Our Curriculum

At Kingswood, our engaging curriculum inspires curiosity, builds confidence and equips every child with the knowledge and skills to thrive.

Our Nursery class and Reception class are collectively known as the Early Years Foundation Stage, working towards the EYFS curriculum which leads into Key Stage 1.

The areas of the curriculum are:

Communication and Language development which involves giving children opportunities to speak and listen in a range of situations and to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves.

Physical development which involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive, and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Personal, Social and Emotional development which involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Literacy development which involves encouraging children to read and write, both through listening to others reading, and being encouraged to begin to read and write themselves. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials to ignite their interest.

Mathematics development which involves providing children with opportunities to practise and improve their skills in counting numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems, and to describe shapes, spaces and measures.

Understanding of the World which involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive Arts and Design which involves supporting children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in Art, Music, Movement, Dance, Role-play, and Design and Technology.

The infant classrooms are spacious, attractive and well resourced. The family atmosphere within the school is created by friendly, welcoming staff and lively, happy children. Parents are encouraged to become involved in the life of the school and work in partnership with teachers and support staff.

Teaching and Learning

In the Infants strong emphasis is placed on acquiring new skills in an enjoyable and absorbing way. Literacy and numeracy are given high priority but a broad and balanced curriculum is vital for the development of the whole child and physical, creative and artistic work of all kinds is encouraged.

Children learn through exploration and enquiry; the creative curriculum enables all children to fulfil their potential, academically, creatively, physically and socially. As the children work both independently and collaboratively, they develop a real love of learning and the skills to make them life-long learners.

Children are taught in small classes. They benefit from specialist teachers for Dance, Swimming and Singing. All infants are members of the Lower School Choir.

KS1 follow the same timetables as KS2.

As pupils transition into Key Stage 2, they build upon their educational foundation within an ambitious, nurturing environment. With small class sizes and highly experienced, dedicated staff, pupils benefit from a personalised education tailored to stretch their abilities, nurture their passions, and support their individual academic goals.

Literacy & English Excellence

English at Kingswood is immersive, dynamic, and rigorous. Through Pathways to Writing, pupils engage deeply with rich, varied literature, mastering genres ranging from creative narrative writing to structured, persuasive debate. To complement this, dedicated handwriting and dictation sessions take place throughout the week to instil precision and fluidity in written work. Oracy and confidence are further cultivated through drama integrated into the curriculum.

Reading remains a cornerstone of our academic journey. Through Kingswood Progressive Reading Programme, complex whole-class texts are studied from Year 3, steadily increasing in depth and nuance through to Year 6. To foster a lifelong love of reading, pupils make regular visits to Shirley Library, embedding a rich culture of independent reading.

11+ Preparation & Academic Rigour

To support academic progression and secondary school transition, dedicated 11+ preparation is provided twice weekly. Led by experienced staff, these sessions build core exam skills, critical thinking, and confidence in a supportive classroom setting.

Broad & Experiential Curriculum

Pupils engage with dynamic lessons across History, Geography, Science, PSHE, RE, and Art. Science is brought to life through regular, hands-on experiments fostering curiosity, scientific inquiry, and memorable practical learning.

Learning extends far beyond the classroom:

Enriching Educational Visits : Carefully planned excursions embed core knowledge, including interactive Ancient Greek and Ancient Egyptian workshops delivered by the Birmingham Museum, as well as fieldwork such as our River Study at Sheldon Heath Park.
Competitions & Academic Challenge : Regular internal and external competitions in Art, Science, and Poetry inspire excellence and celebrate individual achievements throughout the year.
Enrichment & School Life : Key Stage 2 offers a vibrant calendar of events that allow pupils to showcase their talents, leadership, and school spirit. From Black History Month and Book Week to British Science Week, Children in Need, Carol Concerts, and Sports Days, pupils are given every opportunity to shine.

At the heart of Key Stage 2 are our core values Teamwork, Aspiration, Respect, Engagement, and Resilience guiding our pupils as they mature into confident, articulate, and well-rounded learners.