Key Stage 2 (Year 3 to Year 6)
Key Stage 2 is the second phase of the curriculum, building on the achievements and strengths from Key Stage 1.
In Key Stage 2 we cover the following subjects:
- English
- Maths
- IPC (Science, History, Geography, and International Learning)
- Arabic, Islamic and Qatar History
- Computing
- PE
- Music
- Art
- PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)
For the majority of each day, the children are based with their class teacher. In each class, the children are taught English, Maths, IPC (Science, Geography, History and Art), ICT (including Computing), and PSHE, with experienced specialist teachers covering the remaining areas of the curriculum (Arabic subjects, Music and PE). In Years 3 to 6, children will receive specialised teaching in Computing and Art. All children also visit the library once per week. Class and specialist teachers are responsible for monitoring students’ progress and ensuring that students achieve according to their ability and their personal targets.
English:
English is divided up into Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening. These are all different elements that are combined to help a learner acquire a new language. Teachers plan carefully using the National Curriculum for England (2014) standards to ensure that learners reach the expected attainment each year. In Year 6, our children are also taught study skills in preparation for their transition to the secondary school.
Reading:
At The Gulf English School we provide various opportunities for students to develop their reading skills, from reading one to one, in small guided reading sessions and whole class reading from Year 3 to Year 6 following the National Curriculum expectations. To develop reading, banded guided reading books are used to support guided reading sessions. Also, students build their fluency ability by reading age-appropriate texts by developing key
comprehension skills are taught Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explain, Retrieval, Summaries/ Sequence (VIPERS).
Writing:
Wherever possible, we link writing to real life experiences and encourage students to talk about their writing with meaning e.g. writing a recount about a visitor coming to school or going on a trip. For students to be confident writers, they need to speak confidently and at the Gulf English School. The Talk for Writing approach to teach writing primarily focuses on students gaining an immersed experience in learning model texts to producing an independent write. As well as learning about more complex sentence and text structure, writing for purpose, composing writing for maximum effect, grammar, and spelling.
Find out more information about Talk for Writing: What is Talk for Writing? - Talk for Writing (talk4writing.com)
Speaking and Listening:
We firmly believe that speaking and listening forms the basis for all language acquisition. Children are encouraged to explore language in real meaningful ways. We focus on the elements of a good speaker and listener and we teach these skills in all lessons, especially during our English lessons. We believe that when learners are confident in their own spoken language skills they will venture out and try new things. Children feel confident when they have a solid vocabulary and the skills to convey their knowledge in response to various tasks.
Maths:
Our Maths curriculum ensures that appropriate connections are made between the National Curriculum expectations on 'number', 'shape, space and measures', and 'handling data'. Our aim is for every student to be a mathematician, to use their knowledge of the four operations (+ - x ÷) skills to solve complex problems. Throughout KS2 Maths curriculum, we provide opportunities for students to discuss and present maths calculations methods. To further embed learning our learners are given opportunities to apply their skills and understanding in practical and meaningful ways, often making links with other areas of the curriculum, especially science.
Here is a Parent Guide with more information about White Rose Maths : Advice and guidance for parents | White Rose Maths (whiteroseeducation.com)
International Primary Curriculum
(Science, History, Geography, and International Learning)
Children learn about Science, History, Geography and develop their understanding of the wider world (International Learning) by following the International Primary Curriculum. We follow a clear route plan that ensures the IPC units taught in each year group cover the appropriate National Curriculum standards for these subjects. The IPC structure for learning allows all students to explore their prior knowledge of a particular subject before starting a learning process that allows them to gain a deeper understanding of the area they are learning about before reaching an ‘exit’ point where children will be encouraged to share their learning with a wider audience, which often includes parents.
ICT and Computing
At The Gulf English School, ICT is used to support learning throughout the curriculum. Every class has an interactive whiteboard, access to class Microsoft Surface Pros as well as computers in the library, and a dedicated ICT suite of computers. Traditional ICT skills teaching includes Internet research and digital citizenship, word processing, and creating presentations. We use a range of interactive educational websites to enhance learning across the curriculum which can be accessed from any computer with Internet access at school and at home. As well as this, dedicated computing lessons are taught in order to teach the essential new computing skills such as multimedia, databases, control and logic programming. These take place in the classrooms as well as in the ICT suite.
Creative Arts
Emphasis is placed on nurturing students' imaginative expression and fostering a love for the arts. The curriculum incorporates a diverse range of disciplines, including visual arts, music, drama, and dance, allowing students to explore and develop their creative potential. Through hands-on projects, students engage in activities that promote artistic skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The curriculum integrates cultural elements, exposing students to various artistic traditions and encouraging appreciation for diversity. Overall, the creative arts curriculum in our school aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals who appreciate and contribute to the rich tapestry of the arts.
PE
PE is taught by our onsite experienced, specialist subject teacher. Each lesson is planned using the National Curriculum 2014 for that subject and is delivered in a fun and exciting way. Students are encouraged to develop a love of sport and are often enabled to nurture a natural talent they did not know they had. Many of the skills gained in these areas can be enhanced through our wide range of sporting and creative extra-curricular activities.
Additional Support:
Students in need of additional support are identified on an on-going basis during the school year and we work closely with parents to ensure the correct and appropriate level of support is provided as needed. We work closely with all parents who have a child receiving support to ensure they are making progress and so that parents are clear about what skills their child is developing and need to continue to focus on, both in school and at home.
