Darley Dale Primary School - Our Curriculum

At Darley Dale Primary School, our curriculum is designed to recognise and build on children’s prior learning, provide meaningful and memorable learning experiences where our children are taught to be independent, confident and resilient learners.  Our curriculum has been designed to ensure that all children leave us with a wide body of knowledge, the skills needed to be successful, lifelong learners and a real curiosity about the world around them. 

Our curriculum encompasses all the planned learning that is sequenced to promote learning, personal growth and development.  Whilst fully including all statutory elements of the National Curriculum, our curriculum also gives our children the chance to explore a variety of additional ‘enrichment’ experiences, learning and opportunities to ensure all our children thrive and find their passion. 

Our children are at the heart of every aspect of our curriculum. Developing the children’s ability to learn more, know more and remember more is underpinned by quality first teaching of a broad body of knowledge, vocabulary and a love of literature. We provide engaging opportunities where children are immersed in their learning journey where there are no limits to their curiosity or outcomes. We are committed to developing the whole child.  Children have a strong awareness of their local community, a pride in where they come from and a thirst for knowledge about the wider world and global community. Children leave our school with a sense of belonging to an inclusive tightly-knit community where they have the confidence, knowledge and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners who have a love of learning.

Curriculum Intent

Our curriculum is based on the following key principles:

• Achieving academic excellence
• A broad, engaging curriculum with high expectations for all
• Nurturing a love of language and literature
• Active promotion of physical and mental health and wellbeing
• A love of the outdoors and commitment to caring for the environment
• Creating confident learners who can articulate their knowledge and understanding
• A thirst for new experiences and knowledge
• Creative, critical, curious and confident learners

Our DDPS values are interweaved throughout all of our lessons to ensure that all children embody the ‘I Respect’ values which we, as a school, hold dear:

I           Independent, Imaginative, Inquisitive

R         Respect, Responsible, Relationships

E         Enjoy, Excited, Excellence

S         Supportive, Sensible, Smart

P         Polite, Positive, Proud

E         Empathy, Enthusiasm, Everyone

C         ‘Can Do’ Attitude, Challenging, Courageous

T         Togetherness, Teamwork, Trust

Curriculum Drivers

Resilience:     

To confidently and independently face challenges and solve problems using practical solutions.

Social / Communication: 

To accept and embrace differences, demonstrating self-awareness, empathy and respect.  Communicate effectively (verbal and written).  Making a positive contribution to the world.

Possibilities:                       

To discover a passion through awareness of opportunities.  Having high, ambitious aspirations.