North Borough Junior School

Writing

At North Borough Junior School we believe that all children should be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas, understanding and emotions through their writing. We want children to develop and use a wide vocabulary, a solid understanding of grammar and be able to spell new words by effectively applying the spelling patterns and rules they learn throughout their time with us. We want them to write fluently, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. We believe that all children should be encouraged to take pride in the presentation of their writing, developing a clear, joined, handwriting style by the time they move to secondary school. We know that all good writers refine and edit their writing over time, so we want children to develop independence in being able to identify their own areas for improvement in all pieces of writing, editing their work effectively during and after the writing process.

Teachers achieve this by selecting a wide range of quality texts, including poetry, novels, plays and non-fiction. This may be linked to topics studied in class to enrich understanding and enjoyment. Texts are carefully scrutinised and evaluated, making full use of newer as well as classic literature. Teachers plan their writing activities with care, including specific skills sessions alongside spelling and creative writing tasks. Every aspect of the writing process, from planning, through writing, to editing, is modelled by the adults in the classroom to enable every learner to develop their skills in this area.

Grammar is taught both discretely and incidentally as a part of every writing session, developing the children’s understanding of terminology, correct use and how it has an impact on a piece of writing. Teachers do not put any limitations on what children can achieve in writing and expect every child to be able to make progress, no matter what their starting point is.

We understand the importance of parents and carers in supporting their children to develop both grammar, spelling and composition skills and encourage this through a home-school partnership to help parents and carers to understand how to enhance the skills being taught in school.

Mrs Worrall  (Writing Subject Leader)

Writing Skills Progression Document

Reading and Phonics

At North Borough Junior School, we believe that a rich English curriculum should motivate our pupils to become life-long readers: embracing reading for pleasure; experimenting with ambitious vocabulary; and writing for a variety of purposes. This is nurtured through the children designing and creating their own reading incentive programme ‘Book Busters’ which rewards children for reading as often as they can. Our overarching aspiration is to ensure every child leaves us as a confident reader and is prepared for secondary education.

Teachers work hard to plan and use a wide variety of high quality picture books, novels and poems which are language rich and interesting the children. Our aim is to inspire our pupils through exciting texts which spark their interests and encourage them to ask questions to gain further meaning. Where possible this links to the topic in curriculum or science to help the children develop a deeper understanding of what they are learning. Teachers are not afraid to adapt the Reading curriculum to engage a diverse group of pupils, modelling that different children enjoy different books and, by extension book choice is personal one.

We believe that our pupils need to develop secure skills in reading and work closely to support pupils joining us from KS1, aiming to ensure there is consistency in the approach to teaching of reading skills. We value the importance of quality teaching of early reading skills and quickly identify pupils who need continued support in this stage of learning to read. We offer continued phonics using the Sounds~Write Programme as an intervention for pupils who did not pass the phonics screening check in Year 2.

Mrs Nicholls (Reading & Phonics Subject Leader)​

Reading and Phonics Skills Progression Document 

Maths

At North Borough we understand that maths is essential to everyday life. Developing skills in this key subject is critical to future success. Our ambition is to develop curious, enthusiastic and inquisitive mathematical thinkers; children who can make rich and meaningful connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. Maths lessons use a ‘Mastery Approach’ that provides children with lessons that have a cohesive curriculum content and follow carefully sequenced blocks. Maths concepts are introduced in small steps allowing for in-depth mastery of mathematical concepts. Lessons are challenging but engaging and aim to develop children into resilient mathematicians who are not afraid to take risks. Children develop logical lines of enquiry and talk confidently about their maths using mathematical language, showing an increased confidence in their mathematical understanding that has been nurtured in lessons.

Within the school, we understand that confidence in maths begins with a secure foundation of understanding in number. At North Borough, we use Times Tables Rock Stars as a method to practise, and track progress of, children’s times tables knowledge. This, alongside regular arithmetic consolidation, allows for fluency and confidence with approaching reasoning and problem solving independently. Through our maths curriculum, we aim to inspire children to become masters of the content taught in their year group, applying their knowledge in new and creative ways.

Mr Treays (Maths Subject Leader)

Maths Skills Progression Document

Science

At North Borough Junior School we want our pupils to develop an enjoyment and interest in science, a sense of awe, excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena and an recognition of the power of rational explanation. During their time here, we seek for them to gain an appreciation of the contribution science makes to all aspects of everyday life and for some pupils to become inspired to follow a future career in the subject, possibly leading to the next great discovery of our time. To enable them to fulfil  this journey, we recognise that a firm grasp of scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding is essential in order to provide them with a secure foundation for their future learning. We help them to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. We aim for all pupils to be Scientifically literate and able to discern scientific fact from scientific fiction, interpreting the evidence accordingly so that they are well equipped for life beyond our school.

Mr Cornell (Science Subject Leader)

Science Skills Progression Document

PE

At North Borough Junior School we aim to ensure that our pupils both enjoy exercise and excel at sporting activities through a balanced curriculum. Our intent is to foster an active, healthy lifestyle that will stay with the children as they grow and mature.

We provide our pupils with two sessions of physical education each week, which is delivered by the class teacher and a specialist PE teacher. We ensure that each of our lessons cover:

• Acquiring and developing new sporting skills- pupils are taught to explore basic skills, actions and ideas with increasing understanding and to remember/repeat simple skills/actions with increasing control and coordination.

• Selecting and applying new skills pupils are taught to explore how to choose and apply skills and actions in sequence and in combination as well as vary the way they perform skills by using simple tactics and movement phrases and also to apply rules and conventions for different activities.
• Developing their knowledge and understanding of fitness and health pupils are taught how important it is to be active and to recognise & describe how their bodies feel during different activities.

• Learning to evaluate and improve their own sporting performance- pupils are taught to describe what they have done, to observe/describe/copy what others have done and to use what they have learnt to improve the quality and control of their work.

Government funding has been used to improve the provision of physical education and after school clubs.  The impact of the funding is considered in terms of: increased activity for sustained periods of time, achievement in weekly PE lessons, increased participation in competitive school sport, greater understanding of personal health and well-being and improved attitudes towards sport. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to attend many sporting clubs and this has led to an increase in the number of pupils participating in competitive sports tournaments and inclusive festivals.

We encourage pupils to join after school sports clubs which include: Football, Netball, Badminton, Cross country running, Tennis and striking and fielding games.

Mrs Barling (PE Coordinator)

PE Skills Progression Document

Understanding Faith

At North Borough Junior School we believe that the purpose of Religious Education is to explore big questions about life and to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live. By doing this, our pupils can develop the understanding and skills needed to make sense of religion as well as reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. We therefore have adopted a new title for our Religious Education and use the term ‘Understanding Faith’.

Our Understanding Faith curriculum follows the Kent Agreed Syllabus and aims to ensure that all pupils:

1. Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews.
2. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews.
3. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews.  

In order for children to achieve these by the end of KS2 we follow a syllabus based around a key question approach. Every year group has 4/5 key questions to study over the year and these questions open up the content to be studied, allowing teachers to meet the needs of pupils in their classes as well as ensuring progression throughout the key stage. The curriculum also reflects the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian but also takes into account the teaching and practices of other principal religions represented in Great Britain. These include learning about Hindus, Muslims and Jewish people. Furthermore, children from families where non-religious worldviews are held are represented in most of our classrooms so we also include teaching and learning of non-religious world views including Humanism.

In order to deliver the aims of the curriculum, we allocate sufficient time to the subject based on the guidance of 45 hours per year, however we are flexible in our allocation of time and this may vary from 1 hour weekly lessons to themed days or weeks.

Miss Pailing (Understanding Faith Subject Leader)

Understanding Faith Skills Progression Document

Computing

At North Borough Junior School, we understand that computing is a rapidly evolving subject and technology is constantly changing, meaning children need exposure to a wider variety of skills in several forms of technology. In addition to our classes having timetabled weekly computing lessons for the development of computing skills, teachers and children use technology across the curriculum, including in English and Maths. Through computing lessons, our children are taught to explore and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of:

• Computer science
• Information technology
• Digital literacy,

using a variety of programs.

The importance of teaching online safety is becoming more paramount with the increase of social media and the ever-changing content online. Online safety, therefore, is taught not only discretely (e.g. PSHE lessons and assemblies) but throughout our curriculum as well.

Our aim is to create pupils that are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology to prepare them for their future.

Mrs Weller (Computing Subject Leader)

Computing Skills Progression Document

History

History has always been highly esteemed at North Borough being the cornerstone for generating topics and developing close links to other subject areas such as English, Geography and Art. Our curriculum is informed by the National Curriculum and designed considering our locality and children’s interests and cultures. We aim to inspire and stimulate children’s curiosity for History and for understanding their own identity and the current challenges in their social, political, cultural and economic background. History is an enquiry based subject which we aim to ensure that all pupils; Gain a knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world; Are encouraged to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement; Begin to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change and the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups. Our History curriculum is enhanced through making full use of direct and wider local resources to enable children to develop and apply their skills and knowledge to cultivate a lifelong and enduring aspiration to further their enthusiasm for the subject.

Mrs Fantham (History Subject Leader)

History Skills Progression Document

Geography

At North Borough Junior School we embrace the diverse culture and heritages of our local community. We believe that Geography helps to encourage and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world and their place in it. At North Borough, we use a topic based approach to teaching Geography which closely links to History and how the world has changed over time. We also have a bespoke design to our curriculum which reflects the varied backgrounds of our children. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world in which we wish to inspire a curiosity of the world and the people in it. Geography is an exploratory subject in which we aim to equip children with progressive skills and the knowledge of key concepts of places, people, and resources together with an understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. We hope that the skills and knowledge the children gain at North Borough are transferable and promote their fascination in the topic for further education and beyond.

Miss Hill (Geography Subject Leader)​

Geography Skills Progression Document

Art

Art and Design at North Borough Junior School promotes the creativity and curiosity of the children in each classroom. Children are encouraged to harness their creative potential through the study of art and artists that have come before them and exploring solutions to challenging real-world problems. The students have access to a skills-based art and design curriculum that acknowledges the individuality of each child. Through access to a range of media, children are encourage to think independently and thoughtfully as they produce pieces of art in both two and three dimensions.

Miss Smith (Art Subject leader)

Art Skills Progression Document

Christmas Art projects 

Throughout the festive period each year group will be creating a Christmas card using different techniques whilst focusing on a particular artists style of work. This will be completed as a day project during winter decorations day. 

DT

Design Technology (DT) is the practical application of all of the skills and knowledge the children develop across the curriculum at the school. Children develop problem solving skills as they are exposed to design briefs, challenging their creativity and initiative. The children follow a design brief, through to research and design ideas, culminating in the 'make' element and an evaluation. DT follows the design cycle principle encouraging children to think deeply and logically about their choices, using real-life examples to support their problem solving. With Design Technology, children are exposed to a variety of tools and equipment to further develop their practical skills and fine motor skills.

Miss Smith (DT Subject Leader)

DT Skills Progression Document

Each year group will complete a DT cooking unit throughout the year which sees the development of skills from year group to year group. The cooking units will be completed within 2 days to fully immerse the children within the mindset of not only exploring the design cycle, but also allowing skills to be applied immediately.  

Cooking Progression Document 

Music

At North Borough Junior School we recognise the vital role that music plays in everyday life as a powerful, unique form of communication that can change the way children feel, think and act. We want our pupils to develop an enjoyment and interest in music and have the opportunity to express themselves creatively through singing, composition and performance, increasing their self-confidence and sense of achievement. We seek to develop their listening skills and their understanding of the different musical elements. When they join us in year 3, all pupils have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Throughout their time here, children begin to engage more critically with music and develop an increasing awareness and appreciation of a wide variety of musical traditions, reflecting the cultural diversity of our school.  We ensure that children have daily opportunities to listen to and appraise high quality recorded and live music from across the genres and throughout history.  Children learn to read and use standard notation in order to record their compositions.  We encourage children to continue their musical education through learning an instrument and developing their singing technique, both as soloists and as part of an ensemble.

Mrs Worrall (Music Subject Leader)

Music Skills Progression Document

PSHE

At North Borough we believe that PSHE plays a vital part of primary education and needs to be taught at least weekly; although there will also be opportunity to make cross curricular links and these opportunities should not be missed. This enables staff to ensure full coverage of the PSHE scheme of work. There are always occasions where staff may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue which has arisen in their own class.

PSHE enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

Mr Sloane (PSHE Subject Leader)

PSHE Skills Progression Document

Foreign Languages

Our aim is to develop the confidence and competence of each child in Spanish. We have opted to teach Spanish as our foreign language, due to its status as a global language – it is an official national language in 21 countries around the world. Furthermore, it is a foreign language taught in many of our local secondary schools, meaning that we can provide a strong foundation for our pupils’ future language learning. Our goal is for pupils at NBJS to be passionate, curious and confident about their own foreign language learning abilities when they finish the primary school phase of their education. We will help them develop and demonstrate substantial progress in the 5 key language skills necessary for learning Spanish:

•  Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Grammar

 We aim to ensure that pupils of all abilities develop solid foundations in these key language learning skills - properly preparing them for the next stage of their language learning journey. These skills will develop children’s ability to understand what they hear and read and enable them to express themselves in speech and writing. We will extend their knowledge of how language works and explore the similarities and differences between the foreign language they are learning and English. We will also help strengthen their sense of identity, respect for others and understanding of the wider world through learning about culture in other countries and comparing it with their own - both in Foreign Language lessons and in our annual Cultural Celebration Day.

Mrs Durkan-Gladwell (Foreign Languages Leader)

Foreign Languages Skills Progression Document