Hollesley Primary School

We aim to make our curriculum broad and stimulating, so as to develop the talents of all our pupils. We are fortunate to be located in an area of significant interest geographically, historically and scientifically. For this reason we have rearranged our curriculum into termly themes based around our local area. We believe that when children’s learning begins in what they already know it is more meaningful and more accessible to them. We teach all of our art, design technology, geography and history through this approach. Similarly, we believe that science should be taught through a problem-solving, skills-based approach relating to the experiences of the children. In this way they learn to understand themselves and their own physical and biological environments.

The termly theme is taught across the school so that whilst the older children study it in depth, the younger children also gain an understanding and take part in visits and special days. By following whole school cross-curricular themes the children become fully immersed in what they are learning, linking geography, history, art etc with skills in English and maths. A large wall display featuring a pictorial map of the local area and a timeline help the children put their learning into a geographical and historical context.

We ensure that the children are given opportunities to visit the areas that they are learning about as well as encouraging them to dress up and join in with themed days.

Children in the Early Years follow the Foundation Curriculum which focusses on six areas of learning; Mathematics, Language, Physical, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Creative and Personal/Social. Children in Years 1 to 6 are taught using the National Curriculum as a guide.

As a small, rural school the aim is to give the children as many experiences as possible and we try to ensure the children have the full range of educational opportunities by arranging for “experts” to come and work with us at various times. Whilst we make good use of the local area as a resource for learning, we also bring the wider world into the school, by following the links from our local area into more distant places and by learning about other religions and cultures.

The children take part in visits linked to the curriculum which include:

• Seckford Hall
• Woodbridge
• Orford
• Longshop Museum
• Sutton Hoo
• Hampton Court Palace in London

In addition many have taken part in other visits and events including:

• Going to see ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the O2 in London
• Presented dance/drama productions on stage at the New Wolsey Theatre
• Joined in a joint music/dance/drama production with residents of the Mary Warner Homes
• Been to ‘Farm Fair’ at the Suffolk Showground
• Performed at the prestigious Snape Maltings Concert Hall
• Entertained with country-dancing and trumpet-playing at the Hollesley summer fair and
• Visited the New Wolsey Theatre for various events as a partner school.

Parents and other relatives are invited in regularly to share learning with their children on Curriculum Days. These days have included science, maths, art and English with parents being invited to join the children for a special themed lunch from the school-kitchen.

The older children have access to a Virtual Learning Environment which enables them to access their home-work on-line.

The children have a very active physical life at Hollesley and take part in as many inter-school sports competitions as possible including hosting the local inter-schools’ cross-country. Vital Safer Cycling Training comes in Year 5, for many of the summer-term visits are made by bike!

The school has been awarded “Healthy School” status, is a member of the “Get Set Network” and a partner school of the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.