Our Curriculum
Curriculum statement
The curriculum at Dorchester really is the beating heart of the school – it is what keeps our children interested and enables them to make the progress they are really capable of. Our curriculum is flexible so that it meets the needs of every single child whilst maintaining the key content of the National Curriculum.
The intent at Dorchester is to always give each individual child broad, rich and deep learning experiences – learning experiences that they can take with them through life; whether it is through subject knowledge, skills and understanding or through instilling in them vital character traits to make them ready for life’s challenges.
We have developed our ‘Dorchester Dozen’ of learning experiences we want our children to have taken part in by the time they leave Dorchester. These have been carefully chosen to reflect our context and the things we know are important to our children and families.
Our ‘Dorchester Dozen’ can be found below:
- 1 – Farm Life: visit a farm
- 2 – Let’s Play: visit a role play centre
- 3 – Read, Discover, Explore: visit a library
- 4 – Embracing Difference: visit a place of worship
- 5 – The Magic of Live Performance: visit a theatre to watch a show
- 6 – The Coast is Calling: visit the beach
- 7 – History of Hull: tour local landmarks
- 8 – Making a Masterpiece: visit a place of artistic inspiration
- 9 – Science, inspiring innovation: visit a STEM museum
- 10 – Discover London: visit our capital city….by train
- 11 – Adventure Awaits: visit a residential centre
- 12 – Healthy You: visit a place of health and wellness
Dorchester’s curriculum is there to shape the children of the future. We do this through three curriculum aims:
- Aim 1: Provide pupils with a cumulative acquisition of concepts, knowledge and skills, which enable them to achieve their goals.
- Aim 2: Provide pupils with a creative, enquiry-based curriculum, which promotes inquisitive minds, independence and a love for learning.
- Aim 3: Provide pupils with a sense of belonging, identity and community to succeed in the modern world.
Curriculum Concepts:
As part of our curriculum, we have identified ‘concepts’ which children will develop throughout ALL subjects. These branch across the whole curriculum, creating horizontal links across all subjects. They aim to develop flexible knowledge and skills that children can apply to multiple curriculum areas.
- Compare and Contrast
- Interpret and Summarise
- Written and Oral Expression
- Infer and Enquire
- Predict and Connect
HCAT Signature
Principle:
- Promoting community,
- Building effective relationships,
- accountability,
- ownership of own actions,
- resolving conflicts.
HCAT Signature:
Community members;
- feel they belong
- have a voice and influence
- challenge appropriately
- understand fair process
- resolve conflicts
- take responsibility
Principle:
Developing the ability to think, reason, problem solve and apply learning
HCAT Signature:
Community members;
- are lifelong learners
- have a growth mindset
- can apply knowledge skills and understanding
- are ready for the next stage
Principle:
Promoting character traits to deal with the challenges of life.
HCAT Signature:
Community members;
- demonstrate the appropriate key character virtues particularly resilience and resourcefulness
- contribute positively to the community
- have a social conscience
- are responsible citizens
Socially and emotionally secure
Principle:
Developing the value of self and others, enabling a social and emotional place to learn.
HCAST Signature:
Community members;
- have a strong identity
- are happy and secure
- are able to empathise and care for others
- value self and others
Principle:
Facilitating a broad range of experience and opportunities to open doors
HCAT Signature:
Community members;
- are able to broaden horizons
- shape their own mindset
- make informed choices
- have equal opportunities
