Our Curriculum
At Hatfield Academy, we believe that every child deserves a rich, ambitious and engaging education that enables them to develop the Competence, Confidence and Care needed to succeed in school and beyond. Our curriculum is carefully designed to provide children with the knowledge, skills and experiences that will help them learn, thrive and succeed, standing shoulder to shoulder with others and facing every challenge with pride and assurance.
Our curriculum meets and exceeds the requirements of both the National Curriculum and the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. It is broad, balanced and designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning.
Children study the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, alongside a wide range of foundation subjects including History, Geography, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Music, Physical Education, Computing, Religious Education and Spanish. We also teach Personal Development, which includes Relationships, Health and Sex Education, helping children to understand themselves, build positive relationships and navigate the wider world with confidence.
We are committed to providing pupils with the very best educational experiences. To support this, we make use of high-quality curriculum resources and programmes that align with our vision and values. For example, we use elements of the Primary Knowledge Curriculum to support learning in subjects such as History, Geography, Art and Science. These resources provide strong foundations of knowledge, while our teachers carefully adapt learning to meet the needs of our pupils and ensure it reflects the context of our school community.
As part of the Astrea Academy Trust, we benefit from collaboration with curriculum specialists, subject experts and colleagues across the Trust. This enables us to continually refine and strengthen our curriculum, ensuring that every child receives an education that develops competence through knowledge, confidence through success and care through a strong sense of belonging and responsibility towards others.
Through our curriculum, we aim to equip every child with the knowledge, character and aspirations they need to flourish both now and in the future.
English
Phonics
We teach early reading and spelling through the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme, a structured, systematic approach that helps every child become a confident, fluent reader and writer.
From Reception onwards, children are taught in small, carefully matched groups based on regular assessments. This ensures that every child receives teaching that is precisely matched to their stage of development, allowing them to make strong progress and build confidence.
Through daily RWI lessons, children learn to:
- recognise and pronounce sounds (phonics)
- blend sounds to read words accurately and fluently
- read with increasing confidence, expression and understanding
- spell words using their growing phonic knowledge
- develop accurate handwriting and sentence writing skills.
As children become fluent readers, they move beyond the RWI programme and continue to develop reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension through high-quality whole-class reading lessons and a carefully chosen range of ambitious texts.
We know that children become successful readers when school and home work together. We encourage families to read regularly with their children, revisit the sounds and words they are learning, and celebrate every step of their reading journey.
At Hatfield Academy, our aim is for every child to leave Key Stage 1 as a fluent reader who has developed a genuine love of books and is fully prepared to access the wider curriculum and succeed throughout their education.
Reading
At Hatfield Academy, reading sits at the heart of everything we do. Through a rich, knowledge-led curriculum, expert teaching and a strong culture of reading for pleasure, we strive to ensure that every child leaves our school as a confident, capable and enthusiastic reader, fully prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond school.
Our reading curriculum is built around high-quality literature, rich discussion and vocabulary development. We want our pupils to experience a wide range of texts, ideas, cultures and perspectives, helping them to develop academically, socially and personally. Our approach is informed by educational research and forms part of the Astrea Academy Trust’s commitment to ensuring every child learns, thrives and succeeds.
Our Reading Curriculum
From Year 2 onwards, pupils take part in daily reading lessons as well as dedicated reading-for-pleasure sessions.
Our curriculum includes:
· High-quality fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts.
· Carefully selected texts that link to and enhance learning across the wider curriculum.
· Explicit teaching of vocabulary and language.
· Opportunities for pupils to discuss, question and explore texts in depth.
· Reading experiences that develop fluency, comprehension, knowledge and enjoyment.
Reading is taught through a variety of approaches, including modelled reading, shared reading, guided reading and independent reading. This ensures that all children are appropriately supported while being challenged to become increasingly independent readers.
Why We Teach Reading This Way
Our reading curriculum is based on the understanding that successful reading depends on much more than simply decoding words. Research shows that strong reading comprehension develops when children have:
· A broad and secure vocabulary.
· Strong background knowledge.
· Fluency and confidence in reading.
· Opportunities to discuss and think deeply about texts.
Rather than focusing solely on answering comprehension questions, we prioritise building children’s knowledge, language and understanding. We believe that comprehension is the result of effective reading instruction, not the starting point. By immersing pupils in high-quality texts and meaningful discussion, we help them become thoughtful, expert readers.
Vocabulary at the Heart of Learning
Vocabulary development is a central feature of our curriculum. We explicitly teach both:
· Tier 2 vocabulary – sophisticated words that appear across many subjects.
· Tier 3 vocabulary – subject-specific academic language.
By encountering and using new words in meaningful contexts, pupils develop the language needed to access increasingly complex texts and the wider curriculum.
Reading for Pleasure
We are passionate about developing a culture of reading across our school.
Every class enjoys a daily read-aloud session where teachers share high-quality books purely for enjoyment. These sessions allow pupils to experience rich language, engaging stories and inspiring authors while developing positive attitudes towards reading.
Reading is celebrated throughout the school through classroom libraries, book displays, shared reading experiences and opportunities for pupils to recommend and discuss books with their peers. We want every child to see themselves as a reader and to enjoy reading beyond the classroom.
Supporting Every Child
We have high expectations for all pupils and believe that every child can become a successful reader.
Children with additional needs access the same ambitious reading curriculum as their peers, with carefully planned support and adaptations where required. Interventions are targeted, evidence-informed and regularly reviewed to ensure pupils make strong progress while remaining connected to the classroom curriculum.
Writing
Developing Confident, Creative and Purposeful Writers
At Hatfield Academy, we are committed to nurturing confident, articulate and creative writers. Through high-quality literature, expert teaching and meaningful writing opportunities, we aim to inspire every child to develop a lifelong appreciation of language and the confidence to communicate their ideas with clarity, purpose and imagination. Writing is not simply viewed as a curriculum subject; it is a powerful tool for thinking, learning and sharing ideas.
Our writing curriculum is designed to immerse children in high-quality literature, broaden their understanding of the world, and inspire them to create meaningful and engaging written work. Through rich texts and carefully planned learning experiences, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to become successful writers.
Our Writing Curriculum
Hatfield Academy follows the Literacy Tree curriculum from Reception to Year 6. This nationally recognised, book-based approach places high-quality children’s literature at the centre of writing teaching and learning. Through the Literacy Tree’s Writing Roots sequences, pupils explore carefully selected texts and use these as a stimulus for their own writing.
Throughout their time at Hatfield Academy, pupils experience:
- A diverse range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
- High-quality texts from both classic and contemporary authors.
- Writing opportunities linked to meaningful audiences and purposes.
- Clear progression in writing skills and knowledge from Early Years to Year 6.
- Explicit teaching of grammar, punctuation and composition within authentic writing contexts.
Why We Teach Writing This Way
Our approach is rooted in educational research and the belief that children write best when they have something meaningful to say.
By studying high-quality texts, pupils learn how authors craft language, structure ideas and engage readers. Writing is taught through a “Teach Through a Text” approach, where reading and writing work together to deepen understanding and develop creativity. This helps children see themselves as real writers, creating work with purpose rather than simply completing isolated tasks.
The carefully chosen books within the curriculum expose pupils to diverse voices, experiences and cultures, helping to build cultural capital while fostering empathy, critical thinking and a love of literature.
The Writing Process
Children are taught that writing is a process, and great writing develops through careful thought and refinement.
Across each writing unit, pupils learn to:
- Plan their ideas.
- Draft their writing.
- Revise and improve content.
- Edit for accuracy and effectiveness.
- Publish work when appropriate for its audience and purpose.
This structured approach helps pupils understand that writing improves through reflection, feedback and practice.
Spelling, Grammar and Handwriting
Strong transcription skills are an essential part of becoming an effective writer.
At Hatfield Academy, spelling is taught explicitly through a structured programme that develops pupils’ understanding of spelling patterns, word origins and word structure. Rather than simply learning weekly lists, pupils apply spelling knowledge in meaningful writing contexts.
Grammar is taught within writing units so that pupils understand how language choices influence meaning and effect. Handwriting is taught regularly across all year groups, helping children develop fluent, legible and well-presented written work.
Supporting Every Child to Succeed
We are committed to ensuring that all pupils can achieve success in writing.
Teachers adapt learning to meet the needs of individual pupils whilst maintaining high expectations for everyone. Support may include scaffolds, vocabulary prompts, writing toolkits and targeted interventions where appropriate. Our focus is always on enabling children to access an ambitious curriculum and make strong progress as writers.
Monitoring Progress
Teachers regularly assess writing through independent pieces completed across the curriculum. These assessments enable staff to celebrate success, identify next steps and ensure pupils continue to develop the skills needed to become increasingly effective writers. Assessment information is also used to carefully plan future learning and provide support where needed.
Mathematics
At Hatfield, our mathematics curriculum is underpinned by the Ark Maths Mastery scheme of work and guidance from the Astrea Maths Team. Through purposeful, evidence-informed teaching, we ensure all children become confident mathematicians with strong conceptual understanding.
We provide a dedicated daily mathematics lesson that is engaging, interactive and appropriately challenging. Through direct teaching and interactive oral work, children develop fluency, deepen their conceptual understanding, and build confidence in reasoning and problem solving. They are supported to consolidate prior learning and apply their mathematical knowledge in a range of contexts, within caring classrooms where they feel valued and thrive.
Our teaching is based on:
- A dedicated daily mathematics lesson.
- High-quality direct teaching and interactive oral work.
- Evidence-informed pedagogy that develops children’s conceptual understanding.
- Appropriate support and challenge so all children can access and succeed in mathematics.
We follow the Ark curriculum maps, adapting them where appropriate to meet the needs and progress of our pupils.
Y1 Overviews
Y2 Overview
Y3 Overview
Y4 Overview
Y5 Overview
Y6 Overview
Science
At Hatfield Academy, our science curriculum inspires children to ask questions, explore ideas and make sense of the world around them. Through carefully sequenced learning, pupils develop a secure understanding of biology, chemistry, physics and Earth science while learning how scientists investigate, observe and explain the world. Children carry out practical investigations, gather evidence and communicate their findings using scientific vocabulary and reasoning. Our curriculum helps children become competent scientists with strong knowledge and enquiry skills, confident learners who are curious and willing to investigate new ideas, and caring citizens who understand their responsibility to protect our environment and make informed choices about the future.
History
At Hatfield Academy, history brings the past to life by helping children understand how people, events and ideas have shaped the world we live in today. Through a carefully planned chronological curriculum, pupils explore local, British and world history while learning to think like historians by questioning evidence, making connections and considering different viewpoints. They study significant people and events from a wide range of cultures and time periods, developing an appreciation of how the past influences the present. Our history curriculum develops competent historians with secure knowledge and strong enquiry skills, confident learners who can think critically and ask thoughtful questions, and caring citizens who value different experiences, cultures and perspectives.
Geography
Our geography curriculum helps children develop a deep understanding of the world and their place within it. Starting with our local community before exploring the United Kingdom and countries across the globe, pupils learn about different people, places, environments and cultures while developing important map-reading and fieldwork skills. They discover how physical and human geography shapes the world and explore important global issues such as sustainability and climate. Through geography, children become competent geographers who can interpret maps, data and geographical information, confident explorers who are curious about the wider world, and caring global citizens who appreciate diversity and understand how their actions can make a positive difference.
Design & Technology
Our Design and Technology curriculum inspires children to become creative problem-solvers who can design products that improve everyday life. Through cooking, sewing and building projects, pupils learn to investigate, design, make and evaluate products for real purposes and real users. Alongside developing practical skills, children learn about nutrition, sustainability, innovation and enterprise, helping them understand how design shapes the world around them. Our curriculum develops competent designers who can apply practical skills with increasing precision, confident innovators who enjoy solving problems and testing new ideas, and caring citizens who consider the needs of others while making responsible choices about the products they create and the impact they have on the environment.
Art & Design
Art at Hatfield Academy encourages every child to develop their creativity, imagination and individual artistic voice. Children study the work of a diverse range of artists, designers and architects before applying their knowledge to create their own artwork using a wide variety of materials and techniques. As pupils progress through school, they learn to observe, experiment, evaluate and refine their ideas while building confidence in expressing themselves creatively. Through art, children become competent artists with growing technical skills and artistic knowledge, confident creators who are proud to share and discuss their work, and caring individuals who value different cultures, perspectives and forms of artistic expression.
Music
At Hatfield Academy, we use the Charanga music curriculum to provide every child with an exciting, inclusive and progressive music education. Through singing, listening, performing, composing and exploring a wide range of musical styles and cultures, children develop their musical knowledge and skills while discovering the joy of making music together.
Our music curriculum helps children become competent by developing the skills to perform, compose and appraise music with increasing confidence and accuracy. It encourages them to become confident performers who are willing to express themselves, work collaboratively and share their ideas with others. Music also nurtures caring individuals by promoting teamwork, respect for different musical traditions and cultures, and an appreciation of the contributions music makes to our communities and the wider world.
Through Charanga, children build creativity, resilience and self-expression, ensuring that every pupil has the opportunity to develop a lifelong appreciation and love of music.
Physical Education (PE)
At Hatfield Academy, we use the Get Set 4 PE curriculum to provide every child with a broad, inclusive and enjoyable physical education. Through a carefully sequenced programme of games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, outdoor adventurous activities and sports, children develop the fundamental movement skills, physical confidence and teamwork needed to lead healthy, active lives. As pupils progress, they learn the importance of perseverance, fair play, resilience and personal challenge while developing leadership and communication skills. Our PE curriculum helps children become competent by mastering physical skills and understanding how to improve their performance, confident by encouraging them to participate enthusiastically, challenge themselves and enjoy being active, and aring by promoting respect, teamwork, sportsmanship and the importance of supporting others both on and off the field. We believe that positive experiences in PE help every child develop a lifelong love of physical activity and wellbeing.
Computing
At Hatfield Academy, we use the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) curriculum to provide every child with a high-quality, ambitious computing education that prepares them for life in an increasingly digital world. Through a carefully sequenced curriculum, pupils develop their understanding of computer science, information technology and digital literacy, building knowledge and skills progressively from the Early Years through to Year 6. Children learn how computers and digital systems work, create and debug programs, use technology to communicate and create digital content, and understand how data is collected and used.
Online safety is at the heart of our computing curriculum. Children are taught how to stay safe online, protect their personal information, recognise potential risks and behave responsibly and respectfully in digital environments. By revisiting these important themes throughout their primary years, pupils develop the confidence and judgement needed to use technology safely both now and in the future.
Our computing curriculum helps children become competent by developing strong computational thinking, problem-solving and digital skills that prepare them for further education and future careers. It encourages them to become confident learners who embrace new technologies, think creatively and persevere when solving complex problems. It also develops caring digital citizens who understand the importance of kindness, respect, responsibility and ethical behaviour when using technology. Through computing, we equip every child with the knowledge, resilience and digital confidence they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Religious Education (RE)
At Hatfield Academy, our Religious Education curriculum follows the Astrea Academy Trust Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2024–2029). Through the study of Christianity and Islam alongside a range of other religious and non-religious worldviews, including Judaism, Hindu Dharma and Humanism, children develop an understanding of the diverse beliefs, values and traditions that shape our local community and the wider world. Pupils explore important questions about identity, belonging, purpose, morality and what it means to live a good life, learning to appreciate different perspectives while developing and expressing their own ideas with curiosity and respect. Our enquiry-based curriculum encourages children to make sense of beliefs, understand the impact those beliefs have on people’s lives, and make connections between what they learn and their own experiences. This helps children become competent learners who can think critically and communicate thoughtfully, confident individuals who ask meaningful questions and respectfully share their views, and caring citizens who value diversity, show empathy towards others and contribute positively to an inclusive society. Through Religious Education, we prepare our pupils to thrive in modern Britain with open minds, informed opinions and respect for everyone, regardless of their beliefs or background
Spanish
At Hatfield Academy, we teach Spanish using the Primary Languages Network curriculum from Y3 onwards, giving children the opportunity to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skillsc in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. We have chosen Spanish because it is spoken by more than 500 million people across Europe, North and South America and many other parts of the world, helping to prepare our pupils for an increasingly connected global community. Through engaging lessons, children build vocabulary, learn everyday conversational language, explore grammar in an age-appropriate way and develop an appreciation of the cultures and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries. Our Spanish curriculum helps children become competent communicators who can use and understand another language, confident learners who are willing to take risks, practise speaking and embrace new challenges, and caring global citizens who value different languages, cultures and ways of life. Learning Spanish broadens horizons, encourages curiosity about the world and provides a strong foundation for future language learning.
Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE)/Sex & Relationships Education (SRE)
At Hatfield Academy, our Personal Development curriculum prepares children to become Competent, Confident and Caring citizens who are ready to thrive in school, in their community and in later life. Through our carefully planned PSHE and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make safe, healthy and informed choices while building positive relationships and respect for themselves and others.
Our curriculum follows the Astrea Academy Trust PSHE framework and is tailored to meet the needs of our children and community. Learning is carefully sequenced from the Early Years through to Year 6, ensuring pupils revisit and build upon key knowledge as they grow. Children learn about physical and mental health, healthy lifestyles, keeping themselves safe both online and offline, managing risk, friendships, families, respectful relationships, citizenship, British Values, equality, financial education, careers and the wider world. As pupils mature, they also receive age-appropriate Relationships, Sex and Health Education in line with statutory guidance.
We believe that Personal Development is about far more than individual lessons. Our curriculum is enriched through assemblies, pupil leadership opportunities, educational visits, enrichment activities, community partnerships and wider experiences that help children develop resilience, empathy, responsibility and confidence. Through high-quality discussion and oracy, pupils learn to listen respectfully, express their views thoughtfully, consider different perspectives and make informed decisions.
Our lessons are taught in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where every child feels valued. We encourage children to ask questions, think critically and develop the confidence to seek help when they need it. By the time they leave Hatfield Academy, our pupils have developed the knowledge, character and values to make positive choices, build healthy relationships and contribute positively to modern British society. Through this curriculum, we help children become competent learners who understand themselves and the world around them, confident individuals who make informed decisions and stand up for what is right, and caring citizens who show kindness, respect and responsibility towards others.