Hatfield Academy

We began designing our own curriculum and realised that it wasn’t robust or sequential enough, despite our very best efforts. We realised that we needed support and so we connected with Edenthorpe Hall as a fellow Astrea school. When I went to visit, I was impressed by the work being produced by the children and I liked the sequential nature of the planning. We therefore decided to contact Alex Pethick at PKC for some support.

I began with a day working with Alex to design the curriculum for Hatfield and ensure that it left no gaps based on what we had previously taught. We also looked at our ethos and how the PKC would support that, especially in relation to areas such as community and diversity.

Once we had worked together, I delivered a twilight to staff and we had a trial period where subject leads ‘tested’ a unit from art, history, science and geography. They fed back and then from September 2021, all teachers have implemented the full curriculum.

The biggest support has been the subject knowledge provided for teachers- this has been invaluable. It has provided teachers with that comfort blanket in knowing that they are absolutely teaching ‘correct’ knowledge and it enables them to focus more on their pedagogical practice.

It has reduced teacher workload because the subject leads have actually planned and resourced all units for all year groups and this has been extremely useful. They have done this for Autumn 1 and Autumn 2 and the plan is to continue so that by the end of the academic year, all resources and planning will be ready and will have been produced to a high standard.

We have noticed that children know more and are remembering more. They are making links in their learning and they understand the subject they are learning about and are starting to articulate what makes that subject ‘special’. Children are passionate about their learning and they want to share this with adults in school.

All members of the school community appreciate the diversity of the curriculum and the thought that has gone into designing it.

Teachers find the delivery challenging but rewarding and they are already noticing improvements if they delivered a unit in summer 1 or summer 2 of last academic year compared to now. Children are more prepared and know more and we cannot wait to see the impact over the next 5 or 6 years.

Astrea have now said that all schools will be using the PKC curriculum and this has meant that we have received further training from Alex and the team. I believe this will continue until the curriculum is fully embedded.

Abbie Pearce-Dyke

Vice Principal