Our curriculum extends beyond the National Curriculum and includes a wide range of enriching experiences and opportunities both within and beyond the school day. This includes an extensive programme of after-school clubs, that support the core curriculum offer whilst also extending the range of children’s experiences (Cultural Capital). A primary focus of our curriculum is to raise aspirations, engender a sense of personal pride in achievement, and provide a purpose and relevance for learning.
The school takes pride in providing a highly inclusive environment, where learners demonstrate high levels of enjoyment in their education and make very good progress across the curriculum. Children at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for greater depth and those who can struggle are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.
In addition to our exciting and stimulating cross-curricular themes, we also provide further opportunities to enhance children’s learning wherever possible. These include:
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we have had fewer opportunities than in previous years to take part in Educational Visits but we have taken every opportunity to engage with these and hope to undertake even more of these in the future:
Throughout the year we have been able to engage with a number of exciting additional opportunities such as Cookery lessons provided by Herts Catering and Bikeability lessons to improve children's safety on the roads in our community. Throughout the year we also have theme weeks such as STEAM week, Science Week and World Book Day which are woven into the curriculum and extend the breadth and balance of opportunities we offer our children.
Our Pupil Cabinet is made up of Year 6 children, who were elected through a whole school vote at the beginning of the year, after having given speeches at Lower and Upper School assemblies.
The Pupil Cabinet meets on a half-termly basis to discuss important matters that arise from the Pupil Parliament. The elected children are given the responsibility to represent the pupil voice in meetings with senior leaders and ultimately help shape the direction of the school.
This year's Pupil Cabinet is made up of:
Amber
Amina
Antonia
Becca
Brayden
Charlie B
Charlie I (Vice Chairperson)
Gianna
Jess
Layla
Maya (Chairperson)
Mitchell
Olive
Paris
Perla
Rebecca
Shikana
This year, Dr Christie is supporting the Pupil Cabinet with their review of the Pupil Parliament outputs and what to take forward to the Senior Leadership Team.
Clubs Area
Our weekly 30 minute band sessions happen within the school day. We look after everything and even supply all of the instruments. It could not be easier. Band members are grouped by similar ages and year groups. Band sizes are capped at nine to ensure everyone receives the very best learning experience. We create an environment where every child can flourish.
Please visit our website to sign up www.irockschool.com
All children take part in active Sports lessons. We also use our PE and Sport's premium to fund games and activities during break times and after school. Here are some of the sporting events our children have been able to take part in this year:
On Thursday 30th June we held our whole school annual Sports Day. All our pupils from Nursery to Year 6 took part in a number of different races throughout the day. Each and everyone of our pupils represented themselves extremely well and also demonstrated our school values. It was amazing to see so many of our Leys friends and family coming out to support our event. Over lunchtime we hosted a whole school family picnic which was incredibly well attended. It has been a long time coming, seeing the return of our entire school community together smiling and having fun. Many thanks to everyone who made the day extremely successful. Our 2022 Sports Day was very competitive throughout, however House Asia prevailed marginally as our Champions!
Well Done.
It has been a fun and eventful Summer Term! We have had many celebrations, visitors and experiences including:
Look here to see photos of our experiences - Summer Term 2023
It has been an action packed Spring term! Yet again our children have been very busy; with visitors to school from the local police and fire brigade. We've had a school disco and fundraising days for the Earthquake appeal, Red nose day and not to mention our International Food Festival. On a sporting front we have had children participating in; Cup Stacking, Action Mats, Athletics, Rowing, Lacrosse, Dance, Gymnastics and Football. Some of our children have also been lucky to start our new iRock club, whilst others have been playing recorders or steel pans. We have celebrated World Book Day in our Pyjamas, everyone watched our Pantomime, Dick Whitington (Oh no we didn't! Oh yes we did!) and STEAM week has had a nautical theme. We have ended the term with Egg Hunting, History themed days and bulb planting in the community. Take a look at our newsletters and the photos above of some of the highlights from this term.
Please click here to view the photo gallery
What a fantastic Autumn term our pupils have had! As a school, we truly value enrichment activities and broadening our pupils' education through activities, visitors, out-of-school experiences and days out. At The Leys, we find this improves and supplements our curriculum and improves the experiences of our pupils. This term, we have taken part in many activities: bikeability; manor adventure; space centre trips; history fairs; Shuttleworth museum trip; harvest festival; Christmas carolling and more! Take a look at our photos to share our experiences.
At The Leys, our teachers know that the key to successful learning is engaging pupils and maintaining their interest. We are constantly finding new and innovative ways to teach traditional subjects that can be challenging. Since Covid 19, we have been campaigning to keep our pupils even more healthy by increasing their physical activity both indoors and outdoors through the school day.
We call this Time to Move!
Click here to view a range of activities we offer our pupils
At the Leys Primary School, we believe in cultural capital as the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, and skills, gained over time through different experiences and opportunities. Children draw upon these to demonstrate their cultural awareness, knowledge and competence. It is one of the key ingredients a child will draw upon to be successful in society, their career and the world of work.
Cultural Capital gives a child power. It helps them achieve goals, become successful, and rise up the social ladder without necessarily having wealth or financial capital. At The Leys, we recognise that for a child to aspire and be successful academically and in the wider areas of their lives, they need to be given rich and sustained opportunities to develop.
There are six key areas of development that are interrelated and cumulatively contribute to a child’s Cultural Capital:
1. Personal Development
2. Social Development
3. Physical development
4. Spiritual development
5. Moral Development
6. Cultural development