Knowledge-Rich, Question-Led and Designed to Inspire
At St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Bradford, our Key Stage 2 curriculum is ambitious, innovative and designed to inspire curiosity.
Across Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, learning is driven by carefully chosen questions, rich knowledge, inspiring people and high-quality texts. Children are encouraged to discover, question, discuss and make connections as their knowledge of the world grows.
Our curriculum is led by knowledgeable teachers who ensure that learning builds systematically from year to year and that every child has access to an ambitious education.
Reading Opens the Door to Everything
Reading is at the heart of our curriculum.
We believe that becoming a confident reader is one of the most important things a child can achieve at primary school. Reading gives children access not only to English, but to science, history, geography, mathematics and the wider world.
Children encounter carefully selected stories, novels, poetry, biographies, non-fiction and subject-specific texts throughout Key Stage 2. These texts help children develop fluency and comprehension, expand their vocabulary and introduce them to new knowledge, ideas, places and perspectives.
We want children to learn to read confidently, read to learn and, importantly, develop a lifelong love of reading.
Inspired by Remarkable People
Children should encounter people who make them wonder what is possible.
Throughout our curriculum, children learn about inspiring people from the past and present — scientists, writers, artists, explorers, musicians, mathematicians, campaigners, inventors, designers and individuals who have helped shape our world.
These people are not simply added to the curriculum as interesting stories. Their lives and achievements help bring knowledge to life, introduce children to different perspectives and encourage important questions:
What did they discover? Why did it matter? What challenges did they overcome? How did they change our understanding of the world? What can we learn from them?
We want every child to encounter people who broaden their horizons and inspire them to think about what they themselves might achieve.
Questions That Make Children Think
Our question-led curriculum encourages children to be active thinkers.
Carefully designed questions provide a purpose for learning and encourage children to investigate ideas, use evidence, explain their thinking and apply what they know.
Behind every question is a carefully sequenced body of knowledge. Children therefore have the knowledge they need to think deeply, rather than being expected to discover complex ideas without strong foundations.
Oracy and Vocabulary
Reading, speaking and vocabulary work together.
Every subject has its own language, so important vocabulary is explicitly taught, discussed and revisited throughout our curriculum.
Children are encouraged to talk about their learning, ask questions, explain ideas, justify opinions and listen to different viewpoints. Strong oracy helps children organise their thinking and gives them the language they need to participate confidently in learning.
This focus on reading, vocabulary and oracy is particularly important in ensuring that every pupil can access the full richness of our curriculum.
Knowledgeable Teachers and Strong Subject Leadership
A strong curriculum needs teachers who understand the subjects they teach.
Our curriculum is led across school by knowledgeable subject leaders and teachers who carefully identify what children need to know, the vocabulary they need to understand and how learning should develop from one year to the next.
Whether children are thinking as scientists, historians, geographers, artists, musicians, designers or writers, we want them to encounter the important knowledge and ideas that make each subject distinctive.
Helping Parents Support Learning
We want parents and carers to be partners in their children’s learning.
Our Knowledge Organisers identify the important knowledge, vocabulary, people and ideas children will encounter within each unit, giving families an accessible way to talk about learning at home.
Our school website provides further curriculum information and resources, allowing pupils to revisit their learning and helping parents understand what their child is learning and why it matters.
An Ambitious Curriculum for Every Child
Our curriculum is designed for every pupil.
Carefully sequenced knowledge, explicit vocabulary teaching, strong oracy, high-quality texts and knowledgeable teaching help children access increasingly sophisticated ideas, whatever their starting point.
By the end of Year 6, we want children to leave St Stephen’s as confident readers, articulate speakers, knowledgeable learners and curious thinkers.
We want them to have encountered great books, powerful ideas and inspiring people.
Most importantly, we want them to leave believing that the world is full of things still to read, discover, question and understand.
That is the ambition of our Key Stage 2 curriculum at St Stephen’s — helping every child Nurture, Grow and Flourish.
