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Swavesey Primary School |
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Foundation
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Foundation |
Music There
are two main aspects to music within school, the making of music and the
appreciation of music. Our aim is to give the children a broad experience of
music- making using their voices, a range of tuned and untuned percussion
instruments and ‘music technology’. They are also given the opportunity to
listen to a range of music, old and new, from around the world. We encourage
them to discuss its qualities, learn something of its history and cultural
importance, and to begin to explain their preferences. Children
in Year 2 and above are given the opportunity to play the recorder. Those with
a particular talent or desire receive tuition in the keyboard, woodwind, brass
and stringed instruments from Cambridgeshire Music (C.M.). A charge is made
for tuition and for the hire of the instrument.
Physical
Education (P.E.) PE
and sport has a high profile within the school. We are able to deliver two
hours of PE for every child each week. Within
the PE curriculum, the children in both key stages are taught gymnastics,
dance, games and athletics. OAA (outdoor adventurous activity) is also
taught in KS2. Classes in year 3 and 4 attend a series of swimming lessons
at the St Ivo Recreation Centre. The school pays the tuition costs and
parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution to cover transport costs.
In year 6, additional opportunities for OAA are incorporated into a
residential programme. Swavesey
Primary has a good achievement record and sporting tradition. Team events
are organised within the school on sports days, or between local schools in
netball, football and cricket. The school link with the Schools Partnership
Programme (SSCo) also enables many pupils to regularly participate in a
variety of sports festivals throughout the year. Extra-curricular
clubs run by staff include football, netball, cross-country, tennis and
cricket. We also offer coaching from outside experts (at an extra cost) for
tag rugby, dance, gymnastics, tri-golf, judo and yoga-bugs. Hopefully their primary PE experience may lead to a lifetime interest that will see them keeping fit and playing sport for pleasure in years to come.
Information
and Communication Technology ICT
plays a vital part in many aspects of our modern society.
We aim to develop the confidence and ability of pupils in using ICT so
they gain the necessary skills to use technology to enhance their own
learning. We
are fortunate to have a dedicated computer suite of sixteen PCs and, in
addition to this, all classrooms are equipped with at least one computer, a
digital projector and interactive whiteboard.
All these machines run a wide variety of software and have access to
the Internet through a “Broadband” connection. At
times pupils are given direct instruction on the skills needed to use specific
hardware or software but we often use ICT to support teaching in other areas
of the curriculum. The school uses
the national QCA scheme of work as a basis for its teaching but adapts this
for relevant cross-curricular work. We
cover the areas of data handling, research, including use of the Internet,
modelling and simulations, control and sensing and exchanging and sharing
information (word processing, presenting ideas and communicating with others).
Design
and Technology
Design Technology is concerned with exploring and understanding the ways in which objects work. This knowledge is then used to design and make useful and workable end products. The children are taught to plan, design and make products and basic systems for a range of purposes, using a variety of materials and skills. As they proceed they are taught to evaluate different qualities of the product, and to test the quality of the finished product. They also learn to evaluate the impact of new and old technology on everyday life. The curriculum includes a number of food technology topics and our small kitchen provides a good working space for small groups of children. History
and Geography In
History pupils consider how the past influences the present, what life was
like in the past and what influenced people's actions.
Initially we focus upon the children’s own history and things such as
toys and houses. Later we look at
famous events in history, for example, the Great Fire of London and the lives
of famous historical characters such as Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole.
During Key Stage Two we move to concentrating on distinct periods of
history including the Romans, Tudor England, the Victorians, the Ancient
Greeks and Egyptians. The children begin to develop some chronological
framework for their knowledge and learn the significance of certain events and
people. Geography
encourages the children to consider the qualities of the natural and man-made
world. The children learn about
places, people and the environment around the world, our mutual dependence,
and the need to conserve and protect our resources. Teaching focuses first
upon the immediate environment of school and home and then expands to draw
comparisons between our own environment and contrasting environments both in
the Most
of the work in History and Geography is approached through a termly or half-termly
topic. Art
and Design Art
and Design is concerned with the creative and aesthetic response to the things
that we can see and touch in our world. There are two strands to art
education: creation and evaluation. The creative element involves children
using a variety of material and equipment to represent objects realistically
and imaginatively and to express their ideas and feelings. They are all
encouraged to take a real pride in all their work. Children will become
familiar with a wide range of media, including pencil, paints, chalk and
pastels, fabrics, clay, and other materials.
We
also teach the children to develop skills in evaluating their own work, and
the work of other artists, and to begin to understand the value and
significance of art in society.
Drama Drama
gives children a valuable opportunity to explore ideas and feelings creatively
and imaginatively and to develop the speaking and listening element of the
Literacy Hour. Through drama activities the children discover much about
themselves and learn to appreciate the feelings and experiences of others.
Some activities may culminate in a performance before an audience. For example
within a class assembly, a Drama Club or a Christmas production. French We
feel that it is very important for the children to experience learning a
second language. To this end, all the children in Key Stage 2 regularly have a
French lesson. The lessons concentrate on both spoken and written French
including an introductory insight into French customs and culture. We have also recently introduced some short French lessons in Key Stage 1. Religious
Education Religious Education is provided in accordance with the Cambridgeshire Agreed Syllabus 2007. Whilst this reflects the predominantly Christian culture in which we live, emphasis is placed upon the children gaining knowledge of other religions, their beliefs and practices. We encourage children to develop sensitive attitudes to the beliefs of others by studying what it means to belong to different faiths. |
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