The New Wales School Curriculum

The whole approach to developing young people aged 3 to 16 is changing, and Borderbrook Primary School has been preparing vigilantly for the past 3 years to be ready to embrace this exciting new way of teaching. Below is a brief summary of what this will mean for our children, and how it will improve their education. 

The new curriculum has more emphasis on equipping young people for life. It build's their ability to learn new skills and apply their subject knowledge more positively and creatively. As the world changes, they will be more able to adapt positively.

They will also get a deep understanding of how to thrive in an increasingly digital world. A new digital competence framework is now introducing digital skills across the curriculum, preparing them for the opportunities and risks that an online world presents.

Meanwhile teachers have more freedom to teach in ways they feel have the best outcomes for their learners.

The central focus of assessment arrangements is to ensure learners understand how they are performing and what they need to do next. There is a renewed emphasis on assessment for learning as an essential and integral feature of learning and teaching.

The purpose of the new curriculum is to support our children and young people to be:

• ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives
• enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work
• ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world
• healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

It has 6 ‘Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE).

• Expressive arts.
• Health and well-being.
• Humanities (including RE which should remain compulsory to age 16).
• Languages, literacy and communication (including Welsh, which should remain compulsory to age 16, and modern foreign languages).
• Mathematics and numeracy.
• Science and technology.

It also include's 3 cross-curricular responsibilities: literacy, numeracy and digital competence.

Assessment is a continuous process and takes place on a daily basis in schools. Progression reference points help learners, teachers, parents and carers to understand if appropriate progress is being made. They set out expectations for learners in each area of their learning relating broadly to ages 5, 8, 11, 14 and 16.

For further information, visit the following Welsh Government website: new-school-curriculum-overview

 Curriculum Enrichment

We usually plan visits each term to support our topic work. These have included residential visits to Cardiff, Nant BH and Glan Llyn. We have also been to Dangerpoint, Chester Zoo, The Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Threapwood Christmas Tree Farm, Glyndwr University Music Festival, St. David's Day Parade (Wrexham), Park Hall Farm, St Asaph Cathedral, Harry Potter Studios and many many more. 

We hold a World of Work Week as part of our careers and entrepreneurial education. Visitors have included a pilot, a vet, an ecologist, a park ranger, the fire brigade, an engineer, a builder, a farmer, a police man and many others.

The school children benefit from using the mobile library service, provided by Wrexham County Borough Council.

Years 2-6 regularly have swimming lessons at the Maelor School, Penley.

Sporting activities that we have taken part in include Football, Rugby, Athletics, Gymnastics, Dance, Hockey, Tennis, Netball, Forest School, Wellie Wednesday, Hula-Hooping and others.

Session Times

Breakfast Care:                                     8:00 – 9:00am every morning

 

Playgroup Care:                                    9:00am – 3:00pm Term-time only

 

Nursery/Early Entitlement:                  1:00pm - 3:15pm am every afternoon

 

Foundation Phase:                                9:00am - 3:15pm

 

Key Stage 2:                                            9:00am - 3:15pm

 

After School Care:                                 3:15pm - 5:15pm