Our Curriculum

Intent - What do we want our children to learn?

At Greentrees, our curriculum engages all pupils in challenging and interesting learning that promotes our core values of curiosity, achievement, determination, collaboration, equality and kindness.

We want our young people to ‘speak up’, make informed choices and feel that they are part of a global family where everyone matters. Through a people-centred curriculum, pupils develop an understanding of what it means to be human and of the impact individuals and communities have had on the world in the past, present and future.

We believe it is our duty as humans to look after nature and the world around us. Using an enquiry-led approach, our young people are challenged to be critically curious about the world.

Our curriculum has two primary aims. First, we ensure that all pupils, regardless of their background or individual needs, acquire the essential knowledge and skills required for the next stage of their education and for later life. Second, we provide rich opportunities and experiences that support pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development, enabling them to thrive in school and beyond.

Implementation - How do we enable them to learn it?

From Foundation Stage to Year 6, pupils develop both substantive knowledge (know of) and disciplinary knowledge (know how to). Learning experiences are carefully sequenced and matched to pupils’ stages of development, enabling them to build understanding of the wider world over time.

Our curriculum framework enhances the National Curriculum through an enquiry-led approach. Cross-curricular learning objectives are woven into meaningful enquiries, placing emphasis on ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’. Our pupils are historians – they don’t simply ‘do’ history; they are scientists – they don’t just ‘do’ science.

Enquiries encourage pupils to explore complex questions that cannot be answered immediately. Through this process, they make connections between different areas of learning, deepen their understanding and develop curiosity about the world around them.

Some areas of study, including English and Mathematics, are taught as discrete disciplines. We utilise a range of proven, evidence-informed approaches and schemes of work to provide high-quality learning experiences and secure strong foundations in core knowledge and skills.

Using Guy Claxton’s 4Rs of learning, we promote a strong ‘learning to learn’ culture. Pupils are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, develop resilience and independence, and recognise that the choices they make can positively influence their success.

Our curriculum is bespoke to our school community and is enriched by the people, places and stories that make our local area unique. It has evolved over time, building on successful practice and incorporating evidence-informed developments that support excellent outcomes for pupils.

In addition, and in keeping with our human-centred approach, our curriculum is further enriched through a focus on three key areas of global significance:

Equality and Diversity
Sustainability
Careers and Aspirations

Impact - What is the impact?

Our pupils leave us with a rich, age-appropriate understanding of the world around them, ready for the next stage of their education and equipped to become lifelong learners and active members of a global society.

Through a broad, balanced and carefully designed curriculum, pupils achieve highly in the core subjects while developing the curiosity, resilience and knowledge needed for future success. Outcomes in statutory assessments are consistently above national averages, reflecting the strong foundations pupils build during their time at Greentrees.

The school has designed an ambitious and coherently sequenced curriculum. The school is highly inclusive, and pupils thrive.

Ofsted Inspection Report, May 2025