Curriculum Design at Breage CE Primary School
Curriculum Statement
At Breage CE Primary School, our curriculum reflects the unique character of our small, nurturing community and the rich Cornish environment that surrounds us. It is shaped by our belief that every child is loved, valued, and capable of success. Through thoughtful design, careful planning, and strong relationships, we create memorable learning experiences that enable every pupil to flourish academically, socially, morally, and spiritually.
Our curriculum is built on three key drivers — aspiration, curiosity, and diversity — and is deeply rooted in our six core values: Happiness, Care, Honesty, Friendship, Forgiveness, and Respect. These values guide every decision we make, ensuring that our curriculum not only builds knowledge and skills but also shapes compassionate, reflective, and resilient learners.
We want our children to leave Breage CE School as confident individuals who are proud of their achievements, curious about the world, and ready to make a positive difference to others.
Our Curriculum Drivers: Aspiration, Curiosity and Diversity
At Breage, we are committed to providing a curriculum that is underpinned by three essential drivers: aspiration, curiosity, and diversity. We aim to empower our learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and values they need not only to succeed in their education but also to become successful global citizens. Through our carefully crafted, enquiry-based curriculum, we teach clear sequences of learning that encompass the National Curriculum. We believe in helping our children flourish, realising their full potential, and fostering a caring and nurturing community where every child is valued.
Aspiration
At Breage, we instil in our children a strong sense of aspiration. We encourage them to dream big and set high goals for themselves. Through a rich and engaging curriculum, we inspire them to believe that they can achieve their dreams. We provide a supportive environment where children are encouraged to aim high, work hard, and persevere in the face of challenges. We help them understand that their education is a pathway to a brighter future, where their aspirations can become a reality.
Curiosity
Curiosity drives learning, and we encourage our children to question, explore, and discover. We want our children to be inquisitive, to seek knowledge, and to develop a lifelong love for learning. By fostering their natural curiosity, we provide a dynamic and engaging curriculum that encourages exploration and critical thinking, allowing our children to become independent and creative thinkers. It harnesses the power of their creativity to enable learners to reach their potential and ensures that our curious learners ask the question ‘why?’ and wonder more about the world in which they live.
Diversity
Our curriculum promotes the richness of diverse cultures, people, and communities whilst celebrating Cornish heritage. It ensures that learners recognise themselves as global citizens who foster empathy, respect, and a sense of belonging, understanding their place in the wider world. We teach our children to be respectful, inclusive, and empathetic so that they can thrive in a multicultural and interconnected world.
At Breage, we are dedicated to providing an education that equips our children with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to excel academically and socially. We are committed to ensuring that every child realises their full potential and is well-prepared for the next stage of their education. Together, we create a caring and nurturing community where each child's journey is celebrated, and their dreams are nurtured.
Intent
Rationale for Curriculum Design
Our curriculum is underpinned by our school vision: 'Learning for Life, Caring for All.' Through this vision and our values, we provide every pupil with the opportunity to become a lifelong learner — nurturing individuality, creativity, and independence through strong partnerships between staff, families, and the wider community.
Each of our values is reflected in the intent of our curriculum:
Happiness – We believe learning should bring joy. Through creative, engaging experiences and a sense of wonder, children develop a lifelong love of learning and pride in their achievements.
Care – We ensure every child feels safe, supported, and valued. Our curriculum fosters empathy and compassion, encouraging pupils to care for themselves, each other, and the wider world.
Honesty – We promote integrity and truthfulness in all learning experiences. Children are encouraged to reflect on their own progress, take responsibility for their actions, and celebrate both effort and improvement.
Friendship – Collaboration is at the heart of learning at Breage. Pupils work together, respect differing viewpoints, and learn that teamwork and kindness strengthen our community.
Forgiveness – We teach children that mistakes are opportunities for growth. Our curriculum builds resilience, encouraging pupils to persevere and to forgive themselves and others as they learn.
Respect – We embrace diversity and inclusion, ensuring that every subject celebrates different cultures, perspectives, and beliefs. Pupils learn to treat others — and the world — with dignity and care.
Aims for Curriculum Design
Our curriculum aims to:
- Inspire a lifelong passion for learning.
- Enable every child to reach their full potential.
- Encourage creative, independent thinking.
- Meet the needs of all learners through equality of access.
- Promote self-esteem, resilience, and wellbeing.
- Prepare children for the ever-changing challenges of modern life.
- Strengthen a sense of community and citizenship, locally and globally.
Each subject is taught as a distinct discipline, while making purposeful links across learning to deepen understanding. Lessons are carefully sequenced, revisiting key knowledge and skills so that learning is remembered, applied, and connected.
Through rich, diverse, and inclusive experiences, our children are encouraged to think critically, solve problems, work collaboratively, and act with moral purpose — embodying our school values in all they do.
Implementation
Curriculum leadership at Breage CE Primary School is distributed and collaborative. Each subject has a designated leader responsible for developing, monitoring, and celebrating excellence in their area. Subject Ambassadors in Year 6 provide pupil voice, helping ensure our curriculum reflects the perspectives and needs of learners themselves.
Learning across the school is structured around high expectations, strong subject knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to our values:
- Happiness is fostered through vibrant teaching, active learning, and opportunities for creativity, exploration, and discovery.
- Care is evident in the way we adapt teaching to meet every child’s needs, ensuring no learner is left behind.
- Honesty underpins our feedback culture, where pupils reflect honestly on their learning and take ownership of their progress.
- Friendship thrives through collaborative tasks, group discussions, and peer support that promote trust and cooperation.
- Forgiveness shapes our restorative approach to relationships and behaviour, ensuring all pupils feel included, understood, and valued.
- Respect runs through every subject, assembly, and interaction — from celebrating Cornish heritage to exploring diverse cultures and global citizenship.
Reading and vocabulary development are at the core of our curriculum. We prioritise reading across all subjects, using high-quality texts to broaden understanding and promote empathy. Subject-specific vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited, helping children to articulate their learning with confidence.
We use a wide range of pedagogical approaches — from enquiry and mastery learning to outdoor exploration and the creative arts — to ensure that every child’s talents and interests are nurtured. Educational visits, visitors, and enrichment opportunities bring learning to life and help pupils make meaningful connections with the wider community.
All assessments are purposeful, reliable, and designed to support learning rather than burden staff. Continuous professional development ensures that staff expertise and passion remain at the heart of curriculum delivery.
Impact
The impact of our curriculum is seen in confident, articulate, and thoughtful learners who live out our school values every day.
- Happiness: Pupils find joy and pride in their learning, developing curiosity and confidence that extends beyond the classroom.
- Care: Children show empathy and compassion, making positive contributions to their school and community.
- Honesty: Pupils reflect accurately on their learning, set personal goals, and take responsibility for their choices.
- Friendship: Collaboration, kindness, and teamwork are evident in classroom culture and across the school.
- Forgiveness: Children demonstrate resilience and understanding, learning from challenges and showing grace to others.
- Respect: Pupils appreciate diversity, celebrate difference, and act with integrity and fairness.
Academic outcomes are strong, and children make good progress from their starting points in all subjects. However, the true measure of our curriculum’s success is found in the character of our pupils — children who are happy, caring, honest, forgiving, respectful, and loyal friends; children who are ready to embrace the opportunities of the next stage of their education and of life itself.
At Breage CE Primary School, our curriculum is more than what we teach — it is who we are.