Our Vision

George Romney is a safe and happy place to learn.

Our children are nurtured as individuals with different abilities and talents which are celebrated and developed.

Our stimulating and reflective curriculum inspires children to ask questions and develop positive attitudes to learning, both now and for the future.

 

Events Calendar

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Curriculum Subjects

Our curriculum provides the children at George Romney Junior School with a broad, balanced and relevant educational experience.

Breadth
The world is a diverse, rapidly changing entity with a vast range of people, places and ideas to explore and understand. Here at George Romney, we have sought to develop a curriculum that exceeds the National Curriculum framework and broadens the minds, expectations and aspirations of the children and the families here at our school. Our aim is to create as many memorable learning experiences as possible for the children whilst ensuring we are also developing their independent and interdependent learning abilities through a range of experiences in a wide range of contexts.

  

 
As well as developing skills and knowledge about our world and how to successfully live in it; our priorities also include:
Aspiration – we aim to provide experiences which motivate the children to grasp the wide range of possibilities for a positive future.
Inspiration – we aim to provide experiences which inspire a range of learning approaches: independence, resourcefulness, creativity, resilience as well as enjoyment!
Responsibiity – we aim to provide experiences which help the children develop a real understanding of their local, national and international environments as well as their role and responsibilities for improving them.
 
We have designed our curriculum to ensure strong academic progress as well as a deepening their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding of themselves and others in the world. A broad spectrum of enriching activities allow us to celebrate the different strengths of the individual children. We want them to develop a sense of pride in their schievments. This in turn gives the children greater confidence and self-belief which we hope will enable them to live happy and fulfilled lives and make a positive contribution to our society, whilst achieving their individual goals and dreams.

   

 
Depth
We believe that progress is widening and deepening essential knowledge, skills, understanding and learning. We aim for all children to make strong progress during their time here with us at George Romney.
 
Our curriculum is successful because it sets high expectations for all children and the design of our curriculum allows staff to thoroughly explore different aspects of topics whilst also encouraging the review and revisiting of essential skills across the four year period.
 
Our curriculum and the teaching approaches used by all staff, ensure we are encouraging the use of higher order thinking to deepen and question their learning rather than simply acquire facts and information. We aspire to enable the children to form their own opinions, make their own informed decisions and apply this in later life.

Balance
At George Romney, we believe that every child should feel valued and experience the feeling of success in a wide range of curriculum areas. We believe the curriculum can impact on their self-belief, how they feel about themselves and how they in turn develop positive relationships with others. All this contributes to each child feeling positive, confident and ready to tackle challenge.
 
Our curriculum provides a good mix of academic and personal development opportunities, placing equal importance on core and foundation aspects of learning.
Physical and emotional health and well-being are critical in the positive development of the whole person and our curriculum aims to meet those needs. A positive mindset, Philosophy for Children and SERIS support are carefully planned into and alongside classroom learning.
 
Our balanced approach to the curriculum is not at the expense of high standards. High expectations for all and supporting and enabling as many children as possible to reach the national expectations and beyond; is a fundamental role of the staff. Our full and rich curriculum with its excellent range of experiences ensures that all children at George Romney make strong progress both academically and personally. It ensures they develop a fascination of the world and equips them with the abilities to learn for life either individually or collectively and be happy, proud individuals who make a positive contribution to their society.
 

   


Each subject is detailed below, simply click on the title to view the relevant information.

 

The Science curriculum at George Romney has been completely redesigned in recent years. We have developed a more exciting, practical and fun programme of work which is relevant to the 21st century and has strong links with other areas of our curriculum; including ICT, mathematics and literacy.

 

The lower and upper phases of school study 5 topics over a year, one of which is an indepth study extending over a full term. Within these topics we develop our planning from national curriculum objectives. Lessons develop scientific knowledge and understanding; and pupils develop their use of specific scientific vocabulary.

 

Investigations enable children to test a hypothesis or find out answers to questions for themselves. They have many opportunities to develop skills working collaboratively on group tasks taking different responsibilities and roles.

 

Lessons also provide opportunities for outdoor learning, e.g. finding out how shadows change during the day and the use of our wildlife garden to investigate the natural environment. Lessons also provide opportunities for children to use a range of equipment in their measurements and observations, including IT software designed to log scientific data.

 

A year 6 pupil at school recently stated ‘I used to think Science was boring and I didn’t really like it at all! Now I love Science. We do such a lot of practical things and we record our work in lots of different ways which is brilliant!’

RE

In a global society it is essential that our children learn about the different cultures and religions they will meet in their lives. As a community junior school we follow the Local Authority Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

 

The syllabus for Cumbria explains not only Christian beliefs but also other world faiths. Of these, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism are studied in greater depth.

 

We aim to help the pupils understand and respect the views of others in our multicultural society. We try to encourage the children to look for similarities and differences between the major world faiths in a non-judgemental way.

 

Visits to the Manchester Jewish Museum, the Manjushri Buddhist Temple in Ulverston and various local churches are planned throughout the curriculum. When possible we invite individuals into school to speak to the children to allow them to learn from first-hand experience.

 

We have a daily Act of Worship. The themes covered are broadly Christian, with references to other important celebrations from major world religions. We also use SEAL topics, items from current affairs and themes which support our class-based learning in PSHE such as Anti-Bullying Week or Black History Month.

At George Romney we aim to encourage children to express ideas and feelings freely and communicate them to others using a variety of skills, techniques and medium, in both two and three dimensions.

 

Although the CUSP curriculum provides a basic structure; much of the work is cross-curricular, linking with themes covered in our curriculum learning journeys from around the globe. The children also consider the style and work of famous artists, responding practically and imaginatively to their work.

 

We use the local environment to stimulate ideas, especially National Art Day when the whole school embark on a variety of projects led by visiting professional artists. Groups of children have been taken to galleries whenever the opportunity has arisen and visiting artists have worked in school with various year groups.

 

We are often involved in community art projects such as the Ulverston Lantern Procession through our thriving and busy after school Art Club.

 

We are fortunate to have a kiln, enabling all year groups to work with clay. Art lessons take place in a specially equipped art room. The presentation and display of children’s work is given prominence throughout the school.

STEM

For several years, the school has been a part of the ‘Barrow Engineering Project’ which has enabled the children to look at particular science, technology, engineering and maths projects. We have developed and maintained strong links with BAE and other business' in the local area which further support our belief in real-life, relevant learning. 

Over the years, Engineering Club have studied bridge design and built a working Greenpower Goblin Kit Car. Phase teams have organised special STEM activity days when they have designed, built and evaluated a range of powered models ranging from solar powered cars to wind up toys and pneumatic butterflies!

We have recently applied our knowledge of programming and coding and become involved in Junior LEGO League and First LEGO League competitions across the local area. As well as being a hge ammount of fun, these projects have taught the children important lessons in teamwork and communication both in the planning and presentation parts of their projects.













 

Everyone knows how essential it is for children to feel confident and be competent in the use of computers and technology in its many different formats...

 

Staff are skilled at the use of technology as a medium for teaching and learning. The use of interactive whiteboards, visualisers, slideshows, web-based resources, audio and video clips etc are all part of daily life in the classroom here at school. We invest in a range of computers and other devices that we hope will stimulate and engage the children in their learning as well as allow them to learn certain skills and applications that they will need in the future.

 

We currently teach skills in computing and programming through a range of topics and contexts and we aim to make clear cross curricular links to specific subjects such as maths and science when appropriate.

 

The children are encouraged to learn how to use Microsoft Office software and explore its use and application in different contexts. These skills are re-visited and developed over the years here at school. Children are encouraged to develop programming skills through the use of specific applications and progress onto programmable games and robots such as the Lego ‘Robolab’ buggies.

 

Safe use of the internet for research, communication and pleasure is another key element to our ICT and computing curriculum. Each year we conduct surveys into technology usage outside of school with all year groups and we have developed specific units of work linked to online safety and awareness. We inform parents on a regular basis about the various online learning resources we use here in school and can be accessed at home to support learning further.


Computing and ICT will remain a fundamental part of the curriculum here at George Romney and we strive to enrich and enthuse experiences and the children, using ICT to record and develop many different aspects of the learning.

Speaking, listening, reading and writing form the essential foundation of the whole curriculum and are the principal ways we communicate our thoughts, ideas and opinions.

 

English is one of the core subjects of the National Curriculum and is taught on a daily basis using a wide variety of teaching and learning styles. Children are taught in mixed ability classes and experience whole class collaborative learning, group work, paired and individual learning opportunities. We understand the importance of children developing life long learning skills.

 

We aim to provide a rich and varied English curriculum where children are inspired and stimulated by a wide range of quality texts on paper and on screen. We want them to be immersed in the rich language of different authors and encouraged to express themselves discuss their opinions in a variety of real life situations.

 

We strongly believe a love of reading enhances children’s lives and also equips them with the language and vocabulary to become successful writers. We teach children to enjoy reading individually, in guided group work and as a whole class.

 

ICT is used to enhance the pace of the lesson and their learning. Wherever possible cross curricular links are made to allow the children to import the knowledge from other subjects and export the skills and techniques of English to enable the children to understand the purpose and relevance of the subject. The teaching of spelling, handwriting and phonics is planned and delivered outside of the daily lessons.

At George Romney we believe a high quality mathematics education provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and a sense of excitement and curiosity about the subject.

 

The children are encouraged to explore the five main areas which are at the forefront of mathematics; number, measures, shape and space, data handling and using and applying. These areas are taught using a systematic and progressive approach advocated by the revised national numeracy strategy and utilising a scheme called ’Big Maths’.

 

’Big Maths’ aids children to use the times tables and number system more confidently and move from counting reliably to calculating fluently with all four number operations. Therefore, children are encouraged to tackle a problem with mental methods before using any other approach, as we place great emphasis on the learning of multiplication tables as they underpin many areas of maths and are essential in every day life.

 

To facilitate this, pupils are set according to ability, each set is taught the same area of mathematics at the same time, however each child studies these areas to different depths of understanding depending upon their individual capability. The setting system extends enormously the capabilities of the more mathematically able child, while providing more support for the child who needs consolidation.

 

The Maths lessons here are lively, practical and fun. The children are encouraged to independently use practical equipment such as cubes, hundred squares and number lines to support their learning and further their knowledge and understanding. Our classrooms are often busy and noisy during maths lessons as children are encouraged to discuss and work together on mathematical problems and investigations.

 

Opportunities are given to children to present their methods and reasoning using a wider range of mathematical language, diagrams and charts. Where appropriate, ICT is used to enhance learning either by staff to demonstrate and model concepts or by the children to explore and rehearse key skills with interactive resources.

A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning’

 

At George Romney the children have thoroughly enjoyed visiting our outdoor classroom throughout the year to support areas of the curriculum, discover seasonal change and enjoy learning and playing together.

 

The children have built reading dens, made story scenes, sung around a campfire, floated homemade boats on the pond, prepared and shared hot chocolate, planted trees, made natural artwork and invented their own versions of popular games such as hide and seek.

 

Through Forest Schools’ sessions we hope to encourage and foster:

  • Self Awareness

  • Self Regulation

  • Intrinsic motivation

  • Empathy

  • Good social communication skills

  • Independence

  • A positive mental attitude, develop self-esteem and confidence

The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences’

 

Everybody gets dirty, wet and muddy. Strong footwear and a change of clothes are necessary!

PE

In both curriculum time and during after school clubs, the children at George Romney are always working hard to improve their performance in a wide variety of activities and sports.

 

Our focus is to provide opportunities for all children and for as many children as possible to take part in, and enjoy sport. The children are encouraged to play a wide range of competitive team and individual sports as well as other activities to promote fitness and health. We take part in team competitions at local and county level.

 

We follow a two year rolling programme allowing us to provide a wider variety of sports and this ensures skills can be re-visited and developed. Children gain team work, participation and performance skills as well as specific sports skills in football, rugby, netball, tennis, hockey, rounders, cricket, multi-skills, athletics, orienteering, dance and gymnastics.

 

We have recently invested in Cyber Coach technology, which is an interactive media system for schools and is made up of virtual dance instructors with classes including Cheerleading, Ballet, Tai Chi, Step, Disco, Pilates, Yoga, Combat, Salsa, Hip Hop and Street Dance. We can link the screen to large dance mats which add a new level of interaction with the activities for the children!

At George Romney we believe that giving children the chance to learn a language allows them to gain insights into their own lives and those of others around the world, it promotes a wider cultural understanding and also improves all language and literacy skills.

 

French is our chosen language and we strive to give the children a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards learning a new language. French is taught in weekly sessions where we use a range of fun, interactive and multi-sensory approaches such as songs, action rhymes, games and stories.

 

The children are introduced to both the written and spoken language early on and are encouraged to communicate effectively in a secure and supportive environment.

 

In addition to this we also have an International week where each class in the school chooses and learns about a different country, culminating a ‘tour around the world’, where the children present their learning through a range of different medium, including cooking and food tasting, music, sport and art.

We start every September here in school with our'Good to be Me!' topic which involves the children reflecting on themselves as learners, how they learn best, what their individual skills and talents are and what they want to achieve in the coming year. We re-vist this topic along with many others during the course of the year through our rich and varied PSHE curriculum.



Teachers plan topics from SCARF materials and also use resources designed to support children from other professional organisation such as The Fairtrade Foundation, NSPCC and The Anti-Bullying Alliance. During their four years at George Romney, we aim to nurture children to develop their personal and interpersonal skills as well as support their learning about their place in the world and how they can grow up to make a positive contribution to their local, national an global community. 



We use the approaches of Philosophy for Children to teach children the ability to listen, reflect and debate upon a whole range of important and interesting issues. The stimulus for these discussions may come from a poem, story, a photograph or a video clip and we aim to encompass are whole range of themes and issues; many of which are relevant to the children's learning in relation to the United Nations 'Global Goals'.
 
                                                                     

 

 

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