In the North Gower Partnership we recognise that designing our curriculum is a journey not a destination!
Introduction
Curriculum design is an ongoing process of continuing improvement. Across the North Gower Partnership, we recognise that we have both mandatory and statutory duties.
The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 puts mandatory duties on schools – things they are legally required to do. Schools must also have ‘due regard’ to statutory guidance when carrying out their duties.
National Priorities
When designing our curriculum all schools within the Partnership consider the following national priorities.
- Improving pupils’ progression by ensuring their learning is supported by a range of knowledge, skills and experience
- Reducing the impact of poverty on learners’ progression and attainment
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
UNCRC is at the heart of the Partnership’s planning, policies, practice and ethos. As rights-respecting schools we not only teach about children’s rights but also model rights and respect all relationships.
Teaching & Learning
What?
Planning for the development of appropriate knowledge, skills and
experiences through an authentic and relevant curriculum in an
environment that inspires aspirations.
How?
Through the 12 pedagogical
principles based on “teach less and learn more” Through providing a workshop style environment that promotes independence and
interdependence.
Why?
So that our learners become future citizens who are:
Ambitious & Capable
Enterprising & Creative
Ethical & Informed
Healthy & Confident
In ‘Education in Wales: Our National Curriculum’, it is emphasised that:
“A renewed commitment to improving both the skills and knowledge of
our young people, as we raise standards in our transformational
curriculum. Education has never been more important. Education
reform is our national mission” – Minister for Education
“Teaching Less, Learning More” – Empowering staff to be
creative within the North Gower Partnership.
The Four Purposes
In developing a new, exciting and challenging Curriculum, we have a
vision for our pupils to be:
Our curriculum is designed to enable every learner to aspire to the four purposes. Every pupil, no matter their age, is suitably planned for. We take into account every pupil’s ability and aptitude, including any additional learning needs.
Integral Skills
We have developed a progressive continuum of dispositions to support the development of integral skills across the schools. These underpin the four purposes which lie at the heart of our curriculum.
Cross Curricular Skills
Across the North Gower Partnership there is a strong and clear focus on the development of pupils’ literacy, numeracy and digital competence skill across all areas of learning and experience.
Cross Cutting Elements
Across the Partnership all practitioners value and plan opportunities for learning that consider cross cutting elements. These allow learners to:
- Consider local, national and International contexts
- Develop understanding of relationships and sexuality education, human rights education and diversity, and careers and work related experiences.
Pedagogical Principles
Within the ‘Successful Futures’ report by Professor Graham Donaldson there is a focus on 12 pedagogical principles that underpin good teaching and learning. We have embedded these within our partnership and they are visible reminders in classrooms. They help us use and understand these principles in the language of our schools.
North Gower Partnership 