Curriculum

At The Olive School, we recognise that all knowledge is sacred and worthy of pursuit and that lifelong learning is a tradition of Islam and other world faiths.

Our curriculum is designed to foster thought, curiosity and a desire for learning in all pupils, regardless of their backgrounds, strengths and needs. It should be a gateway to opportunity and to a fulfilling and prosperous life in modern Britain and beyond.

Our curriculum is broad and balanced, providing a solid foundation for future learning and ensuring that the key skills in English and Mathematics are taught well through creative and enjoyable lessons.

Our curriculum is both coherent and cumulative, with an emphasis on the critical importance of knowledge acquisition.

In line with the Star Quality Standards, the curriculum actively promotes equality for all through both its content and delivery. Full details are contained in the Annual Equalities Statement.

We aim to ensure that all pupils have access to the curriculum and are not disadvantaged by any disabilities or special educational needs. Full details are contained in the SEND Information Report, Policy and Guidance.

Our curriculum aims to:

    • Cultivate well-rounded, intelligent and socially-aware pupils
    • Mould pupils into good citizens, with a sense of responsibility for their actions
    • Encourage civic and social participation within their community
    • Promote the development of young leaders
    • Allow pupils to develop their individuality
    • Empower pupils with the necessary skills and abilities to play a full and inclusive role within society
    • Provide a solid foundation for future learning at every stage
    • Deliver excellent exam results

Curriculum Overviews:

Educational Excellence

Educational excellence is fundamental to our educational philosophy. We are committed to providing a rich, sequential curriculum that will provide our pupils with an outstanding foundation preparing them for their secondary education.

Alongside the National Curriculum, the ‘Core Knowledge Sequence UK’ (CKS) is used as a springboard for additional knowledge-rich learning in Science, History, Geography and Art and Design.  The CKS is an engaging and exciting source of lesson content and compliments the curriculum, ensuring a coherent and cumulative approach to building pupils’ knowledge across the curriculum as a whole.  This equips them to make sense of the world around them, enabling them to become resilient independent learners, problem-solvers and critical thinkers and therefore preparing them for the important exam years at secondary school.

We use the well-known Read Write Inc approach to phonics. This whole school literacy programme is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.

Character Development

Our curriculum for Character Development includes a programme of Physical Education, sports, cultural, creative and other extra-curricular activities. This helps pupils develop key personal skills and aptitudes including leadership, oral communication, self-confidence, personal effectiveness, entrepreneurship, self-actualisation, problem-solving and enhanced emotional intelligence. These curricular dimensions of learning are at the heart of the school.

Service to Communities

Our curriculum is also structured to help the development of citizenship, social enterprise and community service and is delivered using a ‘project based learning’ approach. Older pupils are expected to support the development of younger pupils in their phase group, preparing them for a wider understanding and engagement in society as they move to the secondary phase of their education. A planned programme of circle time activities, reciprocal teaching, reading buddies, assemblies, class council meetings and peer support activities provide insights into social education and experiential community activities.

Reception Curriculum Offer

For children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, we adopt a rigorous approach towards individualised teaching and learning.  The statutory Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is the basis of the Reception Class curriculum.  There are seven areas of learning and development that shape educational provision in early years’ settings.  All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.  Three ‘Prime’ areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning and building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive:

  • Personal and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development

Our school also supports children in four ‘Specific’ areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

We deliver learning for all of the areas through purposeful play and learning experiences, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities.  Through play, our children explore and develop learning experiences which help them make sense of the world.  They practise and build ideas, learning how to control themselves and understand the need for rules.  We provide the opportunity for our pupils to think creatively and work and communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems.

Key Stages 1 and 2 Curriculum Offer

At Key Stages 1 and 2 subjects are taught in discrete timetabled lessons which cover:

  • English, incorporating the regular teaching of synthetic phonics
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • History
  • Geography
  • Religious Studies
  • Modern Foreign Languages (French or Arabic)*
  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • PSHE and Citizenship
  • Physical Education

* Throughout Key Stage 1, Modern Foreign Languages are taught by class teachers who are supported by the school’s MFL specialist. In Key Stage 2, specialist teachers will deliver the Modern Foreign Languages provision.

Additional Support

Pupils benefit from a programme of study support and tuition sessions, delivered both during the school day and after school, tailored to an individual or group of pupils who may require additional help in English and Mathematics. There is a particular focus on early support for developing pupils’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills as this is key to them accessing the full breadth of the curriculum.

If you would like to find out more about our curriculum, please contact the school on 0121 657 7100 or email Humaira Begum ( humaira.begum@olivebham.staracademies.org )

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As the winter nights drew in and the temperatures plummeted, pupils from The Olive School, Birmingham helped spread optimism throughout their community by supporting local people through its Winter Gift Programme.

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