Key Stage 2 Curriculum

English

The English curriculum promotes core competencies that are essential for linguistic development, including grammar, handwriting, spelling and comprehension. Children hone their abilities during explicit lessons and various activities throughout the school week. 

Opportunities for speaking and listening are provided to build confidence in communicating, such as year group and key stage debates, assemblies, spelling competitions, and presentations for parents.

Our aim is for all children to develop a love of reading. Guided reading occurs daily in class and is set for homework, and children are encouraged to read books independently. 

Mathematics

Each term in Mathematics, students explore new concepts and review topics already covered to increase understanding. 

The concepts covered at this stage include number and place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement and geometry (including position, direction, properties of shapes, statistics and problem-solving). Ratios, proportions and algebra are introduced in years 5 and 6.

To encourage assimilation of key topics, lessons include written and practical activities, and we use Numicon to support number understanding. Careful planning helps children to advance at a pace suitable to their development. 

Digital Literacy & Computing

Chepstow House students gain some of the most in-demand skills in the 21st century; these include digital literacy, which helps children use modern technologies in ways that can lead to outstanding results in class and beyond. The computing curriculum is both varied and flexible to make room for new technologies; thus, we ensure students stay at the forefront of relevant developments in the digital world. 

Building on lessons from previous years, Key Stage 2 students become increasingly adept in the use of digital technology, including in coding, Microsoft Office software, and various creative and collaborative tools. In structured computing lessons and across the curriculum, we teach students about a range of core concepts, such as e-safety, online communication, the production of digital content (which includes the use of text, image, sound and animation software), data and computational thinking. 

In digital literacy as in other areas, we take safety very seriously. Using technology in safe, respectful and responsible ways is a common theme throughout Chepstow House. In addition, we use Microsoft SharePoint and Teams for linking work in class with homework as well as for celebrating our students’ accomplishments.

Humanities

Our engaging humanities curriculum helps children to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world by employing a range of skills linked to history and geography. Focal points in the geography syllabus include: places, locations and patterns; environmental change and other processes; and the concept of sustainable development. In history lessons, we encourage our students to consider historical events, their causes and consequences, and compare ways of life in different time periods. As a result, children grow knowledgeable on various topics, such as Pre-Roman Britain, the Vikings and Early Civilisations, and explore case studies involving local and recent British history, such as The Battle of Britain.

Design & Technology

Design & Technology lessons provide students with a vibrant, dynamic environment in which to develop their creative skills and become budding designers. Through exciting, project-based work, they learn to undertake background research, review design criteria, devise and produce product prototypes, apply practical skills and techniques to create finished products and finally assess their work. In years 3 to 6, we challenge them to describe the purpose of products, create a design specification, model ideas using prototypes and patterns, utilise a range of tools and materials, follow safety and hygiene procedures, apply various finishing techniques and critically evaluate the quality of their work, including design and manufacture.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education

A strong focus on Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education is integral to the welfare of each student and serves as a critical foundation for success in later life. Through a carefully planned PSHE syllabus, we teach students how to flourish in the wider world, build positive relationships and maintain their health and wellbeing. 

At the heart of PSHE lessons is the promotion of courage, resilience, core values and an understanding of emotions, relationships, and the ingredients for success. We give children the opportunity to explore different attitudes, values and beliefs, and to develop the skills and strategies to manage issues that may arise in their lives. We also cover bullying and how to tackle it. 

We also provide lessons in Relationships & Health Education (RHE) as part of the PSHE curriculum to instruct students in the value of respect, love, care, self-respect and empathy – in the context of trusting, stable and loving relationships – at appropriate age levels. Years 3 and 4 cover stereotypes, positive relationships and the main differences between boys and girls (including an overview of body parts), and the difference between acceptable and unacceptable physical contact. Explicit Relationships and Sex Education lessons take place in years 5 and 6, and teach students about physical development, including puberty (years 5 and 6) and reproduction (year 6), in addition to managing their emotions.

Outside the classroom, children enjoy opportunities to learn the value of money, including real-life scenarios like the school fair and charity fundraising events. Mental wellbeing is taken very seriously at Chepstow House – in PSHE as well as throughout school life. To promote children’s wellbeing, our Mental Wellbeing Lead works closely with all members of the school community.

Religious Education

Respect and tolerance for different faiths are integral to our school’s value system, and are firmly embedded in our Religious Education syllabus. In Key Stage 2, children continue to build upon previous years' learnings by extending their knowledge and understanding of world religions. Our broad syllabus ensures pupils become knowledgeable about a wide variety of subjects, such as: beliefs and values; the significance of key leaders; worship and sacred places; religious symbols and expression; celebrations and festivals; inspirational people; and religion, family and community.

Reasoning

Explicit Reasoning lessons help children to develop a deeper understanding of the strategies that they can use when solving a variety of challenges. By participating in verbal, non-verbal and spatial activities, our students gain numerous skills related to reasoning, such as justifying their approaches, providing clear verbal explanations and solving written challenges both on paper and online. Our cross-curricular approach aims to improve students’ outcomes across disciplines by linking reasoning to other subject areas – for example, our development of language in English or spatial awareness in Design & Technology.