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Curriculum at Ysgol y Graig
Every child belongs, believes and thrives.
At Ysgol y Graig, our curriculum is designed around our children, our community and the future we want our learners to be ready for. We want learning to open children's eyes, develop their minds and change their lives. Our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and purposeful. It enables pupils to build secure knowledge and skills, ask questions, make connections, develop independence and increasingly take responsibility for their own learning. It is rooted in our locality and Welsh identity while opening children's eyes to Wales and the wider world.
Our Curriculum Vision Our curriculum supports our school vision: Every child belongs, believes and thrives. Through high expectations, rich experiences and consistent support and challenge, we aim to develop children who are: happy and confident curious and ambitious resilient and independent respectful and kind able to communicate effectively increasingly able to make choices about their learning proud of their community and Welsh identity prepared for the next stage of their learning and for their future. Our school values of Belonging, Respect, Independence and Kindness run through everything we teach and everything we do.
Curriculum for Wales Our school curriculum is designed within the Curriculum for Wales framework. At the heart of Curriculum for Wales are the four purposes. We want our pupils to develop as: ambitious, capable learners enterprising, creative contributors ethical, informed citizens healthy, confident individuals These purposes help us think carefully about not simply what children learn, but why their learning matters and the kind of people we want them to become.
The Six Areas of Learning and Experience Learning is organised through six Areas of Learning and Experience: Expressive Arts Health and Well-being Humanities Languages, Literacy and Communication Mathematics and Numeracy Science and Technology Within these Areas, the statements of what matters identify the important concepts and big ideas that pupils progressively develop their understanding of. Learning at Ysgol y Graig may connect different Areas where this makes learning meaningful, but we also recognise the importance of developing secure subject and disciplinary knowledge.
Welsh Language, Culture and Cynefin We are proud of our Welsh identity and place great importance on helping children develop confidence in using Welsh while fostering pride in their local community and heritage. Pupils are encouraged to use Welsh throughout the school day and develop an understanding of the language, culture and traditions of Wales. Our curriculum helps learners explore: Their local community of Cefn Coed. The history and heritage of Merthyr Tydfil. Welsh culture and traditions. The natural environment around them. Their role as citizens of Wales and the wider world. By understanding their Cynefin, children develop a strong sense of belonging and identity. We are proud to be Welsh. Welsh language, culture and identity are visible throughout our school. Children are encouraged to use Welsh naturally and confidently throughout the school day, building vocabulary and communication progressively. Our Phrase of the Week, Seren yr Wythnos, Welsh celebrations and wider curriculum experiences encourage every pupil to see themselves as a developing bilingual speaker.
Progression Comes First At Ysgol y Graig, curriculum planning begins with: What do we want our children to learn and understand? rather than simply: What topic shall we teach? Progression is at the heart of our curriculum. As pupils move through the school, we expect them to develop increasingly: broad and deep knowledge sophisticated understanding secure and transferable skills independence confidence in applying learning in new situations ability to make connections ability to reflect on their learning and identify next steps. Curriculum for Wales uses descriptions of learning arranged across five progression steps to provide reference points for progress. These are not fixed levels or checklists linked rigidly to a child's age. Children develop at different rates, and teachers use professional knowledge, assessment and an understanding of individual learners to determine appropriate next steps.
Our Graig Story Our curriculum tells Our Graig Story. ROOTS We want children to understand where they come from. They learn about: Cefn Coed and Merthyr Tydfil our local history our Welsh language and culture our community our landscape and environment the people and stories that have shaped our locality. Our Cynefin gives learning authenticity and helps pupils develop a strong sense of identity and belonging. GROWTH Children progressively develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences they need to thrive. We deliberately develop: literacy numeracy digital competence oracy vocabulary creativity collaboration problem-solving independence resilience leadership. FUTURE We want children to see possibilities beyond what they already know. Through rich experiences, community links, digital learning, visitors, trips and links with external organisations, pupils develop aspiration and learn how their knowledge and skills connect with the wider world.
“I Wonder” – Giving Pupils a Voice in Learning Curiosity matters at Ysgol y Graig. Our “I Wonder” approach gives pupils opportunities to ask meaningful questions, explore ideas and influence aspects of what and how they learn. Teachers ensure that planned learning has clear progression and purpose while creating appropriate opportunities for pupils to contribute questions, interests and ideas. As pupils develop, we want them to become increasingly confident in: asking questions making choices suggesting lines of enquiry finding information solving problems reflecting on their learning identifying what they need to do next. Pupil influence therefore becomes increasingly meaningful as children move through the school.
Powerful Knowledge and Essential Skills We want children to know more, understand more and be able to do more. Our curriculum therefore balances opportunities for exploration and enquiry with explicit teaching of the important knowledge and skills children need.
Teachers carefully consider: What knowledge do pupils need? What vocabulary do they need? What skills need to be explicitly taught? What prior learning are we building upon? How will pupils apply their learning independently?
What should pupils be able to understand and do next? Core literacy, numeracy and digital skills are deliberately developed so pupils can increasingly apply them independently across the curriculum.
Teaching and Learning High-quality teaching is central to curriculum success. At Ysgol y Graig we promote: high expectations for all pupils clear learning intentions effective modelling and explanation purposeful questioning opportunities for talk and discussion responsive assessment appropriate challenge adaptive teaching opportunities for practice and application meaningful feedback increasing independence. Children are supported when needed but are also encouraged to think, persevere and use the tools available to them rather than becoming over-reliant on adults.
Assessment to Support Progress Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. Teachers continually gather information about what pupils know, understand and can do and use this to decide appropriate next steps. This happens through: discussion and questioning observation children's work practical learning digital evidence formative assessment pupil reflection planned assessments where appropriate. Feedback helps learners understand their successes and what they need to improve. Pupils are increasingly encouraged to reflect on their own learning and take responsibility for their next steps. Assessment is therefore used primarily to support progression, not simply to generate data.
Independence Developing independent learners is a significant priority at Ysgol y Graig. From Nursery onwards, children are supported to make choices, solve problems, access appropriate resources and develop confidence. As children progress through school, expectations for independence increase. Our classrooms and learning environments encourage pupils to: find and use appropriate resources work collaboratively attempt solutions make decisions reflect and improve seek help appropriately take increasing ownership of their learning.
Literacy Strong literacy enables pupils to access every part of the curriculum. We explicitly develop: speaking and listening high-quality oracy vocabulary reading spelling and grammar handwriting extended writing. Children are given purposeful opportunities to apply literacy across different Areas of Learning and Experience. We particularly value high-quality talk. Pupils learn to listen, explain, justify, question, discuss and present ideas confidently. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that becoming a confident reader is one of the most important foundations for future success. We aim to: Foster a love of reading. Develop fluent and confident readers. Expose children to a wide range of texts and authors. Encourage reading for pleasure both at school and at home. Support parents in developing positive reading habits. Through high-quality teaching and rich reading experiences, we help children become enthusiastic, independent readers.
Mathematics and Numeracy Children develop secure mathematical knowledge and understanding alongside fluency, reasoning and problem-solving. We want pupils to understand mathematics deeply and be able to apply their numeracy skills in meaningful contexts throughout the curriculum and everyday life.
Digital Learning Digital competence is an essential part of learning at Ysgol y Graig. Children explicitly learn digital skills and increasingly apply them across the curriculum. Our pupils use appropriate digital tools to: create communicate collaborate research solve problems present their learning develop independence. Pupils also learn how to use technology safely, responsibly and ethically.
Outdoor Learning and the Natural World Our environment provides important opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. Through outdoor learning, pupils explore, investigate, solve problems, collaborate and develop an understanding of sustainability and their responsibility for the world around them. Children are encouraged to value and care for their school grounds, locality and wider environment.
Inclusion and Equity Our curriculum belongs to every child. We recognise that children begin their learning journeys from different starting points and may require different support or approaches to succeed. Teachers use adaptive teaching and appropriate additional provision to reduce barriers while maintaining ambition and high expectations. We aim to ensure that children with additional learning needs and pupils facing disadvantage participate meaningfully in the full life and curriculum of the school.
Rights, Well-being and Relationships Our curriculum supports children's understanding of their rights and responsibilities. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child informs our approach to pupil participation, safeguarding, inclusion and respectful relationships. Health and well-being are embedded throughout school life, helping pupils develop confidence, resilience, positive relationships and the knowledge needed to make safe and healthy choices.
Learning Beyond the Classroom Some of the most powerful learning happens through experience. Our pupils learn through: visits and educational trips community projects visitors and experts cultural experiences sport performances digital opportunities outdoor learning pupil leadership collaboration with local organisations and businesses. Our Ysgol y Graig Experiences help us ensure that every child has access to rich opportunities that broaden horizons and create lasting memories.
Curriculum Review Our curriculum is not a finished document. We continually review and refine it using: pupil progress pupil voice lesson observations and learning walks children's work teacher professional learning assessment information feedback from families and governors national guidance and research. This helps us ensure that our curriculum remains relevant, ambitious and responsive to the children and community we serve. Our Aim By the time children leave Ysgol y Graig, we want them to know more than when they arrived, but we want much more than that. We want them to: belong to their community, believe in themselves, think independently, communicate confidently, show kindness and respect, embrace challenge, remain curious and thrive in whatever comes next. Every child belongs, believes and thrives.
