At Airedale Infant Academy, our core Trust values of Care, Aspire and Succeed are at the heart of everything we do. We set high expectations and inspire every pupil to excel during their time with us. Our intention is to ensure that all pupils make the best possible progress and that our curriculum removes barriers to learning through a bespoke offer that reflects the needs of our community. We want every child to leave our academy with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will create excellent life opportunities and prepare them exceptionally well for life beyond school.

Our school offers a broad and balanced curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils. It prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern Britain, while fostering a love of learning and a curiosity about the world around them.

We view curriculum design as an evolving and dynamic process that is continually evaluated and refined. In developing our curriculum, we carefully consider:

• The needs and character of our children;
• Their prior learning and experiences;
• The statutory requirements of the National Curriculum for KS1.
• Educational research that is relevant and beneficial to our academy.

The National Curriculum provides the foundation of core knowledge around which we build engaging, stimulating and meaningful learning experiences. However, we believe that the National Curriculum is just one element of a child's education. Therefore, we ensure there is time and space within the school day, week and year to extend learning beyond statutory requirements.

Our curriculum introduces pupils to the essential knowledge they need to become educated and responsible citizens. It encourages an appreciation of the best that has been thought, created and achieved throughout history, while nurturing creativity, aspiration and achievement. Through a rich range of experiences, enrichment opportunities and cultural encounters, pupils develop the cultural capital they need to become successful, well-rounded individuals.

Our Curriculum Learning Attitudes

Our Curriculum Learning Attitudes underpin all teaching and learning. They are the key values of the school and are taught, revisited and reinforced throughout all elements of the school day.

How is our curriculum implemented?

We believe that a carefully planned, well-sequenced curriculum is the foundation upon which excellent learning and personal development are built. Using the National Curriculum as a basis, our curriculum planning builds on pupils' prior knowledge and experiences while looking ahead to the knowledge and skills needed for successful transition to Key Stage 2.

We have designed a curriculum that focuses on embedding both substantive knowledge (what pupils know) and disciplinary knowledge (how pupils think and work within different subjects). Learning is carefully sequenced to provide regular opportunities for recall and retrieval, helping pupils to know more, remember more and understand more over time. This approach ensures that knowledge is securely stored in pupils' long-term memory and can be applied confidently in new contexts.

Through clear progression, purposeful sequencing and high-quality teaching, we ensure that pupils develop a deep understanding of key concepts and make meaningful connections across their learning. This enables them to become confident, knowledgeable and reflective learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for lifelong success.

Religious Education 

Religious Education (RE) is delivered across all year groups and is aligned to the Wakefield SACRE agreed syllabus. It is further supported through our wider personal development programme. Children have regular lessons: experience trips and visits; and assemblies through our RE programme.

We teach RE so that our children understand and have a respect for their own and others’ beliefs and ways of life. We aim to provoke challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. RE should enable children to reflect on their own ideas of religion and way of life.

Our Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy can also be viewed on our Policies page. 

Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from RE lessons if they wish. For more information, please see our PHSRE Policy and guidance on the withdrawal process.  Please note that content taught that is part of the science curriculum, or personal social and health education curriculum, are statutory and parents cannot withdraw from this.

Further Information 

To explore individual subjects in more detail, including what pupils study in each year group, please visit our Curriculum Subject Pages. 

Parents, carers, or members of the public who would like more information about the curriculum can contact us at info@aia.castlefordtrust.co.uk.