Sugar Hill Curriculum Intent
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” ― W.B. Yeats
At Sugar Hill we provide an ambitious, inclusive curriculum that allows children to express themselves clearly and confidently, and that equips them with the knowledge, skills, cultural capital and aspirations to succeed in life. As a result, the curriculum is rich in knowledge and designed to meet the needs of the children in our school.
Our key drivers in designing a curriculum for the children of Sugar Hill:
Reading, Reading, Reading!!
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Our absolute determination in Sugar Hill is to allow all children, no matter what their need or background, to be able to read well, be led to magical places listening to stories and take huge pleasure in books. Therefore, a rigorous and sequential reading curriculum is in place.
Oracy- speaking is key!
“The world belongs to the articulate.” ― Anon
Speaking, questioning, debating, skills that are as important as reading, writing and maths. We want to teach our children to use spoken language as well as teaching them to be fabulous writers, brilliant mathematicians and avid readers.
Excellent oral communication skills are so important throughout life and in order to embed this, lessons include well-structured and high quality “talk”.
A love of all things cultural
The question of cultural capital.
“Each child has a spark inside him or her. It is the responsibility of the people and institutions around them to find what would ignite that spark” ― Howard Gardner
The experiences we will offer through an education at Sugar Hill will show children not only their local heritage but will also extend their knowledge of the rich and diverse life outside of their town and to our vast historical legacy.
“Knowledge is power. Education is the premise of progress in every society and in every family” ― Kofi Annan
Our curriculum is knowledge rich, designed to be remembered in detail. We do not simply “do the Romans” children are expected to remember key people, vocabulary and dates. It is planned so that children retain information and can return to the subject well beyond the year it was taught, knowledge that can be built on.
Good isn’t good enough
“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play” ― John Cleese
“The race for quality has no finish line” ― Anon
The expectations of what the children produce from the curriculum are very high. This must be in every subject, whether it be written work in Literacy or RE, pieces of art or a performance in music. This is a vital skill for life.