Our Curriculum

At Bridge Junior School, we want every child to receive a broad, ambitious and enjoyable education. Our curriculum is designed for our children and our community. It gives pupils the knowledge, skills, language and confidence they need to succeed at school and in later life.

Our school ethos is Use Your Voice. We teach children that their ideas matter and that their voice can make a positive difference. Through lessons, discussion, debate, performance and pupil leadership, children learn to speak clearly, listen carefully, ask questions and explain their thinking.

Intent: what we want children to learn

Our curriculum is designed to:

• provide a strong foundation in reading, writing and mathematics;
• teach the full National Curriculum through carefully planned subjects;
• build knowledge and skills from Year 3 to Year 6;
• develop spoken language, vocabulary and communication;
• help children remember and use what they have learned;
• introduce children to people, places, cultures and ideas beyond their immediate experience;
• reflect Leicester’s history, diversity and community;
• support children to become curious, thoughtful and independent;
• ensure pupils with SEND and those who are new to English can participate and succeed;
• prepare children for secondary school and life beyond Bridge.

We have high expectations for every child. However, children do not all begin at the same point. Some pupils need more teaching and practice of important foundational knowledge. We identify these gaps and provide suitable learning so that children can experience success and make secure progress.

Implementation: how we teach our curriculum

Each subject has a clear plan showing what children will learn from Year 3 to Year 6. Learning is placed in a careful order so that new knowledge builds on what children already know.

Teachers:

• explain new learning clearly and break it into manageable steps;
• revisit important knowledge so that it is remembered;
• teach key vocabulary directly;
• use models, images, demonstrations and practical activities;
• provide opportunities for children to discuss and rehearse their ideas;
• check understanding throughout lessons;
• adapt teaching when children need more support or greater challenge;
• connect learning to real places, experiences and examples.

Oracy and Language

Speaking and listening are central to our curriculum. Children are taught how to take turns, build on another person’s ideas, ask useful questions and speak to different audiences.

For children who are learning English, we use visuals, clear models, sentence starters, repeated practice and structured talk. We value the languages children already speak while helping them develop the English they need to take part fully in school life.

Our focus on oracy helps every child to Use Their Voice—with confidence, kindness and purpose.

Strong Foundations

Reading, writing and mathematics are essential for learning across the curriculum. Where children have gaps, we teach the knowledge and skills they need at the right stage.

This may include additional teaching in phonics, reading fluency, handwriting, spelling, number or spoken English. Children may sometimes work on an earlier part of the curriculum until this learning is secure. This gives them a stronger foundation for future success.

Inclusion

Every child is entitled to a rich curriculum. Pupils with SEND receive suitable teaching, support and reasonable adjustments. We adapt how children access learning while keeping the important subject knowledge clear.

Where appropriate, children may work towards personalised targets or learn at an earlier stage of the curriculum. Teachers work closely with the SENDCo, families and other professionals to plan the right support.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Visits, visitors, workshops, clubs, tournaments, Forest School, music, pupil leadership and community projects enrich our curriculum. These experiences allow children to apply their learning, discover new interests and build confidence.

Impact: how we know our curriculum is working

We know our curriculum is making a positive difference when children:

• know more and remember more over time;
• can explain their learning using appropriate vocabulary;
• apply their knowledge and skills in different situations;
• read, write and use mathematics with increasing confidence;
• ask thoughtful questions and share ideas clearly;
• show curiosity, independence and resilience;
• understand their community and the wider world;
• make progress from their individual starting points;
• are ready for the next stage of their education.

Assessment is purposeful and proportionate. Teachers use discussion, observation, practical work, quizzes, written work and more formal assessments to understand what children know and what they need to learn next. Not all valuable learning results in a written outcome.

Subject leaders and senior leaders review learning across the school. They consider children’s work, assessment information, classroom practice and pupil voice. This helps us celebrate what is working well and identify where the curriculum can be improved.

Our aim is for every child to leave Bridge with secure foundations, rich knowledge and the confidence to Use Their Voice.

Find out more

We encourage families to explore our subject booklets to learn more about what and how we teach; broader curriculum overviews showing learning across the school are also available at the bottom of this page.