Viking Primary School

Humanities overview

Geography intent

At Viking Primary, we aim to use our Geography curriculum to develop our pupils into global thinkers:  developing knowledge and a greater understanding of their local area and beyond, as well as their place in it. Through the study of natural and human environments, as well as physical and human processes, our desire is to provide our children with a sense of awe and wonder about the world experienced whilst equipping them with skills such as navigation and map reading in order to explore it. Our teaching will equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments and the importance of looking after it. We aim to create future citizens who are able to make choices about their futures in this world how they can have an impact on our changing planet.

History intent

At Viking Primary, we aim to use our History curriculum to engage and excite children’s curiosity and support the development of key historical knowledge, skills and concepts through the study of British and local history and other significant time periods and societies. In understanding periods, events and people from the past, our children will gain cultural capital and have a greater appreciation of today’s world and their place within it. History on a world scale as well as on a personal scale will build awareness of children’s own heritage and enable them to be aspirational about the role they can play in the future.

Art & Design and Design & Technology overview

Art and Design Intent

"Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experience and a unique way of understand and responding to the world."

At Viking Primary we aim to:

• Assist pupils in becoming visually literate.
• Develop their powers of observation.
• Encourage the use of imagination and original thought; enabling pupils to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form and pattern.
• Provide opportunities to learn about the world in which we live.
• Develop the ability to communicate ideas, opinions and feelings about their own work and that of others.
• Encourage children to be able to respond knowledgeably about the work of craftspeople, knowing that there are different kinds of art for different purposes.
• Acquire a range of skills, using different media and children progress through the school.

Design and Technology Intent 

"Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you look deeper, it's really how it works." Steve Jobs

"Technology makes possibilities. Design makes solutions." John Maeda

Design and Technology encourages children to become independent, creative problem solvers and thinkers as individuals and part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond to them by developing a range of ideas and by making products and systems. Through the study of Design and Technology, they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as functions and industry. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate past and present technology, its uses and impacts. Skills are taught progressively to ensure that all children are able to learn and practice in order to develop as they move through the school. Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their product; this is a key skill that they need throughout their life. All pupils will also have a half term of cooking and nutrition, where they will learn basic skills of food preparation, food hygiene and will prepare nutritious food from scratch, setting them up for a healthy future beyond the classroom.

Key objectives of intent within the Design Technology Curriculum based on the National Curriculum 2014 guidance :

• Products are to be made for a purpose.
• Individuality should be ensured in children’s design and construction of products.
• Delivery of the two strands: Designing and Making and Cooking and Nutrition.
• More emphasis to be given on creating ‘innovative’ products in KS2.
• Teaching the importance of making on-going changes and improvements during making stages.
• Looking into seasonality of ingredients and how they are grown, caught or reared.
• The introduction of computing and coding of products in KS2.

Researching key events and individual designers in the History of Technology in KS2

PE overview

PE Intent 

At Viking Primary School we recognise the importance PE plays in the curriculum and are committed to providing all children with opportunities to engage fully in Physical Education. The aim of out PE programme is to develop pupil’s basic physical competencies, build confidence in their ability and build the foundations for a lifelong love of sport, physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. PE lessons encourage pupils to compete against themselves and others whilst being challenged to improve their physical, social, emotional and thinking skills. 

These skills are embedded in the heart of our planning. Our objectives in the teaching of PE align with the National Curriculum in that we aim to ensure all pupils:

• Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
• Are physically active for sustained periods of time
• Engage in competitive sports and activities
• Lead healthy, active lives
• Promote a healthy and active lifestyle
• Encourage physical activity and exercise
• Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
• Build self-esteem, confidence and resilience
• Provide all pupils with access to the lesson

Music overview

Music intent 

Music plays a key role in development of language, cognitive development, motor skills, emotional intelligence, feelings and collaboration skills.

 At Viking primary school the focus of our music curriculum is to instil creativity, self-expression and encourage children on their musical journeys. We hope to instil that life-long love of music by helping children to feel they are musical, and exposing them to diverse musical experiences which ignite that passion. We hope to evoke knowledge of, and an instilled respect for, music of all traditions and communities whilst also allowing children to become confident, reflective musicians.

 The progression of skills developed year on year helps to ensure attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.

PSHE Autumn overview

PSHE Spring overview

PSHE Summer overview

PSHE Intent

Our PSHE curriculum intends to support a whole school approach to developing a coherent and progressive PSHE education. An education that fosters the notions of empowerment and responsibility; to give pupils the knowledge, skills and opportunities to lead assured, healthy and independent lives.  Also, to be informed, active and responsible citizens in our modern society.

At Viking, we aim to foster the notions of empowerment and responsibility by:

• Promoting enjoyment and love for learning through child-centred activities; 
• Building on pupil’s knowledge and skills in PSHE as they progress through the school;
• Providing pupils with knowledge, and promoting responsible attitudes, about keeping themselves and others physically, mentally, socially healthy and safe;
• Promoting pupil’s awareness of potential challenges and risks to their physical, mental, social, health and wellbeing, inclusive of internet safety;
• Providing opportunities for pupils to make sense of their own personal and social experiences to support management of feelings;
• Managing healthy, and caring, interactions and relationships between pupils and others;
• Supporting pupil’s self-esteem, self-confidence and self-awareness;
• Promoting the development of social skills and social awareness;
• Informing pupils of how society works; the rights and responsibilities involved in caring for themselves, others and the environment.

We know there is a proven link between pupils' health, wellbeing and their academic progress. Therefore, we acknowledge crucial skills and positive attitudes developed through a comprehensive PSHE Education is critical to ensuring pupils are effective learners.

RE overview

RE Intent

At Viking Primary School, we follow the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education for the London Borough of Ealing which has been developed by the SACRE, supported by Religious Education professionals, including the borough’s RE Network of subject leaders.

The syllabus has been developed in a way that seeks to promote a number of important outcomes for children and young people in Ealing. These include the opportunity for pupils to:

• examine the profound and searching questions that relate to human experience, the nature of mystery, and our quest for meaning and value;
• develop their religious literacy, so that the most important aspects of a range of religious and non-religious perspective are understood;
• sensitively engage with the diversity of faith and belief perspectives that characterise contemporary British society;
• acknowledge the way in which religious communities seek to uphold and develop the wellbeing of the human family;
• recognise the dangers associated with violent extremism, whether this is associated with religion (either in the past or today) or with regimes that seek to repress faith and persecute believers.
• gain an insight and understanding into the place of religion and belief within the world today;
• develop the maturity to disagree with dignity and humility;
• reflect on their personal spiritual identity, think through their own faith and belief perspectives and to be given the opportunity to articulate these in a respectful and constructive way;
• engage with the ethical principles that are connected with the major faith and nonreligious belief traditions and think through the moral issues that confront them in their own lives;
• provide an understanding of both the contributions that faith and non-religious communities make to British public life and the challenges that they face.

Science overview

Science Intent

At Viking Primary School it is our intent to be confident and excited explorers, who are intrigued by the world that they live in. We want to provide our children with opportunities to investigate and enquire to support them in developing greater curiosity. We aim to teach scientific concepts through the use of first-hand practical experiences, as well as using some appropriate secondary sources such as books, photographs and videos to support children’s learning.

Computing overview

Computing Intent

 The National Curriculum for Computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.
• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

At Viking Primary School the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of the three core principles of Computing – Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. At the heart of our Computing curriculum is Computer Science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, we intend for our children to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. We aim to ensure that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world. ​

MFL overview

The MFL curriculum at Viking Primary School focuses on Spanish. We believe that the learning of a language provides a valuable educational,social and cultural experience for our pupils. It helps them to develop communication skills in speaking, listening,reading and writing. In addition, children’s knowledge of how language works will be developed to lay the foundations for further language learning in the future. We believe that learning another language gives children a new and broader perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others. ​

Safeguarding overview

Pupil safeguarding and the promotion of Fundamental British Values are at the heart of all our work at Viking Primary School and great importance is placed on identifying opportunities within the curriculum for children to learn about safeguarding. Our broad and diverse curriculum gives pupils the chance to experience life in all its diversity, to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that significantly impact on personal development, behaviour and welfare and equip every child with the knowledge and skills required for personal safeguarding.