Oak Hill First School Curriculum Principles 

 

  “Little seeds grow magnificent trees” 

 

Our curriculum principles are the values we believe give both our pupils the best chance of success as they move through our school on and then continuing on with their learning journey. 

 

Our entire curriculum (academic and wider curriculum) is underpinned by KASE Principles.  

K is for Knowledge – a knowledge-based curriculum developing subject confidence and expertise;  

A is for the Attributes we endeavour to nurture and develop –resilience, confidence, reflection and empathy;  

S is for Skills – developing subject skills and vital communication/literacy skills including a focus on oracy as well as skills of problem-solving and collaboration;  

E is for Experiences – ensuring pupils can access engaging enrichment experiences within and beyond the classroom. 

 

We see each component of KASE as an entitlement for pupils. Our Curriculum is driven by developing expert subject knowledge alongside skills to support thoughtful critical thinkers who can communicate ideas and thoughts with clarity. Key to our curriculum vision is that pupils experience a wide range of cultural enrichment opportunities.  

In summary, our curriculum will enable pupils to develop their: 

 

Knowledge	Attributes	Skills	Experiences
to become...	which makes learners...	which allow learners to be...	which are rich, enthusing and engaging to support...
Expert   Fluent	Confident  Resilient  Reflective   Empathetic	Communicative (oracy/reading/writing)  Problem solving  Collaborative	Opportunity   Agency  Inclusivity and Diversity

 

Curriculum Intent  

Our Foundation Stage curriculum is aligned to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework.  We have adopted and then tailored Chris Quigley’s Early Years Companion to create a rich , holistic curriculum that steers children successfully towards the Early Learning Goals. 

Year 1 – Year 4: The teaching of all subjects is aligned to the National Curriculum with the majority of our curriculum structured using the CUSP (Curriculum Unity Schools Partnership) programme as the vehicle to implement this. At Oak Hill, our CUSP curriculum framework, ensures that all pupils develop a deep body of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a lifelong love of learning. Rooted in evidence-based research, CUSP provides a carefully sequenced and ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all learners while fostering curiosity, independence and resilience. We follow the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. For Computing, P.E and PHSE we use schemes of work that we then tailor to meet the needs of our pupils. 

Our intent is to: 

• Ensure High-Quality Learning: By delivering a knowledge-rich and engaging curriculum, we equip pupils with the essential foundational knowledge and vocabulary needed to excel across all subjects. Learning is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge, reinforcing core concepts over time. 

• Promote Mastery and Depth: Pupils revisit and deepen their understanding through spaced retrieval and deliberate practice. This ensures they develop secure, transferable knowledge that they can apply confidently across the curriculum and in real-world contexts. 

• Develop Oracy and Literacy: Language is at the heart of our curriculum. Through rich discussions, structured talk opportunities, and high-quality texts, pupils develop strong communication skills, a broad vocabulary, and a love of reading that underpins success in all areas of learning. 

• Foster Independence and Resilience: Our curriculum nurtures confident, independent thinkers who approach challenges with perseverance and creativity. We encourage pupils to ask questions, think critically, and embrace mistakes as opportunities for learning. 

• Encourage Cultural Capital and Global Awareness: Pupils are immersed in a diverse, knowledge-rich curriculum that broadens their understanding of the world, history, and different cultures. This prepares them to be well-informed, empathetic, and responsible global citizens. 

We want our pupils to feel accepted, supported, and empowered to achieve their potential. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of their background, abilities, or learning styles, can thrive in an equitable and supportive environment, where they develop the skills, knowledge, and character they need for success in education and beyond.