At BWI, we have a creative curriculum that allows children to experience cross-curricular projects. The pupils are involved in their learning across themes, subjects and learning experiences. The curriculum is designed to support children's natural curiosity and stimulate their creativiity.

The creative curriculum aims to provide children with:

Literacy is at the heart of the creative curriculum. Children are taught through themes and they use their knowledge, skills and understanding of Literacy across a wide range of different situations.

In the Founation stage Literacy is included within the Early Learning goals. Pupils are taught and learn objectives from the Foundation Stage profile. In Key Stages 1 and 2 we use the primary framework for Literacy and fulfil the requirements of the English Natiional Curriculum (2000.) The children develop their ability to listen, speak, read and write for a range of purposes, so using language to learn and to communicate imaginatively.

Again in Key Stages 1 and 2 we follow the National Numeracy Strategy which consists of a numeracy session every day. This includes oral and mental maths, computational skills, using and applying knowledge and problem solving. The Foundation Stage curriculum provides children with all the basic skills for this later learning.

Our science programme follows the DCSF scheme of work. The topics are carefully planned so that the science is based on sound principles and processes. The emphasis throughout the programme is on first hand experience wherever possible and the value of questioning and drawing valid conclusions.

We follow the DCSF schemes of work for the following foundation subjects:

• Information and Communication Technology
• Design Technology
• History
• Geography
• Music
• Art
• Physical Education

Learning an instrument

At BWI there are opportunities for children to learn an instrument.  We have peripatetic teachers that come in once a week to teach small groups of children. We currently have children learning violin, viola, flute, guitar, drums and brass instruments. 

Although there are only a limited number of places for these music lessons, there are other opportunities within the school for children to develop their musical abilities. We have a school choir and in the spring term we are planning to start a recorder club which will initially be available for children in Key Stage 2.

Music  Events

Once a year we also hold a ‘young musician of the year’ competition where children perform in different categories to encompass all grades and instruments.

This Term we are celebrating the musical talent we have in school by giving children who play instruments the opportunity to perform in school assemblies.

Music in the curriculum

Music is taught as part of the curriculum across the school.   Children are taught through a variety of activities including, singing, listening to music, performing and composing.  They also have the opportunity to use a wide variety of percussion instruments during music lessons.  We aim to provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music. 

Many year groups are embedding music into the creative curriculum. In the Summer term the whole school took part in a song writing project. Every year group created a song linking to the creative curriculum and performed it in an end of term singing event which gave every child the opportunity to perform in front of the school.

We aim to be a Christian community where everyone can develop an understanding and tolerance of others. In accordance with this and with statutory requirements, collective worship is placed at the centre of the school's daily life. The spiritual, social, cultural and moral welfare of all children is of prime concern to us.

Christian values are integral to our ethos and teaching, and our daily acts of worship reflect this. In recognition of the particular affiliation and ethos of the school, all staff and pupils are expected to takepart in worship, although the right to withdraw does exist.

Close relations with the parish Church of St. Martin's are developed through the active participation of the priests in the life of the school, classroom teaching and school visits to the church. Priests, ministers, deacons and pastors from local churches are welcome visitors to our school.

The R.E. framework teaches children about Christianity and also provides knowledge of other faiths. It is expected by the governors that parents who choose BWI will support the R.E. and Collective Worship Policy, but the right to withdraw does exist.