Copthill School’s curriculum is based on our own adaptation of the Dimensions ‘Learning Means the World’ model. It is designed to support children’s natural curiosity, stimulate their creativity and promote an appetite for, and love of, learning.

Helen Schofield, Headteacher

A broad, comprehensive and creative education with the highest expectations, our broad curriculum emphasises the importance of literacy, numeracy, science and languages.

It is designed to develop lifelong knowledge, skills and attitudes which encourages our children to become responsible, independent, creative and resilient.

Inspirational teachers, purpose-built facilities and an emphasis on using our rural location ensures that learning takes place in a stimulating and unique setting, in which every child is encouraged and motivated to succeed.

We encourage our pupils to discover for themselves, and in so doing create the self-confidence to question, learn, rationalise and understand the world around them.

Our children understand that learning can be fun, but sometimes it can be difficult and requires effort and application. We reassure them that making mistakes is part of learning and growing.

English and Mathematics

We encourage our pupils to discover for themselves, and in so doing create the self-confidence to question, learn, rationalise and understand the world around them.

Our children understand that learning can be fun, but sometimes it can be difficult and requires effort and application. We reassure them that making mistakes is part of learning and growing.

Able Pupils

We identify outstanding talents in academic subjects, sport, music and drama. Our curriculum has provision to challenge and stretch these talented pupils through extension groups, specialist teaching and visits to secondary schools.

Curriculum and teaching

TEACHING

Pre-School, Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two experienced and qualified teachers deliver our curriculum which is based upon statutory guidance. It’s adapted and strengthened to suit our pupils and to develop their independence and sense of responsibility.

Lower School – Reception Class – Year 2

Each of the two forms per year group has an experienced form teacher and at least one teaching assistant. Pupils are taught mostly by their form teacher and by subject specialists in some areas of the broad curriculum.

Middle School – Year 3 and Year 4

Pupils are taught by specialists in a wider range of subjects.

Upper School – Year 5 and Year 6

Year 5 and 6 pupils are prepared for 11+ and a wide variety of entrance examinations to Independent Secondary Schools, by tailoring the learning activities to each pupil’s particular academic needs.

To find out in more detail about our educational processes, standards, assessments and reporting, click here.

GOAL – GO OUTSIDE AND LEARN

Outdoor learning is a well established and essential part of our broad curriculum and is integrated into most subjects areas across the school. The Lower School staff use their weekly forest school lessons to bring the creative curriculum to life such as building celtic houses or learning coordinates using pirate maps. In the Upper school, learning is enriched using the outdoors in specific subjects such as scientific experiments on open fires, shakespeare productions, roman road building in humanities, norman siege weapons in DT, paella cooking in Spanish!

Specialist subject teaching

Art – Years 4, 5 & 6

Coding – Years 1- 6

French/Spanish/Latin – Early Years to Year 6

Forest School – Early Years – Year 2

Go Outside and Learn (GOAL) – Reception to Year 6

Music – Early Years – Year 6

PE and Games – Early Years – Year 6

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning – Years 4, 5 & 6
(experienced teachers)

The Curriculum