At High Meadow, we are proud of our school curriculum and the opportunities it provides. It has been created collaboratively, with subject co-ordinators, informed teachers and senior leadership.

Our primary curriculum is designed to provide a rich and comprehensive educational experience that nurtures the intellectual, social, and emotional development of our students. Our curriculum is rooted in the latest research and best practices, and it is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of our pupils. Our curriculum incorporates the national curriculum within a broader framework that ensures coherence and progression.

What Do We Define as Curriculum?

At High Meadow, we define ‘curriculum’ to be the knowledge, skills, experiences and opportunities our children receive within the school. It encompasses not just what the children learn, but the way in which it is delivered, assessed and reviewed as well as the environment in which the pupils learn.

We are determined to offer a curriculum which is rooted in high-expectations and ambition for all our pupils. We believe that all children can achieve to a high level and it is our responsibility to ensure they are enabled and supported to reach their potential.

Our primary goal is to deliver richly connected knowledge and skills which are revisited and built upon, leading to high levels of long-term retention and automaticity.

Curriculum Principles

Our philosophy is based on research from cognitive science and how long-term retention of knowledge occurs. Our lessons our carefully planned to incorporate metacognition strategies to support pupils’ development.  We do not pre-conceive what a child can do as this limits them from the start.

At High Meadow Community School, we believe in fostering a rich and engaging curriculum that supports every child in becoming a confident and independent learner. Central to our approach is the integration of the 7 Steps to Metacognition, which structures our lessons and enhances our children's learning experiences.

Every lesson at High Meadow begins with retrieval practice, where children revisit prior knowledge to activate their understanding. This foundational step sets the stage for deeper learning.

In the initial phase of the lesson 'I Do', teachers model their own metacognitive thinking. By verbalising their thought processes—asking questions like, "What do I know about this topic?" and "What strategies have I used before?"—teachers provide children with a clear example of how to approach learning tasks effectively.

Following the modelling, we transition into the 'We Do' phase. Here, children engage in a mini-task alongside their teacher, allowing them to practice the strategies demonstrated. This collaborative approach encourages dialogue and reinforces their understanding as they work together.

As the lesson progresses, children move into the 'You Do' phase, where they are prepared for independent learning. This stage empowers them to apply what they have learnt, fostering confidence in their abilities as learners.

In each lesson, we provide children with either a challenge or an opportunity for reflection on their learning. This final step encourages children to think critically about their understanding and solidifies their learning experiences. It also provides teachers with valuable insights into each child's grasp of the content taught.

At High Meadow, our children not only understand what metacognition is but also actively use it as a tool for their development. They are equipped with the knowledge of how to plan, monitor, and evaluate their learning processes.

Tools for Independence and Empowering Lifelong Learners at High Meadow Community School

At High Meadow Community School, we are committed to nurturing independent learners who confidently take charge of their educational journey. One of the key tools supporting this independence is the use of learning walls created during lessons. These dynamic resources serve as ongoing reminders of strategies and tools children can draw upon throughout the week, reinforcing their ability to learn autonomously and with confidence.

Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to revisit key ideas over time, making explicit connections between new content and core concepts and principles. This approach ensures that children not only acquire knowledge but develop a deep understanding that allows them to apply their learning across different contexts and subjects. We foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills while maintaining a strong foundation in core areas such as English, Mathematics, Science, and the foundation subjects.

Recognising the vital role of literacy in accessing the full curriculum, we explicitly teach reading, writing, and vocabulary tailored to each subject area. Early reading is a priority, with systematic synthetic phonics providing the essential building blocks for decoding and comprehension. We also promote reading for pleasure through varied class reading approaches and exposure to high-quality texts, cultivating a lifelong love of reading.

Fluency is central to our teaching philosophy. We provide tasks that help children securely learn key ideas and employ strategies such as retrieval practice and spaced repetition to build automatic recall of crucial knowledge. This fluency empowers children to engage confidently with their learning and apply their skills effectively.

Our curriculum is designed to empower every child to thrive academically and become a lifelong learner prepared for future success. It offers a rich and meaningful education, equipping children with the knowledge, skills, and values they need for academic achievement and personal growth.

We believe that High Meadow is a special place where every child, regardless of their strengths or differences, knows they belong, are valued, and can contribute meaningfully. Our teaching pedagogy is carefully selected to ensure equity and inclusion, reflecting our school vision of Growing together, every day, in every way.

Childhood at High Meadow is a time for happiness, curiosity, and exploration. Our curriculum reflects this belief by being:

• Challenging, inspirational, and empowering to foster lifelong learning
• Full of first-hand learning experiences, recognising that children learn best through active engagement
• Respectful of children’s prior knowledge, starting from where they are
• Equitable and inclusive, addressing disadvantage and ensuring equality of opportunity
• Progressively developing core skills and knowledge for mastery
• Research-led and aligned with evidence-based practices such as the EEF Teaching Toolkit
• Language-rich, recognising the profound impact of language and reading on learning

Our coherently planned and sequenced curriculum provides cumulative knowledge and skills essential for future learning and employment. Through the structured approach of the 7 Steps to Metacognition, we empower children to develop self-awareness and confidence, nurturing a culture where every child takes responsibility for their learning.

Underpinning all of this is our Learning Culture, embodied in our Learning Powers—our core values that inspire children to be responsible, resilient, and reflective learners.

At High Meadow Community School, we are proud to provide a learning environment where children grow together, every day, in every way.

• We are kind
  We respect and value all living things
• We are curious
  We always want to know more
• We are ambitious
  We want to be the best ‘we’
• We are creative
  Problem solving needs creative minds
• We are resilient
  Making mistakes helps us learn new things
• We are hard working
  We take pride in all we do
• We are independent
  It helps us be proud of our achievements
• We are brave
  We take safe risks

Maths At High Meadow Community School, we use the Mastery Flow Model to teach mathematics, ensuring that all children develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. This approach focuses on building a solid foundation through a structured progression of learning, where each child is encouraged to master a topic before moving on to the next. By emphasising conceptual understanding alongside procedural fluency, we enable our children to apply their knowledge confidently in various contexts.

The Mastery Flow Model promotes a positive learning environment where children can explore, question, and engage with mathematics at their own pace, fostering a love for the subject and preparing them for future challenges.

English Hub In order to ensure that we continually evaluate our English Curriculum, and keep up to date with the latest research, we engage with high quality professional development training through the English Hub. 

Forest Schools At High Meadow Community School, we believe in the transformative power of outdoor learning, which is why all children, from Nursery to Year 6, participate in a weekly Forest School session. This unique educational approach not only enhances children's learning experiences but also fosters their personal development in numerous ways. We are committed to providing our children with rich, diverse experiences that prepare them for the next stages of their learning journey. Our Forest School programme is an integral part of this commitment, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a nurturing and stimulating environment.

At High Meadow Community School, we are committed to nurturing the whole child, ensuring they grow together, every day, in every way. Our personal development programme is designed to inspire children to become responsible, respectful, and confident citizens who are prepared for the next stages of their learning and life.

We provide rich and diverse experiences that go beyond the classroom, including active involvement in fundraising and local community events. These opportunities enable children to understand and embody fundamental British Values, fostering a strong sense of belonging and social responsibility.

Our values-led curriculum, combined with our 30 Memorable Moments, encourages children to develop resilience, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning. We believe that personal development is key to helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in a safe and supportive environment.

Through this holistic approach, we aim to equip our children with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need to succeed now and in the future.

We ensure that our curriculum has:

• Cross curricular topics allowing links to be made across all learning
• Inspiration Days and subject specific learning weeks including: Maths Week, Science Week, Culture and Arts Week, Dress to Express and much more
• Day Trips linked to topics and Resiential Trips in Year 4 and Year 6
• Visitors including authors, artists, people from a range of faiths, the local fire service, to name a few

At the start of each new term, we dedicate focused time to our ‘Learning to Learn’ programme, designed to equip every child with the skills, attitudes, and routines essential for successful learning. During these weeks, our teachers carefully address the unique needs of High Meadow children by:

• Creating a calm, collaborative classroom environment that fosters mutual respect, trust, and a positive learning culture where every child feels safe and valued.
• Teaching children to safeguard themselves through the Protective Behaviours programme of work, empowering them with the knowledge and confidence to stay safe.
• Embedding our whole-school ‘Relentless Routines’ through consistent practice, ensuring clear expectations and smooth transitions that maximise learning time.
• Reinforcing our ethos, rules, and values, including our ‘Safe, Respectful, Ready’ behaviours, to build a strong foundation for positive behaviour and attitudes.
• Promoting our High Meadow reading culture, inspiring a lifelong love of reading and supporting children’s academic progress.
• Setting clear expectations for presentation and handwriting in books, encouraging pride and care in their work.
• Establishing the culture and boundaries of PSHE routines, supporting children’s personal development and social understanding.
• Conducting a range of ‘Assessment for Learning’ activities to tailor teaching to the interests and needs of each class, ensuring challenge and engagement.
• Teaching key Maths objectives early in the term to enable effective retrieval practice throughout the year, reinforcing knowledge and skills.
• Developing Learning Behaviours and High Meadow Language for Learning, helping children articulate their learning process and build resilience.
• Supporting children to review and set their own learning targets, fostering ownership and motivation for their progress.

This structured and intentional approach aligns with our commitment to high expectations and quality teaching, ensuring every child is ready to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally throughout the year.

At High Meadow Community School, every child embarks on a rich and inspiring learning journey, where memorable moments are carefully mapped across the curriculum to enhance their growth and development. These moments are thoughtfully integrated into both curriculum areas and unique, one-off experiences, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to engage, explore, and flourish.

Throughout their time at High Meadow, children will have the chance to:

• Learn to play a musical instrument
• Participate regularly in Forest School activities
• Interact with and learn from real authors and poets
• Grow, tend, and nurture a variety of plants
• Actively recycle and re-use waste materials
• Take part in live performances
• Experience live music and theatre productions
• Visit places of worship including a Mosque, Temple, and Church
• Meet and welcome people of different faiths and beliefs
• Have their artwork displayed proudly
• Participate in a wide range of sporting activities
• Organise and independently attend regular fundraising events for the school
• Be immersed in stories and books throughout their learning
• Engage in imaginative dressing-up activities
• Participate in activities led by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
• Visit art galleries to explore creative expression
• Visit farms to connect with nature and animals
• Take part in outdoor adventurous activities
• Help organise charity fundraising events
• Learn essential road and fire safety skills
• Acquire basic first aid knowledge
• Interact with and learn from members of the local community
• Explore programming and interaction with robots
• Practice mindfulness techniques to support wellbeing
• Celebrate national festivals and cultural events
• Receive new storybooks at least twice a year
• Create special memorable moments for their mums, dads, and carers
• Work alongside a variety of professional artists
• Watch chicks hatch and care for them
• Visit historical buildings to deepen their understanding of the past

These experiences are designed to inspire curiosity, build knowledge, and foster a lifelong love of learning, all while supporting our vision of growing together, every day, in every way.