Curriculum Enrichment: Wider Curriculum Opportunities and Cultural Capital

Our curriculum extends beyond the National Curriculum and includes a wide range of enriching experiences and opportunities both within and beyond the school day. This includes an extensive programme of after-school clubs that support the core curriculum offer, as well as those which develop specialist skills, such as photography and gardening, whilst also extending the range of children’s experiences (Cultural Capital).  The Charters for Children at the end of EYFS, KS1 and KS2 all rely heavily on wider opportunities if we are to give children at Ilchester the rich and full experience that we believe they deserve.

In addition to our exciting and stimulating cross-curricular themes, and in support of our Charter for Children, we also provide further opportunities to enhance children’s learning and experience wherever possible. These include:

Whole School Theme Days/ Events and Celebrations

Throughout the year, themed days/weeks are woven into the curriculum to extend the breadth and balance of opportunities we offer our pupils. These include: Anti-bullying Week, World Book Day, European Day of Languages, Harvest Festival, Global Day, Children in Need.

Community Link Events

Children from Ilchester benefit from a good connection with their local community. Opportunities include: running the local coffee morning, singing for elderly groups, hosting lunch for the elderly in school, collecting for the local foodbank and participating in annual events such as carol services and the Christmas Lights Competition.

Educational Visits and Residentials

School trips and visits are an integral part of the education of children at Ilchester Community Primary.  We value the opportunities such visits offer our pupils and the commitment of staff and adults undertaking them.  Trips include class visits aimed at bringing learning alive and providing first-hand experience: in recent years’ children have visited museums, hunted for fossils and undertaken both rural and city fieldwork.

Children in Years 4 and 6 take part in residential visits. These are planned to provide new and exciting experiences. Children in Year 4 benefit from a visit to the outdoor adventure centre, Pinkery, in Exmoor, whilst those in Year 6 have had various experiences, including residentials in both London and France.

Visitors to School

Visitors have a valuable role to play and can contribute to many aspects of the life and work of the school.  They deliver talks, workshops and full-day activities across a wide range of subjects, giving pupils access to outside experiences and expertise. Visitors provide a link with the wider community – children have the opportunity to work alongside artists, poets, musicians, authors, health professionals and others. All the children have worked with a local poet within the past year, focussing on equality and diversity issues.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Reflecting our local context of helicopter manufacture and the Royal Naval Air Station, we engage in regular STEM opportunities; most recently winning the Cool Aeronautics competition organised by Leonardos’ helicopters.

Roles and Responsibilities

All children in Year 6 hold a post with wider responsibilities within the school. House Captains, Fitness and Activity Leaders, the Social Media team, Global Team, School Environment Team, Librarians, ICT Team, and Arts and Events Team all have roles to play in school life and school improvement.

After-school Clubs

As a school, we offer pupils opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities after school. At any time, a wide range of clubs is on offer – our programme of clubs and activities available is revised termly and currently includes: Science Club, Country Dancing, Construction Club, Mindfulness, Board Games, Gymnastics, Cross Country, Times Table Rockstars and Photography.

PE, Sport and Activity

Outside the taught PE curriculum, children benefit from large playing fields and a floodlit Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). Participation in events through the Yeovil Games Association includes cross-country, netball, basketball, athletics, rugby, football, badminton, tennis, golf and boccia.

Music, Art & Drama

Wider opportunities in the Arts include three performances a year: A Christmas Celebration at KS1 a lower KS2 production in the Spring and an upper KS2 production in the Summer Term. All children in Year 4 are taught an instrument for at least two terms and in the summer term we host the annual ‘Music on the Mound’ festival at which children have a chance to perform and share their talents. Further recent events have included an art exhibition with work by children across the school celebrated.