The Northern Ireland Curriculum

The primary phase of the Northern Ireland Curriculum comprises of the following three stages; The Foundation Stage (Years 1 and 2), Key Stage 1 (Years 3 and 4) and Key Stage 2 (Years 5, 6 and 7).  By the time children start primary school they will have already ‘absorbed’ a huge amount of information and begun to develop dispositions to learning.  The curriculum aims to provide children with exciting opportunities to explore and develop their interests, talents and skills across each of the following six areas and to develop them as effective learners for life.

 

LANGUAGE & LITERACY (including Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing)

MATHEMATICS & NUMERACY (focusing on the development of mathematical concepts and numeracy across the curriculum)

THE WORLD AROUND US (focusing in the development of knowledge, skills and understanding in History, Geography, Science and Technology)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING (which includes Religious Education.  Focusing on emotional development, social skills, learning to learn, health, relationships and mutual understanding in the local and global community)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (focusing on the development of knowledge, skills and understanding through play and a range of physical activities)

THE ARTS (including Drama, Art & Design and Music)

Providing Equal Access for Every Child

In all aspects of teaching and learning, provision is made for pupils with different learning styles and abilities and thus maximising the full potential of all our pupils.

 

  When pupils are identified as having special  

  educational needs, they will receive additional

  help and support through individual or group

  learning programmes.  In Numeracy this help will

  be within their own classroom setting, while in

  Literacy, support is provided through withdrawal 

  groups with Mrs Bruce. 

 

We also have a very successful Reading Partnership Programme for Years 3-6 pupils which make an average reading age gain of six months in ten weeks.

 

Assessment for Learning

  Assessment is an integral part of the learning

  process.  Teachers build a comprehensive picture

  of the progress and learning needs of each child

  through on-going integrated assessment.  They can use assessment to plan future work and ultimately improve learning.  A wide range of assessment techniques are used including written work, classroom observation, class discussions, independent and group tasks, project work and diagnostic and/or standardised tests.  In accordance with the Northern Ireland Curriculum P5 for the first time used InCAS as a diagnostic tool and this will be extended into P6 next year.  In addition to our own regular testing, children are assessed at the end of Key Stage 1 (P4) and at the end of Key Stage 2 (P7).  Pupils are also encouraged to become actively involved in evaluating their own learning through peer and self-assessment.

Evidence from these activities is then used to identify pupil’s strengths and areas for improvement, planning the next stage of learning and reviewing set areas of work.

Recognising the valuable role parents play in their child’s education and to keep them fully informed of their progress, parents-teacher consultations are scheduled for the end of October and early February – as well as detailed Pupil Profiles in June.

 

Transferring to Secondary Education

The following are some of the schools to which we have sent our children in recent years:

  • Forthill College                                                 
  • Friends’ School
  • Hunterhouse College
  • Laurelhill Community College
  • Lisnagarvey High
  • Dromore High School
  • Methodist College Belfast
  • R.B.A.I.