STEM
Our curriculum is balanced and broadly based. It consists of all the activities designed or encouraged in the school to develop the intellectual, personal, social and physical activities in the children.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. At The Raleigh School, all children have dedicated mathematics, science, computing and design and technology lessons in which they learn about the scientific processes that underpin our world and develop a deep understanding of mathematics rooted in context.
Our carefully planned curriculum ensures progression and coverage and intends that children will develop into happy, confident and independent individuals with a secure foundation in learning that will last throughout their lives.
Please find below further information about the teaching of mathematics, science, computing and design and technology at The Raleigh School and our individual curriculum intentions.
Mathematics
At The Raleigh School, it is our intention to deliver a high quality mathematics education which provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics.
Our curriculum ensures that all children:
- Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics in order to develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.
- Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems.
Each pupil has a daily mathematics lesson covering the aims and objectives from the National Curriculum. Through direct teaching, interactive discussion and guided practice, pupils are supported to develop fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Each week, pupils are set a home learning activity related to their current week's learning to embed their understanding.
To find out more about the skills and progression taught through our maths curriculum, please click the links below:
- Maths concepts and themes
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in addition and subtraction
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in multiplication and division
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in algebra
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in fractions, percentages and decimals
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in geometry
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in measurement
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in position and direction
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in ratio and proportion
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in statistics
- Maths curriculum map outlining skills and progression across the school in number skills
Please see the milestones below for the key learning that we anticipate children will acquire in each year, prior to progressing to the next year group:
Intent Statement
We are passionate about igniting the children’s love of mathematics and inspiring them to want to learn. We recognise that mathematics is a life skill and yet many children see it as only relevant ‘in the classroom’. Through our teaching we aim to ensure each child is confident in all aspects of mathematics and is able to reason mathematically, appreciate the beauty and power of mathematics and enjoy maths. Our curriculum ensures that all children:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics
- reason mathematically
- solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems.
Implementation
We are ardent that every child in every year should recognise their potential in mathematics. As such, we have introduced a number of different schemes which give every child an opportunity to be proud of what they can achieve in maths.
Busy Ants Maths Scheme of Work
We use the Collins Busy Ants scheme of work; this is a mathematical scheme designed specifically to develop fundamental numerical skills through whole-class teaching, paired and individual activities, and assessment. The Busy Ants scheme allows teachers to deliver bespoke, low threshold, high ceiling activities that enable the children to maximise their mathematical potential. The scheme provides three different levels of challenge, ensuring that there are opportunities for mathematicians of all abilities to access their highest challenge.
In addition, the Busy Ants scheme has additional problem-solving and reasoning problems for the children to access.
White Rose Hub
We aim to introduce the children to maths through the use of concrete, pictorial, abstract methods to give children a deeper understanding of how mathematics works. Across both Key Stages, we follow many units of White Rose Maths activities, based upon the highly successful Singapore/Shanghai models. Children are encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of a mathematical concept, often through the use of pictorial bar modelling – see the videos on the website.
Mathletics
Mathletics is a captivating, online math learning space providing students with all the tools they need to be successful learners, both in the classroom and beyond. This programme allows children to access maths at home in a variety of ways; through structured, set questions – often based on the learning of that week; games using a variety of maths skills to complete a ‘quest’; or more challenging problem solving and reasoning problems. Mathletics is often set as a homework challenge as it enables teachers to get a quick ’snapshot’ of where the children are.
Helpful resources
Please see the video below where one of our Maths Leaders, Mrs Hamilton, demonstrates how to use bar modelling.
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Links to maths resources for parents:
- TT Rockstars - Times Tables Rock Stars – Times Tables Rock Stars (ttrockstars.com)
- NumBots - NumBots | Motivational maths practice for schools and families.
- Mathletics - Mathletics United Kingdom | Empowering Maths Learning Online
If you would like some additional resources to further challenge your children:
- NRich - Primary Students (maths.org)
- BBC Bitesize - Maths - BBC Bitesize
Science
The high quality science curriculum at The Raleigh School ensures all children are:
- Taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.
- Encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation, predict how things will behave, analyse causes and develop an excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena.
- Equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.
Each week pupils study at least two hours of science, covering the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum. Each year group receives a balanced curriculum through varied topics and investigations including: scientific enquiry, life processes and living things, materials and their properties, and physical processes. Click the link below to find out more about the subject.
Computing
Our curriculum ensures all children can understand the principles of computer science, analyse problems in computational terms, evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems.
Our curriculum:
- Prepares all our children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world in which we live.
- Ensures all children can understand the principles of computer science, analyse problems in computational terms and evaluate and apply information technology to solve problems. This enables children to be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of technology.
- Teaches the importance of good online safety practices and develops understanding and strategies in order for children to stay safe on the internet wherever it is used.
Each pupil has a weekly computing lesson covering the aims and objectives from the National Curriculum. Through a combination of practical, computer-based learning and theoretical activities, children develop a wide range of skills and knowledge across the three key strands of computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
Children will become familiar with a wide range of program languages and software including Scratch and Purple Mash. These are freely accessible online and many of our children choose to continue their learning outside of school, bringing in their projects to share with their peers.
Computing skills and knowledge progression
For more information about how you can support your child to stay safe online, please visit our e-safety section.
Design & Technology
Our curriculum intends to inspire creativity, imagination, risk-taking, innovation and a critical understanding of the impact of design technology on daily life and the wider world. Children design and make products that solve real and relevant problems considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values whilst enabling them to use and apply skills from other curriculum subjects.
Each pupil studies a design and technology unit per term, covering the full range of aims and objectives as outlined in the National Curriculum. Through exciting and engaging lessons, pupils gain the skills to design, make, evaluate and apply technical knowledge to a range of projects.
A diverse range of clubs run each term enriching all aspects of the curriculum. Most recently these have included Nutritional Ninjas Cookery Club, Knitting Club, Craft Club and Forest School, Further details about available clubs are issued directly to parents each term.