Cavendish CE Primary School – Our Curriculum Statement
At Cavendish, we have carefully shaped our inclusive curriculum so that it is accessible, encouraging and appropriately challenging for all learners, enabling every pupil to feel empowered and valued. Rooted in our Christian values — we love, we learn, and we belong — our curriculum nurtures a deep sense of connection, fosters a passion for lifelong learning, and promotes compassion, respect and care within our close-knit school community.
Our Curriculum Drivers
Our pupils’ backgrounds, our culture, and our calm, supportive climate for learning provide the key drivers that underpin all areas of our curriculum:
Literature – We aim for all children to develop a deep love of and appreciation for literature. Through rich vocabulary, high-quality texts and meaningful discussions, pupils learn to interpret, understand, and apply language in powerful and purposeful ways.
Community – As a small, community-led Church of England school, we place Cavendish at the heart of village life. We cherish strong links with local families, the church, and wider community groups, ensuring that pupils understand the importance of belonging, service and shared responsibility.
Creative and Outdoor Learning – We pride ourselves on a creative, innovative curriculum that embraces physical activity, outdoor learning and first-hand experiences. Our beautiful rural setting inspires children to explore, imagine and engage with God’s world.
Responsibility – Through growth mind-set and metacognition, we teach pupils how to learn. Children are supported to self-reflect, develop independence, and recognise themselves as capable, resilient learners.
Challenge and Enquiry – We encourage our pupils to embrace challenge and to approach learning with curiosity. Through collaborative problem-solving and thoughtful questioning, children learn to take the next steps confidently and enthusiastically.
A Curriculum with a Balanced Focus
At Cavendish, we believe that every child should experience success and feel the joy of achievement across a wide range of subjects. Our curriculum provides a rich balance of academic learning and personal development, giving equal importance to core and foundation subjects.
We place high value on physical and mental wellbeing, and our curriculum is designed to promote positive health, resilience and emotional literacy.
Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development — together with a strong programme of personal development — underpins all our work, reflecting our Christian foundation and commitment to developing the whole child.
We thoughtfully balance the requirement for pupils to reach national expectations in core subjects with our aim of offering a wide range of enriching experiences. Alongside academic progress, we champion a vibrant arts curriculum. Carefully mapped progression in Art, Design & Technology, Dance and Music (see Music Development Plan) allows children to develop and apply their creative skills across all subjects. As a result, our children flourish both academically and personally.
A Curriculum Organised for Depth
We define progress as the widening and deepening of essential knowledge, skills, understanding and behaviours.
Rather than simply covering content, we revisit key concepts over time so that children build deeper, more connected understanding. Pupils are supported to think more critically and apply knowledge in increasingly sophisticated ways.
Our progression structure supports pupils in moving from:
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Working Towards – following instructions with support
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Expected – applying skills with growing independence and decision-making
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Greater Depth – demonstrating multi-step thinking, reasoning and justification
This approach ensures that learning becomes secure, thoughtful and meaningful.
Children at the Heart of Our School
At Cavendish, children are truly at the centre of everything we do. We believe every child is unique, gifted and precious. We nurture confidence, encourage perseverance, and inspire pupils to develop a positive mind-set where mistakes are stepping stones to success.
Daily opportunities for growth mind-set and metacognition help children understand how they learn and build resilience.
What We Want Children at Cavendish to Experience
We aspire for every child at Cavendish CE Primary School to benefit from:
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A curriculum with knowledge and vocabulary at its heart
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A rich, diverse curriculum that helps pupils see the world from multiple perspectives
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A secure foundation of knowledge that enables meaningful application of skills
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Opportunities to embed key skills and express learning in varied, creative ways
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Challenge, support, and encouragement to think critically and creatively
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A chance to delve deeper into learning, building on skills year by year
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A curriculum that responds to pupil voice, school data and the changing world
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Teaching that promotes healthy lifestyles, physically and mentally
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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural experiences woven throughout school life
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A strong sense of British Values, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment rooted in respect, tolerance and community
Please see our class pages for a detailed curriculum plan.