions. Teachers know each child well and plan support so that every pupil can succeed. They note any child who needs extra help and use this information when planning the next lesson. 

Teachers continually assess learning during lessons (Assessment for Learning). This means they can adapt teaching on the spot and plan the next steps effectively. 

Progress is checked regularly through a mix of tests and teacher judgement. At the end of each term, subject leaders and the senior leadership team review the data. We expect children to make good or better progress. Where a child is not progressing as well as we would like in English or maths, we put targeted support in place quickly. 

Remote Learning

At Bamford Academy we are committed to ensuring that every child continues to receive a high-quality education if they are unable to attend school for a period of time. Our remote learning provision is designed to maintain continuity of learning, support children’s progress and keep them connected with their teachers and peers.

Where remote education is needed, we provide a blended approach of carefully planned recorded teaching and learning activities delivered through our online platforms, together with regular teacher check-ins. This ensures children stay engaged with the curriculum, receive timely feedback and remain supported. We prioritise the same high expectations of learning, engagement and wellbeing that we hold in school, and we make sure that work is accessible and appropriately scaffolded for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

We work closely with families to remove barriers to remote learning, including access to devices and internet connectivity where possible. Online safety remains a priority at all times.

Full details of our approach, expectations for staff, pupils and parents, and how we support remote education are set out in our Teaching and Learning Policy. Please also see our Rules for Safe Online Learning.

Children leave Bamford Academy with a secure understanding of the academic content they have studied. They also leave knowing how to be responsible, respectful and caring members of their community and of modern Britain, with the emotional understanding, ambition and resilience to be the best they can be. Our aim is that every child leaves us respectful, skilful, ambitious, and ready to enjoy all that life has to offer.