During the school year each class s work is planned around a series of topics, lasting half a term or a term. The topics are organised so that all areas of the National Curriculum are included over the year. Classroom displays focus on aspects of the topic and we try hard to make classroom work interesting and meaningful to children. Children are also encouraged to bring items from home into school in order to enrich their topic work. We hope children will experience memorable learning activities each week of their school life.
As well as work related to the class topic children also work on specific subject areas, pupils will be participating in the Literacy and Numeracy Hours.
Children progress through the levels of the National Curriculum at their own rate. Their progress is carefully checked by teachers and at the ages of 7 and 11 their progress is also monitored by national standardised assessment tests (SATs)
Religious Education is taught according to the Kent Agreed Syllabus, which develops a knowledge of Christianity whilst raising awareness of other religions.
Children meet daily in the hall for assembly at the end of the day. The assemblies provide many opportunities for children to participate. All assemblies reflect broadly Christian traditions with a special Reward Assembly on a Friday to recognise pupils achievements.
All parents have a right to withdraw their child from the daily assembly or from religious education. Any parent wishing to withdraw a child from either assembly or religious education should contact the Headteacher. Pupils who are withdrawn from assembly or religious education are provided with appropriate alternative activities.
Healthy Schools
Northdown operates in line with Healthy Schools recommendations. Pupils have access to water and are encouraged to eat fruit. No sweets or fizzy drinks are allowed in school. Reception and KS1 children are provided with a piece of fruit daily as Northdown is part of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.
Sex education is taught formally to Year 6 pupils and is part of a whole school health education policy. Our sex education input is provided through the school nurse who also delivers a talk on puberty to year 5 girls. Parents may withdraw their child from sex education lessons by writing to the Headteacher.
The governors and staff at Northdown Primary School are committed to providing the full range of opportunities for pupils regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, social, cultural or religious background. All pupils have equal access to the curriculum and the right to a learning environment, which dispels ignorance, prejudice and stereotyping. The entire school community has the right to protection from insult, abuse and bullying of any kind. Discrimination on the basis of colour, culture, origin, gender or ability is unacceptable in our school.
