Curriculum overview
Curriculum
Our Primary School’s programme (Year 1 – Year 6) of study is based on the English National Curriculum. Our topics follow the curriculum and due to our multilingual community, we adapt our themes according to the needs of the children.
We believe in enriching children’s development and therefore, have created a cross-curricular approach to learning. We plan learning themes based upon the skills outlined in the National Curriculum and as such, ensure progression and variety between year groups.
Subjects taught include:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Greek (for Natives and Non-Natives)
- Information Technology
- Geography
- History
- Citizenship
- Physical education
- Art
- Music
- Topic (Year 1 and Year 2)
English
At The International School of Paphos, we are in the privileged position of being able to offer, in our English programme, a distinctive mix: one that combines the best of the English National Curriculum and National Framework, with curriculum content specifically tailored to reflect our children’s status as international citizens of the future.
We set out on a journey of exploration-through-language that will guide your child during this significant stage of their education.
We follow an exciting programme of varied topics, including traditional tales, poetry, factual reports, myths and legends, instructions and letter writing. Our multi-themed approach not only keeps English ‘fun’, through studying various genre conventions, it also allows pupils to engage with and try their hand at many writing styles. Writing a story? We need a variety of powerful, descriptive vocabulary to create atmosphere! Writing an important letter? We need to use the politest, formal words we know. By the end of Key Stage 2, your child will have developed the confidence to choose language – written or spoken – appropriate to their purpose.
Underpinning the creative element of our use of English are its rules: punctuation and grammar. These are taught in an integrated manner, linked thematically to the unit being studied, so that rather than just being ‘rules’, they have meaning for your child, and a context in which they can be immediately put into practice.
In order to support early reading we use the Primary National Strategy’s phonics resource ‘Letters and Sounds: principles and practice of high-quality phonics’. This programme ensures that children are well-placed to read and spell words with fluency and confidence. The Letters and Sounds programme focuses upon securing word recognition skills in order to decode (read) and encode (spell) words confidently.
Alongside this document, we use Jolly Phonics to deliver the lessons in an active, creative and fun way.
Mathematics
At The International School of Paphos, we are in the privileged position of being able to offer, in our English programme, a distinctive mix: one that combines the best of the English National Curriculum and National Framework, with curriculum content specifically tailored to reflect our children’s status as international citizens of the future.
We set out on a journey of exploration-through-language that will guide your child during this significant stage of their education.
We follow an exciting programme of varied topics, including traditional tales, poetry, factual reports, myths and legends, instructions and letter writing. Our multi-themed approach not only keeps English ‘fun’, through studying various genre conventions, it also allows pupils to engage with and try their hand at many writing styles. Writing a story? We need a variety of powerful, descriptive vocabulary to create atmosphere! Writing an important letter? We need to use the politest, formal words we know. By the end of Key Stage 2, your child will have developed the confidence to choose language – written or spoken – appropriate to their purpose.
Underpinning the creative element of our use of English are its rules: punctuation and grammar. These are taught in an integrated manner, linked thematically to the unit being studied, so that rather than just being ‘rules’, they have meaning for your child, and a context in which they can be immediately put into practice.
In order to support early reading we use the Primary National Strategy’s phonics resource ‘Letters and Sounds: principles and practice of high-quality phonics’. This programme ensures that children are well-placed to read and spell words with fluency and confidence. The Letters and Sounds programme focuses upon securing word recognition skills in order to decode (read) and encode (spell) words confidently.
Alongside this document, we use Jolly Phonics to deliver the lessons in an active, creative and fun way.
Science
If we see, we are carrying out Science!
Science is embedded in our lives and is extremely important for a healthy lifestyle. At The International School of Paphos, we teach all three branches of General Science – Biology, Physics and Chemistry – as we wish to open our pupils’ eyes to the world around them. We do not need imagination because every topic we look at can be found in our everyday lives. We live in a technological and scientific world which is why Science is a key subject. Our aim in the Science Department is to educate our pupils into understanding the science around them. Only by doing this, will they be able to appreciate the technological advances that we live with. We do this through many different resources and visual tools. We have our own pond and garden where many of the lessons on habitats and plants take place. Also, we have access to all the apparatus we need, whether we look at different plants, forces or digestion. We have our own forcemeters, light sources, chemistry beakers and measuring cylinders as well as good old-fashioned items that we would find in a garden, at home, such as toothpaste and flour. Many lessons involve practical work and investigation or, at the very least, visual and hands-on approach. All in all, Science is more of an experience than a lesson! To help your child at home understand Science, it is valuable to link their knowledge from the classroom into their everyday life. Look at the topic they are covering and ask them to find examples of it in your home and garden.
Our school is registered with the British Science Association and as a Learning Partnership school with the Royal Society of Chemistry. We encourage our pupils to look beyond the lesson and see Science as an integral part of their life.
IT
Within IT, we ensure that children receive a broad and balanced experience by teaching 3 main themes in each year group:
1) Computational Thinking- in which they will begin to understand the basic features of coding through a algorithms and pseudocode.
2) Communication - in which they will learn how to be e-aware and how to use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Powerpoint and Excel. ‘Teams’ has been a challenge this year – pupils of all year groups will learn how to use the application in a more advanced level. Pupils will also understand the ‘internet’ risks and learn how to avoid them.
3) Coding/Programming - in which, they will experience coding and they will learn computer languages and basic rules of programming.
History
The study of History includes six key skills, namely chronological understanding, knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past, historical interpretations, historical inquiry, and organisation and communication of ideas. Teachers engage their pupils using a variety of active learning techniques, such as the interactive whiteboard, on-line activities, videos and the like. It is also important, however, that each pupil learns to conduct independent research using evidence.
Geography
In Geography, the children will study several themes which will expand and enrich their previous geographical understanding and skills. Pupils will use Google Earth, atlases, video clips, websites, photographs and thematic maps as learning tools.
Music
In Music, children will build on the enjoyment of singing and playing instruments together. They will experiment with sounds and composing, responding to movement while experiencing various feelings and emotions. Skills of co-ordination and listening will be developed, alongside the very important social skill of working together. There will be a conscious development of their understanding of basic musical elements as they progress through the Primary School.
Art
At ISOP, we make Art accessible to every child, providing an extensive range of resources and giving pupils the opportunity to experiment with a wide variety of media such as drawing, painting, collage, printing, 3D design and CAD. We follow the English National Curriculum which aims to encourage creative thinking skills and develop independent thought. The themes are designed to improve the pupils’ understanding of all the visual elements such as shape, colour and tone whilst improving basic drawing skills and promoting individual expression.
PE
In PE, we like to ensure that our pupils have fun and enjoy being active but, at the same time, we fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum.
The children learn skills, find out how to use them in different ways and link them to make sequences of movement. They enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. Also, they develop an understanding of how to succeed in various activities, while learning how to evaluate and recognise their own success.
Our pupils are taught the relevant skills, highlighting their understanding of games activities such as invasion; striking and net games; gymnastic activities; swimming activities and water safety; athletic games and dance activities. During these activities, their knowledge is increased.
Citizenship
Citizenship aims to develop our citizens of tomorrow. Children will develop their listening and speaking skills, while learning to take part in group discussions. The themes aim to encourage respect for themselves and the world they live in. The children will explore the importance of rights and responsibilities, the notions of fair and unfair, as well as wants and needs. They will also define their place within the wider communities they belong to, whilst realising their uniqueness within these.
Greek Natives
Pupils follow the Programme of Study prescribed by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture. The students are taught grammar and syntax phenomena through texts. They are able to produce pieces of written work on particular topics.
Greek History
It is a component which is very important as, throughout these lessons, they learn to respect each other’s traditions, beliefs and ideas, to reflect on the importance of the Ancient Greeks and examine different world events. They learn to understand the crucial role played by leaders in history thus appreciating the importance of peace, security and co-operation.
Greek Non-Natives
The pupils familiarise themselves with interesting topics which improve their conversational Greek and writing skills. Furthermore, their vocabulary is enriched even more as they come across dialogues which derive from their everyday interacting with other people. Such dialogues are ‘a visit to a store’ and the use of relevant vocabulary to stage a role play in a city store. They learn how to ask for something when they are in a shop. The skills mentioned above are enhanced through some grammatical points.
Homework
At ISOP we feel that homework can play an important role in extending, helping and consolidating your child’s learning. This is supported by the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) which states: “Well organised homework can play a vital role in raising standards of achievement.” Homework can also encourage the development of the children’s organisational and responsibility skills.
We always ensure that the homework is planned so that it complements the work that the children have undertaken during the week.