Subject-led Learning

Subject-Led Learning at Armathwaite

At Armathwaite School, our curriculum is built on two interdependent parts: Teacher-Directed Curriculum and Child-Initiated Independent Learning. Each week, we dedicate time to both, ensuring a balanced and engaging learning experience.

Our Teacher-Directed Curriculum follows the National Curriculum but is delivered in a unique way tailored to the needs of our children and community. Our approach prioritizes learning, creativity, and independence, shaping a curriculum that reflects our school's ethos, aims, and values.

Specialist Teaching for a Strong Curriculum

To provide the highest quality education, our staffing policy is built around subject-specialist teachers. This ensures expert-led teaching in all subjects, enhancing both depth and engagement. Our teachers collaborate closely, planning and evaluating learning together to maintain a seamless, well-integrated curriculum from Early Years through Key Stages 1 and 2.

We have specialists in:

Science
Design and Technology
Art
Music
History
Geography
Early Years
Religious Education
Computing

Additionally, two staff members teach PE across the school, and all teachers deliver Philosophy for Children (P4C), PSHE, and Sex and Relationships Education (SRE).

Our support staff play a vital role in enhancing learning, offering expertise in:

Reading and Maths Intervention
Literacy and Numeracy Support
Speech and Language Development
Physical Development (Smart Moves Programme)
Emotional Well-being (Nurture, Drawing & Talking)
Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs

A High-Quality Learning Experience

At Armathwaite, we ensure students acquire both subject-specific skills and essential lifelong learning skills. Our teachers:

Adapt learning to pupils' interests, making it meaningful and engaging.
Provide a rich, broad, and balanced curriculum, ensuring all areas are given equal importance.
Plan collaboratively to strengthen cross-curricular links, helping students transfer and apply their learning in real-world contexts.

Teacher-Directed Curriculum Cycle

We follow a structured learning cycle of:

Plan – Pupils develop knowledge and skills in each subject.
Do – They use their learning in real, purposeful contexts.
Review – They reflect on their progress through peer, self, and teacher evaluations, setting goals for their next steps.

This approach fosters motivated, independent learners who take ownership of their education and achieve fantastic results.

At Armathwaite, learning is our passion. Our innovative, subject-led approach ensures every child benefits from high-quality teaching, an engaging curriculum, and a school environment that nurtures creativity, curiosity, and confidence.