At Quinton Primary School, our curriculum is at the heart of learning. It is ambitious, carefully sequenced and knowledge-rich, enabling every child to grow as a confident, curious and compassionate learner. Our curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and personal qualities they need to succeed in the classroom, contribute positively to the wider community and thrive in modern Britain.
We aim to ensure that all pupils see themselves as successful learners by developing the skills, attitudes and resilience needed for lifelong learning. Through a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils are taught the essential knowledge and skills of literacy, numeracy, ICT and science, while also having rich opportunities to develop creativity and self-expression through art, music, dance, drama and design and technology. Pupils are encouraged to explore their personal interests, ask questions, take appropriate risks in their learning and develop their intellectual and emotional understanding.
Our curriculum promotes health, wellbeing and positive relationships, helping pupils understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and respectful relationships with friends, family and peers. It also supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, enabling them to understand right from wrong, appreciate truth and fairness, and develop respect for themselves and others.
Through learning about the changing world, society and environment, pupils gain a deeper understanding of the past and present and their place within it. We actively promote fundamental British values, encouraging pupils to become responsible citizens who respect diversity, value equality and contribute positively to society.
Our curriculum fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum and the locally agreed syllabus for Religious Education, while also ensuring pupils have opportunities to experience music, including learning a musical instrument, and develop confidence, independence and self-esteem. Ultimately, our intent is to nurture pupils who are knowledgeable, creative, resilient and passionate learners, ready to make a positive difference in their lives and in the world around them.
-Learning how to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
-Understanding that failure is part of the road to success.
-Being rewarded for academic successes.
-Being supported with their next stages in education and feeling prepared for life after school.
-Becoming responsible individuals who contribute to community living and the environment.
-Achieving to the best of their ability.
-Acquiring a wealth of knowledge and experience.
-Becoming critical thinkers.
-Finding a sense of belonging to the school and its community.
-Learning how to cooperate with their peers and respect one another inside and outside the classroom.
At Quinton Primary School, our vision of ‘belong, grow, love to learn, cherish memories, shine together’ is brought to life through our curriculum, our classrooms and our learning behaviours. Children belong in warm, inclusive spaces where relationships matter and every voice is valued. They grow through a rich, ambitious curriculum that nurtures resilience and curiosity, encouraging them to take brave steps, persevere through challenges and explore new ideas with confidence. We help pupils love to learn by designing engaging lessons that develop focus and responsibility, enabling children to take ownership of their learning and stay motivated. As they collaborate, celebrate achievements and share experiences, they cherish memories – moments built through collaboration, kindness and mutual respect. Together, we shine by supporting one another, showing compassion and working as a community where every child can thrive. Through these learning behaviours, our vision becomes a lived reality in every classroom, every day.
At Quinton Primary School, we aim to prepare children not only for academic success but for life
beyond the classroom. Our Learning Behaviours guide pupils in how to approach learning, relate
to one another, and understand themselves as growing individuals.
At Quinton Primary School, we are committed to high-quality, evidence-informed teaching that supports every pupil to succeed. Our approach is informed by research including Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Cognitive Load Theory (John Sweller), and Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction. These frameworks support our aim to create classrooms where pupils feel safe, valued and ready to learn, while ensuring teaching is clear, structured and effective.
Strong teaching ensures pupils know more, remember more and apply their knowledge confidently. By combining research with practical classroom strategies, we create a learning environment that supports both academic success and pupil wellbeing.
We follow a knowledge-based curriculum, meaning that the acquisition of knowledge is at the heart of everything we do. This approach ensures that children develop a deep and secure understanding of key concepts, helping them build connections in their learning and apply their knowledge confidently. Our curriculum is structured around the following principles:
Acquisition of knowledge is at the heart – Children are taught the essential knowledge they need to develop a strong foundation for future learning.
Knowledge is specified in meticulous detail – We ensure that all pupils learn key facts, vocabulary, and concepts across all subjects.
Knowledge is acquired in long-term memory – Through repetition, retrieval practice, and engaging lessons, we help children retain and recall their learning.
Knowledge is carefully sequenced over time – Learning is structured so that new knowledge builds upon prior understanding.
There is a focus on subject disciplines – Each subject is taught rigorously, allowing children to develop expertise in different areas of learning.
At the start of each topic, children are provided with a Knowledge Organiser – a fact sheet outlining the essential information for that topic. These include key facts, vocabulary, and concepts that children need to know and remember. The idea behind this approach is simple: the more children know off-by-heart, the more they will be able to apply their knowledge in lessons and beyond.
The table below outlines the key topics covered across KS1 & KS2 throughout the school year:
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Year 1 | Childhood | Fairy Tales | Modern Monarchs |
| Year 2 | Fire! Fire! | Significant Individuals | Beachcombers |
| Year 3 | The Stone Age | Ancient Egyptians | Book Study – The Boy Who Grew Dragons |
| Year 4 | The Romans | The Anglo-Saxons and The Vikings | Book Study – The Butterfly Lion |
| Year 5 | The Ancient Maya | The Tudors / Shakespeare | Book Study |
| Year 6 | Ancient Greece | World War Two | Book Study – Holes |
You can find curriculum documents for each year group on the class pages of our website. These documents detail the content covered in every subject, helping parents stay informed about their child’s learning journey. You can also explore the subject pages, where you will find further details about what is taught in each subject, along with key learning objectives and progression maps.
For more details, please see our Curriculum Evening materials and refer to individual classes’ Knowledge Organisers for information about our topics. If you require any further information regarding the curriculum, please speak to your child’s class teacher.
At Quinton Primary School, we firmly believe that the curriculum we offer provides our pupils with an exceptional education. To articulate this clearly, we have organised our provision under three distinct headings: Essential, Enhanced and Exceptional.
Essential elements are those required to deliver the National Curriculum effectively within a primary setting. These form the strong foundation upon which all learning is built.
Enhanced elements are non-statutory aspects of our curriculum that we consider vital to delivering the National Curriculum in a way that is successful, enjoyable, and memorable. These experiences enrich learning and ensure children engage deeply with their education.
Finally, our Exceptional elements go above and beyond expectations for primary provision. These are the opportunities, experiences, and outcomes we believe truly distinguish our school and are worthy of being shared beyond our own setting.
We have carefully analysed and grouped these elements into six key areas: The Arts, Sport, STEM, Literacy and Language, Community, and Humanities. We believe these areas collectively shape well-rounded, versatile, and engaged learners who are fully prepared for the next stage of their education.
At Quinton Primary School, exceptional provision is not confined to a single focus. We are committed to delivering a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum across all six areas, ensuring that every child benefits from a rich and comprehensive educational experience.
In school, oracy is a powerful tool for learning; by teaching students to become more effective speakers and listeners we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them. It is also a route to social mobility, empowering all students, not just some, to find their voice to succeed in school and life.
At Quinton Primary School, we place a strong emphasis on oracy as a cornerstone of our curriculum. We believe that the ability to speak clearly, listen actively, and communicate confidently is fundamental to both academic success and personal development. Through structured talk opportunities, high-quality classroom discussion, debate, presentation, and collaborative learning, pupils learn to articulate their ideas, justify their reasoning, and engage respectfully with the views of others. To support this, we use the Voice 21 Oracy Framework, which provides a structured and purposeful approach to developing speaking and listening skills across all areas of learning. By focusing on the physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social-emotional aspects of communication, we help children deepen their understanding, refine their vocabulary, and build the confidence to present, question, and debate effectively. Oracy is woven throughout the curriculum, ensuring our pupils grow into thoughtful, articulate, and self-assured learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.
