Curriculum Overview – Striving for Excellence

At Great Kingshill CE Combined School, our curriculum is ambitious, coherently planned, and sequenced to ensure all pupils—regardless of background or ability—achieve exceptionally well. It is designed to ignite curiosity, foster a love of learning, and equip children with the knowledge, skills, and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.

Our curriculum is rooted in high expectations and underpinned by strong foundations in English, Mathematics, and PSHE, which support excellence across all subjects. From the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to the end of Key Stage 2 (KS2), our knowledge-rich and pupil-centred approach ensures breadth, depth, and progression. Learning is meaningful, memorable, and engaging, with a clear focus on developing the whole child.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In EYFS, children benefit from a rich, language-focused environment where exploratory play and structured teaching are seamlessly integrated. High-quality phonics teaching begins in Preschool and continues through Reception, laying the groundwork for early reading success. Children are regularly assessed using Development Matters, enabling staff to tailor learning and ensure all pupils are on track to meet the Early Learning Goals. Core areas such as early mathematics and literacy are taught in small, focused groups, ensuring rapid progress for all.

Key Stage 1 (KS1)

In KS1, pupils build on their early foundations through a rigorous and well-structured programme of daily phonics, reading, writing, and mathematics. In Year 2, pupils transition to daily Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) lessons, closely linked to writing outcomes. The wider curriculum is delivered through carefully planned, cross-curricular topics that promote deep understanding and engagement. Discrete teaching of subjects such as PE, Computing, and RE ensures fidelity to the school’s agreed syllabus and subject-specific progression.

Key Stage 2 (KS2)

KS2 pupils experience a broad and balanced curriculum that continues to prioritise core academic excellence while nurturing creativity, resilience, and independence. Mornings begin with enriching sessions in Music, MFL, PSHE, or Compass for Life, setting a purposeful tone for the day. English, Maths, and Guided Reading are taught daily, with systematic and progressive SPaG instruction embedded throughout. The wider curriculum is delivered through sequenced, knowledge-rich units that build on prior learning and prepare pupils for the next stage of education.