The Curriculum Team is a Year 6 pupil led group which listens to and values every young person at St Hugh of Lincoln School.  They meet approximately once per fortnight to discuss and share ideas on topics linked to learning within the curriculum and wider school life. The aim of the group is to ensure all pupils have their voices heard. In addition, they aim to create impact and make positive change across the school.

Curriculum Update 14,10,22

After their first meeting, Science was chosen as they felt this was an area of the curriculum that they could enhance. They conducted a survey to gauge opinions of year groups 1-6 about their science learning.  This was obtaining ‘pupil voice’.   Pupil voice in schools means a whole-school commitment to listening to the views, wishes and experiences of all children and young people. It means placing value on what children and young people tell school staff about their experiences.  This has also taken place across other subjects by subject leads to help form next steps for further curriculum improvements.

Year 6 Curriculum Team 

Curriculum Update 17,11,22

The Curriculum Team paid a visit to our staff meeting so that they could feedback the Pupils’ voice to the teachers. It was really inspiring to listen to the team talk about the surveys they had conducted into what the children enjoy about our curriculum, what they find difficult and what they’d like to see more of. They are a really confident and articulate group of children. Lots of children enjoy learning new things and exploring ideas through practical work and they have discovered that the children enjoy practical experiments the most. Of particular interest to the teachers were the fantastic ideas for events that the team have. They have suggested a range of after school events such as a stargazing live outdoor event, something called ‘Be the Scientist’ where Year 6 would perform experiments for the whole school community to watch and a microscope activity in our school hall. There’s lots on their agenda so watch this space for further updates from the team. We will definitely be inviting them back to talk to us later in the year. Well done team!

Curriculum Update 30,11,22

The Curriculum Team have been busy again this week observing teaching within Science lessons.  From their survey of children across the school to gain 'pupil voice' on ways to enhance science learning across the school, they subsequently fed back to all teaching staff during a staff meeting some areas they would like to see more of within science lessons.  Some of these were making sure all children understood vocabulary, giving enough time within lessons to finish experiments, allowing children to choose their own groups as well their being plenty of practical experiments.  The first teacher observed, Year 4 teacher, Mr Davies successfully included all the areas the team were looking for within his Science lesson, as the children in his class investigated how changes in the environment can affect animals.   After the observation he commented on how useful it was to get feedback from the Curriculum Team about what children felt made a great science lesson, and would include these ideas in future lessons also.  The team are observing other teachers across the school and are enjoying their active role in helping to shape the science curriculum and the way it is delivered. 

 

Curriculum Update 9,12,22

The team have been busy researching and creating a science home learning sheet for children to complete over the Christmas holidays.  They included quick and fun investigations that can be completed at home with limited materials.  This was linked to the area if the survey that children completed recently.  Please see attachment below for the sheet, and if you complete one, remember to send pictures to info@sthugh-of-lincoln.surrey.sch.uk of your fun science learning at home!

Curriculum Update 3,2,23

The team have been busy preparing for the 2023 St Hugh of Lincoln Science Fair. This whole school home learning project asks children to complete an investigation and present this on A3 card to show the rest of the school.  On Tuesday 14th March all work is displayed within school for all children to view.  Mrs Grace, Mr Davies and the curriculum team will then select a number of KS1 and KS2 winners to receive a prize.  Some of the KS2 winners will then be invited to join other Xavier schools at the grand final which is being held at the Royal Holloway University, Egham.  This will be a fantastic opportunity to meet scientists who are showcasing their research and see some of the other schools entries.  See letter below for further information.

Curriculum team members are now preparing an assembly to present to the school what will include a science experiment that could be completed at home.  This will help further support children with ideas as to how an exciting scientific experiment can be undertaken with a few simple resources.  They plan to upload the pictures onto the curriculum page to allow people to view this as home, so watch this space for the next update!

Curriculum Update 10,2,23

The Curriculum Team ran an assembly with Mr Davies today about the Science Fair the school will be running on Tuesday 14^th March.  They gave details of the home learning competition along with a live demonstration of an experiment the children might like to try at home.  They also explained where the information about the competition could be found on the school website.  The school were mesmerised as the group showed them how precipitation occurred using food dye, oil and shaving foam.  It was great to see the curriculum team demonstrate and clearly explain  this scientific process, and how this could be a fantastic home project that could be submitted for the competition.  Well done Curriculum Team!

 

Curriculum Update 17,3,23

The St Hugh of Lincoln 2023 Science Fair has taken place this week.  It was lovely to see some of the amazing work produced across the school.  There were examples of detailed investigations that had taken place covering all areas of the science curriculum.  There were also many research projects that centred on famous scientists and their discoveries.  Children across the school were given the time to visit the fair and then later in the week parents, relatives and friends were invited in to see some of the great work produced.  The Curriculum Team have worked hard to help judge some of the entries and produced posters to encourage parents to visit during the after school session.  Well done team! 

We look forward to taking some of the winning KS2 projects to the grand final at Royal Holloway University later this month when the children will have the opportunity to look at other projects produced by other schools and visit some of the exhibits that are run by people working in the field of science.

Curriculum Update 30,6,23

The Curriculum team have been busy researching famous scientists and enjoyed sharing their information to the whole school during the Friday morning collective worship.  Over the course of the week, they have identified a variety of scientist that they feel had made a great impact to modern living.  They shared information on Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Jane Goodall and many more.  They did this with great clarity and the children found it interesting to learn about some of these famous scientists and how they have contributed to society through their work.  Great work Curriculum team!