Aims & Ethos Admissions The Curriculum Homework Sport & Extra-Curricular Care & Community Behaviour
Attendance School Day and Uniform Nutrition School Documents Inspection Report School History
Attendance School Day and Uniform Nutrition School Documents Inspection Report School History
THE CURRICULUM
The Board of Governors and Staff of The Diamond Primary School believe that the curriculum is all the activities, opportunities and experiences, planned and incidental, available to the children through school and are committed to providing pupils with access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.
Communication [Taking account of Language and Literacy]
Literacy is at the heart of primary education. The Literacy Curriculum provides opportunities for children to read, write and to engage in talking and listening activities. The school places emphasis on the building of a sight vocabulary through the use of a structured guided reading scheme and to the development of word-attack skills through phonics. Children are also encouraged to read widely fiction and non-fiction texts both for pleasure and to seek information. Books are brought to life through drama and initiatives such as our annual World Book Day event. The Accelerated Reader programme has motivated children to read.
Guided reading takes the form of ‘Reciprocal Reading’ - a programme devised to aid the understanding of texts. In groups, children are responsible for one of the following roles:
The Boss : leading the group and establishing the rules
The Questioner : thinks of questions to ask about the text to aid understanding
The Clarifier : offers explanations of parts of the text and will use a dictionary to find definitions
The Predictor: uses the text read thus far to make predictions about what will happen next
The Summariser: tells the group what they read in their own words, telling only the important details.
This format and set of strategies help the children to become more active in their reading group and as a result, they become more confident in their reading as their understanding grows.
We have also adopted the ‘Accelerated Reading’ programme to encourage the children to read individually and to aid ability in reading. This programme offers points and awards for books completed, and children complete book-based quizzes to determine how they are progressing in reading.
Using Mathematics [taking account of Numeracy]
As part of the NI Curriculum the school offers a wide variety of opportunities in this important area of study. Activities are made relevant to the five Attainment Targets - Processes, Number, Shape and Space, Measures and Data Handling. Our World Maths Day provides pupils with the opportunity to use these mathematical skills in a real life context.
The World Around Us
The purpose of The World Around Us curriculum is to help children explore and find age appropriate answers to questions from the perspectives of Geography, History and Science and Technology. Each class uses a ‘themed’ approach to The World Around Us.
Children undertake field trips and educational visits to support The World Around Us themes. Residential school trips are organised each year for P6 and P7 pupils.
The Arts
Children are provided with opportunities to engage in Music, Art and Drama. The school has a wide range of tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments. These are used by classes for choir, creative music and appreciation. We also offer private tuition for P4-P7 in singing and piano and EA Music Service lessons in brass and woodwind.
Physical Education
Physical Education at The Diamond Primary School aims to develop agility, physical co-ordination and the ability to express feeling through movement.
The following facilities are available for the use of the pupils:-
- Assembly Hall with sports floor marked for games.
- Range of large, fixed and movable apparatus, including new gymnastics equipment.
- Large tarmac area marked out for games.
- General purpose grass area with goals.
The range of sports on offer in The Diamond Primary School include:-
Athletics
Football
Hockey
Netball
Tag Rugby and
Swimming.
Using ICT
At The Diamond Primary School, our computer suite is comprised of C2K machines, netbooks, data projectors, iPads and an interactive whiteboard. Pupils have timetabled sessions in the suite each week. Each classroom now has the use of an interactive whiteboard as well as C2K laptops and ipads in their own classrooms, when needed. Each class follows an ICT progression which comprises of five areas - Explore, Express, Exchange, Exhibit and Evaluate [5Es]. Through these areas, the children gain experience in word processing, powerpoint, email, programming and the use of iPads. Each classroom has the use of an interactive whiteboard and regular Skype sessions, or other forms of video conferencing are held to compliment our WAU work.
Religious Education
Religious Education is taught in accordance with the requirements of the Education Northern Ireland Order [2006] and the Education Authority Scheme. Collective worship is also conducted two mornings per week and reflects the school’s Christian ethos. Visiting ministers/speakers participate on a rota basis in the school’s assemblies as do the pupils on a classroom basis. The school welcomes all pupils irrespective of belief.
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment involves the continuous monitoring of the individual child’s progress combined with more formal tests or examinations. A pupil profile of achievement is maintained for each child which charts their progress in the core subjects in the Northern Ireland curriculum.
Under the arrangements for the Revised Curriculum Assessment and Reporting involves
a. Computer-based Assessment (optional) and PTE & PTM
b. The Annual Pupil Profile.
Computerised Assessments
PTE and PTM tests provide a detailed breakdown of attainment and standards, as well as CAT4 computerised test, which provides a context for the assessments. Computerised assessments provide:
¨ Automatic marking and analysis.
¨ A variety of feedback options.
¨ Age equivalent scores, standardised within Northern Ireland.
¨ An indication of the strengths and weaknesses of pupils.
¨ Insights into which pupils need particular kinds of support.
Annual Pupil Profile
The Annual Pupil Profile Report is statutory and is issued at the end of each academic year. It has been designed to promote consistency across Northern Ireland and will provide information for:
Parents - about their child’s learning and how they can help with this at home.
Teachers - as they plan teaching and learning.
Pupils - about their achievements and how they can improve.
Educational Support
Any children identified as requiring educational support have action plans or individual education plans drawn up which are regularly reviewed. Parents are an integral part of this process and are involved at each step. When appropriate, the Educational Support Teacher works within the classroom with small groups or individuals. More often, they may be taught in a quieter environment in the school. A Special Educational Needs Policy is in place and is available in school.
Gifted and Talented
Action Plans are written for pupils who are identified as requiring more challenging classroom work. A Gifted and Talented Policy is in place and is available in school.
The Board of Governors and Staff of The Diamond Primary School believe that the curriculum is all the activities, opportunities and experiences, planned and incidental, available to the children through school and are committed to providing pupils with access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.
Communication [Taking account of Language and Literacy]
Literacy is at the heart of primary education. The Literacy Curriculum provides opportunities for children to read, write and to engage in talking and listening activities. The school places emphasis on the building of a sight vocabulary through the use of a structured guided reading scheme and to the development of word-attack skills through phonics. Children are also encouraged to read widely fiction and non-fiction texts both for pleasure and to seek information. Books are brought to life through drama and initiatives such as our annual World Book Day event. The Accelerated Reader programme has motivated children to read.
Guided reading takes the form of ‘Reciprocal Reading’ - a programme devised to aid the understanding of texts. In groups, children are responsible for one of the following roles:
The Boss : leading the group and establishing the rules
The Questioner : thinks of questions to ask about the text to aid understanding
The Clarifier : offers explanations of parts of the text and will use a dictionary to find definitions
The Predictor: uses the text read thus far to make predictions about what will happen next
The Summariser: tells the group what they read in their own words, telling only the important details.
This format and set of strategies help the children to become more active in their reading group and as a result, they become more confident in their reading as their understanding grows.
We have also adopted the ‘Accelerated Reading’ programme to encourage the children to read individually and to aid ability in reading. This programme offers points and awards for books completed, and children complete book-based quizzes to determine how they are progressing in reading.
Using Mathematics [taking account of Numeracy]
As part of the NI Curriculum the school offers a wide variety of opportunities in this important area of study. Activities are made relevant to the five Attainment Targets - Processes, Number, Shape and Space, Measures and Data Handling. Our World Maths Day provides pupils with the opportunity to use these mathematical skills in a real life context.
The World Around Us
The purpose of The World Around Us curriculum is to help children explore and find age appropriate answers to questions from the perspectives of Geography, History and Science and Technology. Each class uses a ‘themed’ approach to The World Around Us.
Children undertake field trips and educational visits to support The World Around Us themes. Residential school trips are organised each year for P6 and P7 pupils.
The Arts
Children are provided with opportunities to engage in Music, Art and Drama. The school has a wide range of tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments. These are used by classes for choir, creative music and appreciation. We also offer private tuition for P4-P7 in singing and piano and EA Music Service lessons in brass and woodwind.
Physical Education
Physical Education at The Diamond Primary School aims to develop agility, physical co-ordination and the ability to express feeling through movement.
The following facilities are available for the use of the pupils:-
- Assembly Hall with sports floor marked for games.
- Range of large, fixed and movable apparatus, including new gymnastics equipment.
- Large tarmac area marked out for games.
- General purpose grass area with goals.
The range of sports on offer in The Diamond Primary School include:-
Athletics
Football
Hockey
Netball
Tag Rugby and
Swimming.
Using ICT
At The Diamond Primary School, our computer suite is comprised of C2K machines, netbooks, data projectors, iPads and an interactive whiteboard. Pupils have timetabled sessions in the suite each week. Each classroom now has the use of an interactive whiteboard as well as C2K laptops and ipads in their own classrooms, when needed. Each class follows an ICT progression which comprises of five areas - Explore, Express, Exchange, Exhibit and Evaluate [5Es]. Through these areas, the children gain experience in word processing, powerpoint, email, programming and the use of iPads. Each classroom has the use of an interactive whiteboard and regular Skype sessions, or other forms of video conferencing are held to compliment our WAU work.
Religious Education
Religious Education is taught in accordance with the requirements of the Education Northern Ireland Order [2006] and the Education Authority Scheme. Collective worship is also conducted two mornings per week and reflects the school’s Christian ethos. Visiting ministers/speakers participate on a rota basis in the school’s assemblies as do the pupils on a classroom basis. The school welcomes all pupils irrespective of belief.
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment involves the continuous monitoring of the individual child’s progress combined with more formal tests or examinations. A pupil profile of achievement is maintained for each child which charts their progress in the core subjects in the Northern Ireland curriculum.
Under the arrangements for the Revised Curriculum Assessment and Reporting involves
a. Computer-based Assessment (optional) and PTE & PTM
b. The Annual Pupil Profile.
Computerised Assessments
PTE and PTM tests provide a detailed breakdown of attainment and standards, as well as CAT4 computerised test, which provides a context for the assessments. Computerised assessments provide:
¨ Automatic marking and analysis.
¨ A variety of feedback options.
¨ Age equivalent scores, standardised within Northern Ireland.
¨ An indication of the strengths and weaknesses of pupils.
¨ Insights into which pupils need particular kinds of support.
Annual Pupil Profile
The Annual Pupil Profile Report is statutory and is issued at the end of each academic year. It has been designed to promote consistency across Northern Ireland and will provide information for:
Parents - about their child’s learning and how they can help with this at home.
Teachers - as they plan teaching and learning.
Pupils - about their achievements and how they can improve.
Educational Support
Any children identified as requiring educational support have action plans or individual education plans drawn up which are regularly reviewed. Parents are an integral part of this process and are involved at each step. When appropriate, the Educational Support Teacher works within the classroom with small groups or individuals. More often, they may be taught in a quieter environment in the school. A Special Educational Needs Policy is in place and is available in school.
Gifted and Talented
Action Plans are written for pupils who are identified as requiring more challenging classroom work. A Gifted and Talented Policy is in place and is available in school.