Kettering Science Academy Primary Phase has recently implemented a Creative Curriculum. The underpinning principles of our Creative Curriculum are committed to providing quality and excellence through an exciting, stimulating environment that stretches and develops the whole child.

We believe that every child in our school, through Creative Curriculum principles, will be able to develop the necessary skills needed to progress into the Secondary Phase and the skills they need to succeed as lifelong learners.

An important feature of the curriculum is that our children are responsible for planning their own learning: their sense of achievement is increased as they work towards goals they have chosen themselves. This also helps them develop an evaluative attitude towards, and a sense of pride in, their work and the capacity to learn how to focus on areas to improve.

Through the Creative Curriculum we aim to raise standards. Primary education is not only about targets and results in league tables (it is much more than that): we believe that by developing skills in a stimulating, enjoyable environment, we help children develop as individuals.

We want children to have a memorable experience at Kettering Science Academy to encourage and inspire them to achieve in life and to aim to exceed their potential. We aim to foster the attitude of wanting to learn as well as needing to learn, not just for their primary career, but for life.

Read Write Inc

Within the primary phase we use the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their literacy. RWI is a method of learning centred round letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.

When using RWI to read the children will:

• learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts.
• learn to read using Fred Talk
• read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
• show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions

When using RWI to write the children will:

• learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds
• learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk
• write simple sentences
• compose stories based on picture strips
• compose a range of stories based on writing frames.

Mathematics

Mathematics teaches children how to make sense of the world around them through developing their ability to calculate, reason and solve problems.  It enables children to understand relationships and patterns in both number and space in their everyday lives.  Kettering Science Academy uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in mathematics.

 Our principal aims are:-

• To promote the enjoyment of learning through practical activity, exploration and discussion

• To promote confidence and competence with numbers and the number system

• To develop the ability to solve problems in a range of contexts

• To explore features of shape and space and develop measuring skills in a range of real life situations

• To ensure that children understand the importance of mathematic in everyday life

During our daily lessons we encourage children to ask as well as answer mathematical questions. They have the opportunity to use a wide range of resources, such as number lines, number squares, digit cards and small apparatus to support their work.  ICT is regularly used  in lessons as a tool for modelling ideas and methods as well as  for practising and revising skills.  Wherever possible, we encourage children to apply mathematics to everyday situations.