Northbrook Primary Academy
Mrs G Astbury - Curriculum Lead
January 2026
Our curriculum is based on the programs of study outlined in the National Curriculum for England. In designing our own highly personalised curriculum we revisited the key learning outlined in the NC and looked at how to structure the learning journey for our children. Our curriculum has been developed in consultation with teachers, pupils and families with History as its main driver. This allows us to make links and explore other subjects through themes, as well as stand-alone subjects.
Intent
At Northbrook, we are constantly striving to provide an exciting and engaging curriculum which allows children to know more and remember more. It is an ever-evolving iterative process matching the needs of cohorts, world events and the changing landscape in education and future employment.
The key aims and objectives of our curriculum development are:
• To foster a lifelong love of learning based on inquiry and immersion.
• To create a broad, balanced and bespoke curriculum that matches the needs of all children, whilst being relevant to our wider community.
• To develop teaching approaches that will help children acquire a depth of knowledge, which will allow them to know more and remember more across all subjects.
• To enthuse and engage learners through exciting events, visits & visitors, and provide enriching opportunities.
• To create opportunities for active learning within lessons as well as providing children with outdoor learning experiences.
• To demonstrate learning through problem solving, challenging questions and opportunities to present understanding as an expert.
• To give children a wider appreciation of the real world beyond the present, whilst also developing an understanding of their place in the wider community of the United Kingdom and the world.
• To give subject leaders time to analyse content, teaching strategies, subject knowledge, skills progression, assessment & depth of learning and autonomy to lead.
Implementation
At Northbrook, we implement an inclusive curriculum that meets both the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum and the specific needs of all of our children including those with SEND and EAL. Each term is based around a historical period with other subjects linking to this, where appropriate. Children will develop a sound understanding of chronology as they progress from Reception to Year 6 as they move from developing their understanding of the world in EYFS, to learning about what History is in Year 1 and the history of our school. In Year 2, children will broaden their horizons and start to learn about explorers and the wider world. In Key Stage Two, children will learn about the Stone, Iron and Bronze ages, through early civilisations and the invasion and settling of Britain to Victorian Britain and WWII. In Year 6 children have the opportunity to apply their understanding to develop an appreciation of the role played by their locality in world events of the past 200 years.
We have dedicated staff meeting time to further developing a bespoke, exciting and engaging curriculum that matches the needs and interests of our children. Teachers plan exciting project-based learning activities, visits and visitors, for example archaeological digs, visits from a blacksmith and a visit to a cotton mill. This makes learning purposeful and relevant, extending children’s knowledge, breadth of language and vocabulary. Children at Northbrook learn with purpose. Throughout their learning, children are given the opportunity to share their new knowledge and enrich their experiences. Some of these opportunities include: projects in our local community, enterprise days, inviting parents and LAC members in to school, making links with other schools, having visitors in or going on educational visits. Our curriculum is delivered through highly effective ‘quality first teaching’. It promotes children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, ensuring that they are reflective and responsible citizens. Fundamental British Values are actively promoted in order to prepare the children for life in Modern Britain.
Subject leaders take ownership of their subject and manage it effectively. All subject leaders use pupil voice as part of their monitoring and evaluation. Subject action plans are written annually and evaluated on a termly basis, these allow staff to have clarity and vision for their subject, which is then shared to staff and governors. Subject leadership is monitored through meetings with both the curriculum leader and SLT every term. Here subject leaders are expected to outline progress in the development of their subject, the impact of any decisions and changes that they have made and identify next steps to move their subject forward. Our bespoke knowledge organisers and schemes of work form the basis of what children are expected to know and remember as well as providing tier 2 and 3 vocabulary and reminding children of what they should already know, relevant to their current learning.
Impact
Across the school, it is clear that children at Northbrook love learning through our personalised curriculum and children are able to talk with confidence and knowledge of the subject matter that they have explored. This has happened as a result of the enthusiasm with which staff approached the delivery of our curriculum, their commitment to presenting new knowledge in interesting and exciting ways, and the immersion within a topic that children experience. Children are taught a balanced curriculum with equal importance given to all subjects meaning that all children have an opportunity to shine in areas of personal interest and excellence. There is clear knowledge progression in place, with children building on this from previous learning. Whilst we are happy with the successes of our curriculum offer, we continue to reflect on this, making sure that our children continue to be inspired with a lifelong love of learning.
