Park Academy is a school dedicated to serving the children in our local community to ensure they receive an ambitious and broad education rooted in our school and trust values so they can flourish, fulfil their full potential and appreciate their unique character and voice. Our curriculum is designed to develop children’s character, intellect and curiosity. We have high expectations for all of our children and provide an exciting and engaging curriculum.
English is at the heart of the Park Academy curriculum. All children are equipped with the necessary skills to communicate effectively, whether that be in speaking and listening, reading or writing. The Success For All (SFA) programme is used across the school to effectively teach and target children’s individual needs. Debating is incorporated into the curriculum so children are confident in sharing and discussing relevant and important issues with their peers using standardised English and an excellent range of vocabulary.
Mathematics equips pupils with the uniquely powerful set of tools, including logical reasoning, problem solving skills and the ability to think in abstract ways. At Park Academy, we believe that mathematics in important in everyday life. It is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind we endeavour to ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards mathematics that will stay with them. We embed the Maths Mastery approach to provide the children with a rich mathematics curriculum to shape individuals who are numerate, creative, independent, inquisitive, inquiring and confident.
Children are given the opportunity to broaden their scientific skills and knowledge through a range of practical and fun science lessons. They are encouraged to create hypotheses and design innovative ways of testing their theories. They work collaboratively to explore the world around them and challenge misconceptions based on the evidence of their findings.
Learning about the past and the methods used to study it, helps pupils make sense of the rich world in which they live. It is vitally important that we find out what has happened in the past using actual evidence that comes in a variety of forms and is presented in different ways. Through learning history, pupils develop their understanding of the concepts of continuity and change and how it can affect their lives no matter how distant the change. Pupils gain knowledge and understanding about some of today’s situations by examining them within a historical context. They begin a never- ending journey to appreciate human creativity and achievement, most importantly though by evaluating it is hoped that they can begin to gain a better awareness of how the future events of our world may be affected by our interpretation of those from the past.
Geography gives opportunity to explore and question our understanding of both the natural and the human world. At Park Academy we believe that there should be a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.
Excitingly, Geography enables pupils to become better educated citizens about their own world, through a gradual deepening understanding of it, the way that different societies and cultures have impacted on that world. Furthermore, the way that different natural phenomena affect the physical make up of our planet. Students can then investigate the relationship between these phenomena and the effect they have on our lives. Study of this discipline encourages pupils to think about their own place in the world, their values, their rights and what responsibilities they have to other people and the wider community.
Children are taught French from Year Three upwards at Park Academy. They engage in collaborative lessons to gain confidence and fluency in the French language over a variety of topics. They are taught to speak and write with increased complexity.
PE at Park Academy allows children to develop a range of physical skills that they can use throughout their lives. It promotes an understanding of a healthy lifestyle and provides children with a range of ways to keep healthy. It teaches children the basic skills to allow them to try a range of sports during their lifetimes. We are passionate about the need to teach children how to cooperate and collaborate with others, as part of a team, understanding fairness and equity of play to embed life-long values.
At Park Academy we have shaped our curriculum in response to the National Curriculum and the coverage within that. The RE curriculum must ‘promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, mental and physical development of children and prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life’. Religion and belief, for many people, forms a crucial part of their culture and identity. Religion and beliefs have become more visible in public life locally, nationally and internationally. At Park Academy we aim to:
* Give all children an awareness of what life is like from a religious point of view.
* Bring in faiths which are represented in the classroom, which may not be the focus faiths of the key stage.
* Enhance the self-esteem of a child who comes from a strong faith background.
* Allow children to distinguish between the religions and understand what religion entails.
Art and Design technology provide opportunities for children to engage in visual, tactile and sensory experiences. Learning and communicating in these subjects is a special way of understanding and responding to the world. It enables children of all abilities to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern and different materials and processes.
Park Academy works with the Merton Music Foundation to deliver an excellent and varied music curriculum to all children at Park. A variety of opportunities are offered to the children, for example, the following whole class instrumental lessons are taught: guitar, percussion, gamelan and drumming. Children also engage in fun singing lessons to enhance their singing skills.
At Park Academy we are constantly reviewing our curriculum in response to developing technologies, in line with the National Curriculum. From internet safety to computer programming, we encourage our children to embrace the principles and concepts of computer science, learning to think analytically and work systematically to become confident problem solvers. Our children are prepared to excel in an increasingly digital world, through building their digital literacy to become responsible, confident and innovative technology users.
