Our Curriculum at Kirkham & Wesham Primary School

Intent

At Kirkham & Wesham Primary School, our curriculum is carefully planned, ambitious and inclusive, designed to ensure that all children can know more, remember more and do more as they move through the school.

Our curriculum is theme-led, with each term built around key enquiry questions that actively engage pupils and help them make sense of the world around them. These themes allow children to make purposeful links between subjects, concepts and experiences so that learning is meaningful, connected and memorable.

We aim to:

  • Build knowledge and skills systematically over time

  • Enable pupils to make connections within and across subjects

  • Develop confident, curious learners who can apply what they know

  • Prepare children effectively for the next stage of education and life beyond school

Our curriculum is designed so that learning starts with the familiar and gradually expands to the local, national and global, ensuring pupils understand their place in the wider world.

Implementation

Our curriculum is implemented through carefully sequenced, theme-led units across each term. Each unit is driven by a key question that provides purpose and direction, encouraging curiosity, discussion and deep thinking.

Teachers use:

  • High-quality explanations and modelling

  • Carefully chosen vocabulary and retrieval opportunities

  • Cross-curricular links to strengthen understanding

  • A balance of knowledge, skills and enquiry

Assessment is used thoughtfully to:

  • Check pupils’ understanding

  • Identify gaps and misconceptions

  • Inform teaching and targeted support

We value strong home–school links, recognising that learning is most effective when parents and carers are involved. Homework, online platforms and shared expectations support pupils in reinforcing and applying their learning beyond the classroom.

Our curriculum is supported by a strong culture of reflection and improvement. Staff regularly review and refine planning, teaching approaches and resources to ensure that learning remains relevant, engaging and effective.

Curriculum Review:
We are currently undertaking a whole-school curriculum review to further strengthen progression, coherence and consistency.
The full revised curriculum will be released in Autumn 2026, with some revised units already being taught and embedded across the school.

Impact

As a result of our curriculum, pupils:

  • Build a secure and connected body of knowledge

  • Retain learning over time and apply it confidently

  • Use subject-specific vocabulary accurately

  • Make links between concepts, subjects and real-world contexts

  • Develop curiosity, resilience and independence as learners

By the time pupils leave Kirkham & Wesham Primary School, they are:

  • Well prepared for secondary education

  • Confident in their understanding of the world

  • Equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for future success

Our curriculum ensures that success is achievable for all pupils, regardless of background or starting point.

Please visit our year group pages for further information about specific curriculum content and learning journeys.