Curriculum design and cynefin
Leaders and staff carefully consider the context of the school and its locality when designing a bespoke curriculum that meets the needs and interests of pupils. There are a good range of authentic learning experiences and interesting topics that capture pupils’ imagination, helping them to develop as positive and enthusiastic learners. A strong feature is how effectively the school uses its surroundings and integrates community projects into the curriculum. For example, pupils engage in the whole school theme ‘Yma O Hyd’ to develop their understanding of Welsh people and places, past and present. Through topic work they develop their creative skills, performing Welsh songs and designing artwork for a school mural. Older pupils learn about the lives of coal miners and use the community allotment to grow and harvest vegetables to make food items such as ‘oggies’, a food item that local coal miners ate whilst at work. These activities foster a strong sense of ‘cynefin’ by deepening pupils’ understanding of their local heritage and Wales.