Curriculum Subjects

Read this curriculum guide for parents and then have a look below to see how we tackle different subjects in school.

For Nursery and Reception - here is a good overview of the curriculum.

Art and Design

Art and design is a valuable form of expression and communication for all our pupils. Through the art curriculum children are encouraged to see and experiment with a wide range of materials, equipment and techniques. Children learn about different kinds of art from various artists, cultures and traditions with a view to appreciating it and trying out the techniques used in their work.

Children's art work is always on display in all areas of the school. This serves to develop children's self esteem and encourage them in their work. The art work reflects our children's cultures and provides a bright stimulating environment throughout the school.

In the Summer term each year we hold an Arts Week. Our year 6 children work with an artist in residence developing new skills. Their work culminates in a large scale piece of art that forms a lasting legacy of their time at Mayfield.

Design Technology

In Design Technology we aim to give our pupils skills which help give them some control over the world in which they live. Pupils gain skills through the experience of designing, making and evaluating their work using a variety of tools, techniques and materials.

At the earliest stages this process begins with junk modelling and moves on to more sophisticated models and systems.

The children develop their skills through practical activity and use an increasing range of materials and tools as they progress through school. They are encouraged to plan their design and take into account the materials and the audience for their product.

Tasks are set that ask the children to solve problems, thus making them use their ideas and skills in novel ways. Group work encourages co-operation and discussion.

Through all their work children are made aware of and have an understanding of the importance of health and safety as designers, makers and consumers.

History

Pupils are given the opportunity to develop an understanding of the past and its implications for the present. They will learn about people's lives and lifestyles.

We aim to provide activities where pupils will develop a lively curiosity, a sense of chronology and an awareness of the past through stories and other information sources.

Pupils begin initially by investigating their own and their family history. They then move on to study local history and important episodes in Britain's past and about the history of other cultures and parts of the world. They also learn that the past can be interpreted in different ways.

Geography

Through Geography pupils are given opportunities to make sense of their surroundings and to gain an understanding of the natural and human world in which we live. We aim to stimulate pupil's interest in the variety of physical and human conditions on the earth's surface and to foster pupil's sense of wonder at the beauty of the world around them and to help them develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and its future.

The teaching of geography begins initially with an explanation of the pupils immediate surrounding area. They then move to study the area in which they live and look at issues relating to its use and development. Comparisons are then made between the home region and other parts of the UK and beyond, with geographical knowledge of physical processes gained.

Computing

ICT is at the heart of teaching and learning. The Computing curriculum is organised in to six strands giving children a wide range of opportunities and experiences. The 6 strands are: Digital Media; Internet & E-mail; Online learning (Fronter); Control Technology; Word Processing & Presentation; and Spreadsheets and Databases. Computing at Mayfield is thoroughly embedded across the curriculum meaning children use their Computing skills in Literacy, Mathematics, Music, Humanities and other subject areas. For example, making an animation in Year 3 and 4 involves story-telling (Literacy), painting backdrops (Art), making a set and characters (D.T), as well as the important computing skills involved in stop-frame animation. This approach results in high quality learning and experiences with pupils more focussed and motivated in their work. Staff embrace new technologies in their teaching.

We are well resourced with multiple sets of laptops, cameras, floor turtles, microscopes and a host of hand-held devices. Each classroom has a networked computer and an interactive whiteboard (C-Touch). The school has a wireless connection throughout the school.

The school has been awarded the ICT Mark to reflect its good practice. In 2007 Mayfield won 2 national awards for Excellence in ICT: runner-up in both Curriculum and Teaching & Learning categories

English

English is an integral part of life and we therefore seek to develop and extend its use in every possible way. English is at the heart of our creative curriculum. When teaching English special emphasis is given to each of the following areas:

reading and phonics
speaking and listening
writing
handwriting
spelling
grammar
punctuation

All these areas are taught through a structured English session which takes place on a daily basis. Targets to further each individual child's literacy development are set termly.

Children have access to a wide range of reading materials, through schemes and library books, bilingual texts, encyclopaedias. Parents are encouraged to hear their children read each day. We believe that a wide selection of books serves to motivate our children's interest in reading.

To this end, we are always increasing our provision of books. All children have access to our school library.

Writing is given strong emphasis with a great variety of written work taking place through different forms; narrative, creative, descriptive, accounts of experiments etc. Writing skills are supported and extended throughout the school by spelling, structured handwriting, grammar, punctuation and computer work. Speaking and Listening take place in many forms. Children are encouraged to communicate orally with clarity in a variety of situations. Discussion is regularly encouraged so that children have an opportunity to listen to and explore the experience of others. Children are encouraged to read to teachers, to peers, at assemblies and in whole school productions.

Mathematics

In mathematics our children are taught number, shape and space, measures, data handling and they are given opportunities to use and apply mathematics to every day situations. From the time they start school at Mayfield our children are taught mathematics in a practical way providing a firm basis for future progression. When they have grounding in the basic skills and concepts, children are encouraged to use the above in estimations, problem solving and investigations. This leads our pupils toward logical thinking and self-confidence as well as using mathematics in everyday life situations.

All of the above areas are taught through a structured daily mathematics lesson. The lesson is supported by an excellent range of resources that includes computers, calculators and measuring equipment.

Targets to further each child's mathematical development are set regularly.

Click here to read Top Tips to support your child in maths.

Music

Children experience a variety of musical activities throughout their school life.

The school has a wide range of music resources that all children have access to.

This includes tuned and untuned percussion instruments as well as keyboards, guitars and ukuleles.

Children learn a variety of songs from different cultures; learn about the lives and styles of various composers as well as appreciating different kinds of music and learning about its structure.

Small group guitar, and piano/keyboard lessons are available for children to learn. Parents and carers pay for this extra curricular provision.

We also have a school choir that meets each week and is led by the music leader.

Through participation in a wide range of activities it is our aim that the physical ability of all our pupils will be developed in as wide a variety of recreational, athletic and gymnastic activities as possible. These take place through dance, gymnastics and apparatus, games, swimming and outdoor education.

Each child is introduced to a variety of sports including hockey, rugby, football, cricket and athletics. Through these activities our children develop strength, mobility, co-ordination, flexibility, balance plus an understanding of the rules, tactics and enjoyment of sports resulting in social skills of team work, co-operation, trust and confidence.

The school has a range of sporting teams that compete against other schools in the borough. We have school teams in: football, athletics, cross country, basketball and netball

PSHCE

PSHCE is taught throughout a child's time at Mayfield.

The Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education curriculum covers body hygiene, healthy eating, dental hygiene, road safety, care of the body, avoidance of the misuse of drugs, safety, aspects of social and emotional behaviour, respect and tolerance for others.

Through our PSHCE curriculum we aim to develop positive attitudes and values that influence healthy patterns of behaviour, to explore and understand feelings, attitudes and values and to equip pupils with the skills to make informed choices.

It is our aim that Mayfield pupils will become informed, active and responsible citizens who will play a positive role in shaping our society for the good.

The teaching of Sex Education is an integral part of the PSHCE curriculum. Our curriculum takes account of the class, aptitude, experiences and family background of our pupils.

Under the arrangements for sex education arising from the 1993 Education Act parents are able to withdraw pupils from all or part of the sex education curriculum that does not form part of the National Curriculum.

Through PSHCE we aim to:

Enable children to be responsible for themselves and others.
Prepare them for good relationships now and in later life.
Recognise changes of growth and development taking place in themselves and in the opposite sex .
Help children understand and appreciate the need to care for their own bodies.

Religious Education is taught according to the London Borough of Ealing's agreed syllabus, where children develop an insight into their own and different religious.

A daily act of collective worship takes place in the school hall.

The Act of 1988 requires that "Religious Education shall reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions practiced in Great Britain."

Parents may wish to withdraw their children from religious education and collective worship. If this is the case the head teacher is to be advised.

Science

At Mayfield we see science as a subject whereby children explore,

discover and investigate the world around them. Through our science

curriculum we aim to make our children's experiences as broad and varied as possible thus developing such skills as investigations, observation ,hypothesis, prediction and interpretation. Where possible we try to put emphasis on practical work, and encourage our children to observe, investigate and question their world so that they themselves arrive at answers to those questions, and reflect on what they have learnt.