For further information about the curriculum followed at our school, please feel free to get in touch, or speak with your child’s class teacher at the end of the day.

Curriculum Statement

At Swalwell Primary School, our curriculum is designed to provide a high-quality, inclusive and ambitious education for every child, rooted in our strong sense of community. It is carefully sequenced to ensure pupils know more and remember more, while also developing the knowledge, skills and personal qualities they need to succeed in life.

Our curriculum is underpinned by four key drivers: Aspiration, Inclusion, Community and Communication. These reflect our commitment to ensuring every child feels valued, supported and inspired to achieve their very best.

We place a strong emphasis on communication and language, recognising its central role in learning. Through rich and meaningful experiences, we develop pupils’ understanding of the world, strengthen their connection to their local community, and build the confidence they need for the future.

Our inclusive approach ensures that all pupils, including those with additional needs, are supported to access the curriculum and succeed. Through this, we develop confident, respectful and resilient learners who are well-prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond school.

 

Curriculum Drivers
Aspiration	Inclusion
High expectations across all subjects Ambitious curriculum content Opportunities beyond pupils’ immediate experience Recognition of effort and achievement	Adaptive teaching embedded for all learners Accessible curriculum accessible for all Bespoke SEND curriculum pathways Celebration of diversity and equity
Community	Communication
Learning rooted in local context Strong partnerships with families and our school community Community links and visits / visitors Opportunities for responsibility and contribution	High-quality talk in every lesson Explicit vocabulary teaching Reading as a central priority Opportunities to explain, present and discuss as subject specialists

Our Curriculum Drivers in Practice

Driver	What this looks like in practice
Aspiration	Challenging curriculum, high expectations for all groups, careers linked (Gatsby benchmarks)
Inclusion	Adaptive teaching, SEND support embedded in all learning, bespoke curriculum pathways
Community	Local links, meaningful experiences, parental engagement
Communication	Strong oracy, vocabulary focus, reading prioritised opportunities to speak, think and become subject specialists

Curriculum Intent

At Swalwell, our curriculum is designed with our children at its heart. We aim to nurture confident, respectful, and reflective individuals who are proud of who they are and where they come from. Our goal is for every child to reach their full potential.

We celebrate each child’s uniqueness and encourage strong relationships, helping them understand the value of learning in their lives. Our vision is to equip every child with the skills, knowledge, and ambition to succeed and contribute positively to their community.

Our curriculum helps children to:

• Build confidence and pride in themselves
• Feel valued and included
• Experience rich, real-life learning opportunities
• Understand and respect the world around them
• Achieve academic success across all subjects
• Set high aspirations and work hard to reach them
• Develop resilience, independence, and problem-solving skills

Curriculum Implementation 

We follow a progressive, skills-based curriculum that grows with our learners. Through enquiry-led learning, educational visits, and guest speakers, children apply their knowledge and are encouraged to think deeply.

We implement our curriculum by:

• Promoting a “can do” attitude and resilience
• Placing PSHE at the core to build socially aware, confident learners
• Ensuring inclusive education for all
• Encouraging curiosity and respectful questioning
• Connecting learning to children’s lives and local context
• Using experiential learning and structured progression
• Empowering subject leaders to drive engaging, well-mapped learning
• Supporting memory retention with accessible, well-paced teaching
• Collaborating with staff and specialists to meet every child’s needs holistically

Curriculum Impact 

As a result, our children:

• Access a broad and balanced curriculum that helps them thrive
• Know more and remember more
• Think and work like subject experts
• Show confidence, independence, and a love of learning
• Build respectful, meaningful relationships
• Are ready for the challenges of secondary school
• Understand how to care for their mental health and others’
• Hold high aspirations and know how to achieve them
• Grow with a strong sense of identity and purpose

Our curriculum is inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of background, ability, or language. We are committed to meeting the needs of every learner, including those with SEND, EAL, and those with exceptional talents.

For further details, see separate policies.