While a strong emphasis is placed on the teaching of the core subjects
English, Maths and Science, much of the work covered in areas of the National Curriculum is in a cross-curricular, thematic or topic approach.
Science, Geography, History and Technology studies often combine to provide a stimulating topic based approach, which meet all the requirements of the National Curriculum. Social and personal education does not fall into traditional subject areas, so this is also included in cross-curricular Topic Work.
To support these foundation subjects and citizenship a variety of external initiatives have been introduced into school life. These include the school following the ECO Code (environmental issues) and in working alongside other schools throughout Europe (the Comenius Project).
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With Topic Work in mind classroom activities are supported with educational visits, residential visits and talks by speakers invited into school.
Computers are used in a variety of curricular areas to extend the children's knowledge and skills in word processing, art and design, data handling, simulation and control technology. The School has established an I.C.T Suite in the foyer and all children are timetabled to work alongside our I.C.T specialist and classteacher to learn a variety of computer skills. In addition to the Suite, classrooms have a computer system with interactive white boards to reinforce taught skills.
In addition, in 2007, we also purchased 30 laptops which are used in class rotation to support other areas of the curriculum.
Sport takes place both during the day as part of our normal physical education programme, and after school in the form of club and competitive team events against other schools. All children participate in P.E. and games and certain year groups have the opportunity to go swimming. In the summer every child is involved in our Sports Day events.
Children are invited to stay after school for variety of clubs. These include:
Football (3 teams) – school team players, all interested boys, all interested girls.
Netball – Y5/6 girls (and sometimes mixed).
Summer cricket and rounders.
Dance Club – (after school) all kS2 interested pupils; girls and boys.
New Multi Skills Club - (after school) for kS1 pupils; girls and boys.
Children displaying skill in sport have the opportunity to represent the school in a variety of events. During the Autumn and Spring terms the school enters the Wednesfield 11 a-side football league, as well as the 6 a-side and the indoor 4 a-side competitions. The netball team enter local league and tournament competitions.
As part of curriculum time, children have the opportunity to go swimming. Our aim is to ensure that every child is able to swim at least a length of the swimming baths by the time they leave school.
When the pupils enter the Junior Department they all have the opportunity to attend swimming lessons at Bilston Baths. The lessons cater for both beginners and more advanced swimmers, as the children are grouped accordingly. The lessons take place in either the shallow learner pool or in the larger public pool and members of staff from D’Eyncourt and qualified swimming instructors are available to teach the lessons.
To encourage the pupils’ swimming progress a series of awards are made available, which not only help to teach and perfect basic swimming strokes but also introduce safety aspects, water mobility, diving and life saving.
Permission is requested from parents for their children to attend swimming lessons. Once this permission is given, parents are asked to provide notes if they do not wish their children to attend swimming lessons at any time.
Skills introduced in the Early Years are singing, vocal work, playing instruments, performing, composing and listening with cross reference to other areas of the curriculum. In key stage 2 children already receive a structured and broadly based education in music, which incorporates the elements of singing, pitched and unpitched percussion, listening to and appraising a wide variety of music, composition and performance. Conventional notation begins
in Year 3.
Assemblies are held during the afternoon, four afternoons as a school (one being a class assembly in the Spring and Summer term), and one afternoon for infants only and another for a Junior Hymn practice. Pupils may be exempted from Assembly on grounds of religious beliefs. Parents should contact the Headteacher on this matter.
Ethnic morals and spiritual needs of our children are taken into account in both the classroom and the Assembly, occasionally by outside speakers.
Art and design is enjoyed throughout the school, we believe it is especially important as it stimulates pupil creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a way of understanding and responding to the world. Pupils are encouraged to use colour, pattern, texture, line, tone, shape, form, space and different materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. Children also have the opportunity to use a wide range of resources, including I.C.T., visits to galleries and museums and use videos and artefacts to stimulate discussion and inspire their art and design work.
The school has developed a full health policy and within this our attitude to sex education is made clear. All health issues will be discussed as they arise during the normal teaching programme, and will be part of the social, moral and personal education of the children.
A fuller version of our policy statement on sex education may be obtained from the school if required.
