Science

The Science Education at Woodside provides children with vast opportunity to think independently and to raise questions about working scientifically. In doing this, they acquire a deep scientific knowledge and understanding as well as a love for scientific enquiry. Lessons fuel a passion for science and its application in past, present and future technologies, leading to all pupils having confidence and competence in the full range of practical skills. All children are facilitated to plan and carry out scientific investigations using our state-of-the-art science lab. During these lessons pupils gain the skills to undertake practical work in a variety of contexts. All staff at Woodside aim for their pupils to have high levels of originality, imagination or innovation in the application of scientific skills. We facilitate innovative, inquiry-based approaches to science, which directly promote the pupils’ decision making and creativity. This learning is showcased in written and verbal explanations, including their ability to solve challenging problems and report their scientific findings.

History

The History Education at Woodside provides children with a range of experiences and learning opportunities to gain extensive knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts from a range of historical periods. We facilitate lessons where children must think creatively, originally and critically about history and communicate their ideas confidently in styles appropriate to a range of audiences: parent assemblies, class speeches, speaking with visitors. We encourage children to support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using detailed, appropriate and accurate historical evidence derived from a range of sources. We incorporate debate and discussion into history lessons, to facilitate the development of children’s spoken language. Teachers at Woodside model a passion for history, which ensues children engage enthusiastically. We facilitate curiosity while learning about the past and discuss how and why people interpret the past in different ways, making links to real life and other learning. We provide all our children with challenging activities, including opportunities to undertake high-quality research, and expect all to tackle this with relish. Like in all foundation subjects, significant levels of originality, imagination or creativity, are shown in their responses to their learning in History.

Geography

The Geography Education at Woodside provides children with a range of opportunities to gain local, national and global geographical knowledge including how local and national places are linked. We advocate a passion for and commitment to the subject, seeing geographic knowledge and understanding as basic knowledge for all to acquire. We facilitate and encourage children to be inquisitive and curious about the world we live in and the people who live there. The bespoke geography curriculum provides children with an extensive repertoire of knowledge and vocabulary and a knowledge of where places are and what they are like. Children are supported to think independently, originally and creatively to reach clear conclusions and develop a reasoned argument to explain findings and ideas. Like in all foundation subjects, significant    levels of originality, imagination or creativity, are shown in their responses to their learning in Geography.

Art

The Art Education at Woodside equips all children with the knowledge and key skills to express their ideas creatively through works of art, craft and design. Throughout their time at Woodside, children’s artistic curiosity is nurtured with opportunities to explore and experiment with a wide variety of materials and techniques, which provides a solid foundation for their own creative expression in 2D, 3D and digital media. Our goal is to expose children to a range of influential local and global artists and craft makers from past and present to develop children’s historical, cultural and social awareness through Art. When exploring the work of other artists and presenting their own art, children use appropriate artistic vocabulary to appreciate and evaluate what they see. At Woodside, our aim is for children to become confident, independent artists in their own right, generating personal artistic outcomes of which they can be proud of.

Design Technology

The Design and Technology Education at Woodside enables all children to solve problems and respond to challenges in their world. In DT lessons, children use age appropriate tools and techniques, managing safety risks responsibly. DT lessons stem from real world contexts, where children can apply mathematical skills and understanding to solve genuine problems. We emphasise the importance of ethical design, supporting children to carefully select materials and use them in thoughtful and effective ways. Through the planning, design and evaluation process, children carefully consider the materials they will use, how these can be used ethically and evaluate their efficacy at the end of the project. In our Enrichment Kitchen, children from Reception to Year 6 build key food technology skills and leave Woodside with a cookbook of healthy balanced recipes they can cook for themselves and their families. Through DT, we create a school of designers, equipped to solve the problems of today.

Religious Education

The Religious Education at Woodside provides children with a deep understanding and knowledge of the core religions, and as a result our children gain a strong understanding of how the beliefs, values, practices and ways of life within any religion cohere together. Once the age appropriate knowledge has been acquired, all children develop the skills of asking significant and highly reflective questions about religion and demonstrate an excellent understanding of issues related to the nature, truth and value of religion and develop thoughtful answers to the ultimate questions about the meaning and significance of existence.. Through thoughtful and precise teacher, children learn to link the study of religion and belief to personal reflections on meaning and purpose. Like in all foundation subjects, Significant levels of originality, imagination or creativity, are shown in their responses to their learning in RE. Woodside promotes the acceptance and tolerance of others, creating an inclusive environment for all - seeking to understand people who are different to us through the lens of Religious Education.

PSHE

The PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) Education at Woodside prepares children for life, helping them have a self-awareness of who they truly are and understand and give them a sense of belonging in this  ever-changing world. The curriculum, that is accessible to all, develops the children into global citizens, with the relevant skill set to flourish now and later in life. Woodside wants all pupils to be effective thinkers and be able to confidently face challenges in a successful way. We facilitate the development of these skills by encouraging and teaching children how to build resilience, determination, independence and awareness of their own mental and physical health. By doing this, we allow our pupils to improve their emotional awareness, self-respect, concentration and focus. Throughout their school journey, Woodside will provide pupils the opportunity to learn about different cultures and become tolerant, understanding and respectful to all in a diverse society. Pupils are taught how to be effective communicators and how to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that they could face throughout their life.

Computing

The Computing Education at Woodside equips children with the knowledge, skills and understanding of computing that they will require throughout their lives. Throughout their primary school education, children will develop computational thinking skills and design and create their own digital content. This provides an exciting opportunity for children to engage in becoming digital creators rather than passive consumers. Woodside focuses on 3 main areas: digital literacy, information technology and computer science.

Spanish

The Modern Foreign Language Education at Woodside ensures that all pupils are taught to develop an interest in and knowledge of Spanish, in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We encourage children’s confidence in speaking Spanish with good intonation and pronunciation, and encourage children’s curiosity about the culture of the countries where the language is spoken. We also embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing of Spanish necessary to enable children to use and apply their learning creatively and spontaneously in a variety of contexts in order to lay the foundations for future language learning.

Physical Education

The Physical Education at Woodside provide all children with high quality sport provision, and understanding of long term healthy and active lifestyles. All children participate in daily physical activity, which equips them with skills for life and learning.. It is our vision that every pupil succeeds and achieves their potential as well as learning the importance of leading physically active lifestyles. We strive to inspire our pupils through fun and engaging PE lessons that are enjoyable, challenging and accessible to all. Through our teaching of PE, we provide opportunities for pupils to develop values and transferable life skills based around key areas of development including personal, social, cognitive, creative, physical, health and fitness skills. Weaved throughout are various opportunities to take part in healthy competition with the local community.

Music

The Music Education at Woodside nurtures and develops a passion for and commitment to a diverse range of musical activities. Children have the opportunity to appreciate and experience different types of musical traditions and their origins. During their music lessons children are immersed in different types of music to create original, imaginative, fluent and distinctive composing and performing work. throughout their musical journey, they gain a musical understanding underpinned by high levels of aural perception, internalisation and knowledge of music, including high or rapidly developing levels of technical expertise. The children have the ability to give precise written and verbal explanations, using musical terminology effectively, accurately and appropriately. The skills help our children to develop a passion for all types of musical compositions and culture, inspiring them to develop these skills out of school.