Curriculum

The curriculum at Olive School is designed to foster thought, curiosity and a desire for learning in all children regardless of their backgrounds, strengths and needs. The curriculum will provide a solid foundation for future learning ensuring that the key skills in English and Mathematics are taught well through creative and enjoyable lessons.

The curriculum will operate at three levels and will address all pupils’ academic, personal and social development.

In line with the Star Quality Standards, the curriculum actively promotes equality for all through both its content and delivery. Full details are contained in the Annual Equalities Statement.

We aim to ensure that all pupils have access to the curriculum and are not disadvantaged by any disabilities or special educational needs. Full details are contained in the SEND Information Report, Policy and Guidance.

Educational Excellence

Educational excellence is fundamental to our educational philosophy. We are committed to providing a rich, sequential curriculum that will provide our pupils with an outstanding foundation preparing them for their secondary education.

Alongside the National Curriculum, the ‘Core Knowledge Sequence UK’ (CKS) is used as a springboard for additional knowledge-rich learning in Science, History, Geography and Art and Design.  The CKS is an engaging and exciting source of lesson content and compliments the curriculum, ensuring a coherent and cumulative approach to building pupils’ knowledge across the curriculum as a whole.  This equips them to make sense of the world around them, enabling them to become resilient independent learners, problem-solvers and critical thinkers and therefore preparing them for the important exam years at secondary school.

At the Olive School, we follow the Read Write Inc scheme in line with the phonics curriculum for EYFS and Year 1. Year 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 follow the Oxford Reading Tree scheme in line with the reading curriculum.

Character Development

Concurrently with the core academic level, pupils will engage in the character development element of the curriculum, which will include a programme of Physical Education, sports, cultural, creative and other extra-curricular activities. This will help pupils develop key personal skills and aptitudes including leadership, oral communication, self-confidence, personal effectiveness, entrepreneurship, self-actualisation, problem-solving and enhanced emotional intelligence. These curricular dimensions of learning will be at the heart of the school.

Service to Communities

The curriculum for this element will be structured to help the development of citizenship, social enterprise and community service and will be delivered using a ‘project based learning’ approach. Older pupils will be expected to support the development of younger pupils in their phase group which would prepare them for a wider understanding and engagement in society as they move to the secondary phase of their education. A planned programme of circle time activities, reciprocal teaching, reading buddies, assemblies, class council meetings and peer support activities will provide insights into social education and experiential community activities.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum Overviews / LTP

If you would like to find out more about our curriculum, please contact the school on 01254 54070 to speak to our Principal, Smeena Riaz.

Homework

At The Olive School homework tasks are set for pupils with the purpose of supporting ongoing progress and achievement of all pupils.

We view the purpose of homework as:

  • Developing the home school partnership.
  • Consolidating and reinforcing skills and understanding.
  • Exploiting resources for learning in the home.
  • Developing skills of organisation and self-discipline.
  • Preparing pupils for the demands of secondary education.
  • Extending school learning.

Homework is issued every Friday and must be returned by Wednesday. Pupils will receive one literacy and one numeracy based homework each week. Children must read at least 10 minutes per day.

Parent Workshops

Please click on the links below to view our latest parent workshops:

Curriculum Newsletters

Please click on the links below to view our curriculum newsletters from the autumn term:

Year 6 SATs Revision Resources


To find out more about Core Knowledge UK, click here.
To find out more about the National Curriculum, click here

The Olive School, Blackburn

Latest News

Olive Blackburn’s titanic trip to museum

Year 6 pupils at The Olive School, Blackburn relived an enthralling journey through the little-known aspects of the Titanic disaster to help them with their English studies.

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