At Harston and Newton Primary School, we want every child to become an independent, confident and articulate learner who enjoys the challenge of learning. We aim for all pupils to make strong academic, social and emotional progress, while developing respect for themselves, for others and for the world around them.
Our curriculum is broad, balanced and rooted in the National Curriculum (2014). We are particularly proud of our music and PE provision. Learning is brought to life through hands‑on experiences in the classroom, around the school grounds and through trips and visits. Wherever possible, we make meaningful links between subjects—for example, choosing high‑quality English texts that connect with the history or geography topic of the term.
As a village school, we have some mixed‑age classes, and our structure is reviewed each year to reflect local demographics. To ensure continuity, we have mapped out the progression of key skills in every subject and track these carefully. English, maths and science are usually taught separately, while each class studies a half‑termly topic with a history or geography focus. When natural links to subjects such as art, design technology or music appear, we use them; when they don’t, we teach these subjects discretely to ensure full coverage. We also place great value on problem‑solving and teamwork, recognising their importance for life beyond school.
Our location near Cambridge gives us fantastic opportunities to work with museums, science organisations and local schools. Specialist teachers lead music, PE and Spanish (taught in Key Stage 2), and we maintain strong partnerships with other primaries in our cluster. We are committed to continually improving our curriculum, and in 2019 we were proud to achieve the Primary Science Quality Mark, Artsmark Silver and the Platinum School Games Award.
Art, craft and design are powerful forms of creativity. Our curriculum aims to inspire pupils, build their confidence and equip them with the skills to experiment, create and think critically about art. Children learn how art reflects culture and history, and how it continues to shape the world around us.
At Harston and Newton Community Primary School, pupils:
- produce creative work, exploring ideas and recording experiences
- develop skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and a range of techniques
- evaluate and discuss art, using appropriate vocabulary
- learn about significant artists, craft makers and designers from different times and cultures
How we deliver this:
- Kapow Primary planning ensures clear progression across all year groups
- Diverse artists and art forms are embedded throughout the curriculum
- Visiting artists enrich learning and inspire pupils
- Art and Craft Club is offered to KS2 pupils
In EYFS, children develop early expressive arts skills through drawing, colour mixing, exploring materials and representing emotions, following Development Matters.
National Curriculum links
- KS1: Children use a range of materials, explore drawing/painting/sculpture, develop basic techniques and learn about different artists.
- KS2: Children refine their control of materials, use sketchbooks to develop ideas, master a wider range of techniques and study great artists, architects and designers.
Our Computing curriculum aims to give children the skills and confidence to use technology safely, responsibly and creatively. Pupils learn how technology works, how to use it to solve problems, and how to make informed choices about their online behaviour. Learning is carefully sequenced so that skills build year on year, and children experience a wide range of digital tools that support learning across the curriculum.
We follow a broad and progressive curriculum using the Kapow Primary scheme, adapted to suit our mixed‑age classes. All pupils have a weekly Computing lesson, with work stored on J2e and unplugged activities recorded in class folders. Computing is woven through the wider curriculum so that technology enhances learning wherever appropriate.
Children enjoy Computing and understand both the purpose and value of what they are learning. They develop creativity, independence and digital responsibility, and can talk confidently about their work. Progress is monitored through reviewing pupils’ work over time, observing learning in lessons and discussing understanding with children. By the end of primary school, pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need for future study and for an increasingly digital world.
Design and Technology at Harston and Newton Community Primary School enables pupils to become creative, resourceful and practical problem‑solvers. Children learn to design and make products for real purposes, drawing on knowledge from maths, science, computing, engineering and art. They develop the confidence to take risks, evaluate their ideas and understand how design and technology shape everyday life.
We aim for all pupils to:
- develop creative, technical and practical skills for an increasingly technological world
- design and make high‑quality products for a range of users
- evaluate and improve their own work and the work of others
- understand nutrition and learn how to cook
We use the Kapow Primary scheme to ensure clear progression of skills across all year groups. Lessons follow a structured design‑make‑evaluate cycle and give pupils opportunities to work with a wide range of tools, materials and components.
In EYFS, following Development Matters, children explore materials freely, build simple models, join and adapt resources, notice changes, and express ideas through imaginative making.
Pupils develop confidence, creativity and practical capability. They can talk about their design choices, evaluate products thoughtfully and apply technical knowledge with increasing independence. Their work shows clear progression in designing, making and evaluating, and they leave primary school with essential skills for future learning and everyday life.
At Harston and Newton Community Primary School, we aim to develop children’s fluency in—and love for—the English language. As a core subject, English underpins learning across the curriculum, so we place high importance on building strong skills in speaking, reading and writing.
We want every child to:
- enjoy reading and writing, and see both as valuable and pleasurable
- leave primary school as a confident reader, writer and speaker
Our teaching of English is engaging, purposeful and rooted in real‑life contexts. By developing secure language skills, children learn to communicate creatively and effectively, preparing them for future learning and for life in a literate society.
At Harston and Newton, Geography is a valued and engaging part of our curriculum. We believe it sparks curiosity, builds children’s understanding of the world and helps them make sense of their place within it. Through studying places, people and environments, pupils develop key geographical skills and a deeper awareness of how the Earth and its communities are connected.
Geography at our school is practical and investigative. Children learn through real experiences, including fieldwork, mapwork and first‑hand observation, which help them understand both their local area and the wider world.
Key Stage 1 Pupils develop early locational knowledge and learn about the UK, the world’s continents and oceans, and their own locality. They begin to use geographical vocabulary, simple maps, globes and aerial photographs, and explore human and physical features through practical activities and fieldwork.
Key Stage 2 Pupils extend their knowledge to include Europe, North and South America, and significant global physical and human features. They deepen their understanding of climate, biomes, settlements, land use and natural resources. They develop more advanced mapping skills, use digital mapping tools and carry out structured fieldwork to observe, measure and present geographical information.
We aim for all pupils to:
- understand British history as a clear chronological story, from the earliest times to the present, recognising how people’s lives have shaped the nation and how Britain has interacted with the wider world
- develop knowledge of significant global history, including ancient civilisations, empires and non‑European societies
- use key historical vocabulary such as empire, civilisation, parliament and peasantry with confidence
- apply historical concepts—continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, significance—to make connections, ask thoughtful questions and create well‑structured accounts
- understand historical enquiry, using evidence carefully and recognising how and why different interpretations of the past are formed
Key Stage 1
Pupils explore:
- changes within living memory
- significant national and global events beyond living memory
- the lives of important individuals who have contributed to achievements across history
- significant people, places and events in their local area
Key Stage 2
Pupils study:
- British history from the Stone Age to the Anglo‑Saxons and Vikings
- the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
- a local history unit
- a post‑1066 theme or aspect of British history
- early civilisations (e.g., Ancient Egypt, Indus Valley, Sumer or Shang Dynasty)
- Ancient Greece and its influence on the western world
- a contrasting non‑European society (e.g., early Islamic civilisation, Mayan civilisation or Benin)
At Harston and Newton, we teach Mathematics daily in line with the National Curriculum, covering number, geometry, measurement and statistics. Our aim is for all children to become confident, independent and enthusiastic mathematicians.
We follow a mastery approach, ensuring pupils develop strong conceptual understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem‑solving skills. Learning is introduced in small, carefully sequenced steps, supported by models, images and practical resources that help children move from concrete to pictorial and then abstract understanding.
Number fluency is a key priority. Children regularly practise number bonds, times tables and mental calculation strategies so they can apply these skills efficiently when tackling more complex work.
Where possible, lessons include the five elements of mastery: representation and structure, small steps, fluency, mathematical thinking and variation. Teachers plan units across the year to ensure full coverage of National Curriculum objectives and clear progression for every child.
At Harston and Newton, our music curriculum aims to inspire a life‑long love of music. We want every child to grow in confidence, creativity and imagination, and to experience the joy of expressing themselves through sound. Children develop their musical talents across composition, performance, singing and listening, both in lessons and through wider opportunities.
Music helps children understand the world around them, connect with different cultures and feel part of a community. All pupils have regular opportunities to create, play, perform and evaluate music, and to explore a wide range of musical styles. They learn to use musical vocabulary, understand how music is structured, and read and devise simple notation.
We believe strongly in the power of live music. Pupils regularly work with visiting professional musicians and take part in collaborative projects with other schools and organisations. These experiences have included workshops and performances with groups such as Grand Union Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Goldfield Ensemble and The Young ’Uns, as well as large‑scale events including Britten’s Friday Afternoons, Noye’s Fludde and other regional and international projects.
All children learn tuned and untuned percussion, and pupils in Years 4–6 also learn ukulele and steel pans. Our commitment to high‑quality music education has been recognised by Music Mark.
Music is embedded across school life through classroom lessons, weekly singing assemblies, concerts, instrumental learning and ensemble opportunities. Children can also take part in instrumental tuition (piano, drums, brass, strings, woodwind and guitar), recorder groups, a ukulele club and our school choir, Humming & Notes. The choir performs widely in the community and has sung at major venues including Cambridge Corn Exchange, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Saffron Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.
At Harston & Newton Community Primary School, we recognise the vital role Physical Education plays in children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. We are committed to promoting health and wellbeing, and we understand the positive impact that regular physical activity and sport have on children’s lives.
We provide a broad and balanced PE curriculum that builds pupils’ confidence in managing their bodies across a wide range of movement situations. Children experience individual, team, co‑operative and competitive activities, ensuring all needs and abilities are supported. Our curriculum promotes the benefits of exercise and is underpinned by the School Games Values: Teamwork, Determination, Self‑Belief, Respect, Honesty and Passion.
PE is taught through progressive learning objectives and varied teaching approaches that create stimulating, challenging and enjoyable lessons. All pupils receive two PE lessons per week, delivered across our hall, playground, field and on‑site swimming pool. The curriculum includes:
- gymnastics
- dance
- games
- athletics
- outdoor and adventurous activities
- swimming
A specialist part‑time PE teacher leads the subject and works alongside staff and the South Cambs School Sports Partnership to enhance provision.
EYFS pupils develop fundamental movement skills through daily physical play, outdoor provision, Forest School and twice‑weekly structured PE sessions. They also build water confidence in the summer term.
KS1 focuses on fundamental skills, early tactical awareness and physical literacy through ball skills, team games, dance, gymnastics, athletics and swimming.
KS2 pupils refine and apply skills across a wider range of sports, developing as confident games players, dancers, gymnasts and athletes. Outdoor and adventurous activities further enrich their experience.
Physical activity extends beyond PE lessons. Children can join a wide range of extracurricular clubs—including football, netball, cricket, hockey and athletics—and take part in inter‑house and inter‑school competitions. Daily activity is embedded through initiatives such as The Daily Mile, active breaktimes, playground games, skipping, dance and pupil‑led activities through our Y5 Play Leaders.
By the end of each key stage, pupils demonstrate strong proficiency across all areas of PE. They understand the link between physical activity and good health and are motivated to lead active lifestyles. Many children continue their sporting interests through school clubs and local community teams. Our commitment to high‑quality PE is reflected in our long‑standing School Games Platinum Award and recognition as School of the Year for School Sport.
All schools must teach Religious Education (RE) to pupils on roll, unless parents choose to withdraw their child. At Harston & Newton Community Primary School, we follow the Cambridgeshire Agreed Syllabus, which reflects the legal requirement that RE in Great Britain should be mainly Christian while also exploring other principal world religions.
In Reception, children explore how major festivals—such as Christmas, Easter and Diwali—are celebrated.
From Year 1 to Year 6, pupils study Christianity each year alongside a different world faith. Learning is structured through a Community of Enquiry approach, where a key question (for example, Why is Christmas important for Christians?) is explored through discussion and smaller enquiry questions.
RE teaching focuses on two key areas:
- AT1: Learning about religion and belief – understanding beliefs, teachings, practices and ways of life across different faiths
- AT2: Learning from religion and belief – reflecting on questions of identity, belonging, values, meaning and purpose, and making links to the religions studied
RE contributes significantly to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Children are encouraged to reflect on their own beliefs and values, and to appreciate those of others. Learning is enriched through visits to places of worship and visitors from faith communities, including parents.
The right to withdraw from RE
In England, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from RE. We would hope that you would contact us in the first instance so that we can discuss concerns and together put alternative arrangements in place to support your child.
You will find more information on the right to withdraw and how to handle an application at https://www.natre.org.uk/
At Harston & Newton Community Primary School, our Science curriculum follows the National Curriculum and covers biology, chemistry, physics and scientific enquiry. We want children to leave us as confident, curious and enthusiastic scientists who can ask questions, investigate ideas and explain the world around them.
Our teaching encourages pupils to explore, experiment and raise their own questions—Why? How?, What happens if…? Children learn to use scientific vocabulary accurately and apply their knowledge to make sense of what they observe.
- In Key Stage 1, Science may be taught within a wider topic or as a discrete unit when appropriate.
- In Key Stage 2, pupils are taught weekly Science lessons in year groups, ensuring full coverage of National Curriculum objectives.
Each unit includes both knowledge‑based learning and at least one investigative task. Through these enquiries, children develop key skills such as planning, selecting equipment, working safely, measuring accurately, comparing results and choosing effective ways to present their findings.
The curriculum is organised into six half‑termly units per year group. Teachers use sample planning as a guide but adapt lessons to meet the needs of their class and to create meaningful links with other subjects, particularly English, Maths and Computing.
Teachers assess pupils’ understanding through questioning, discussion and written work. This informs future planning and supports progression. Attainment against National Curriculum objectives is recorded using Target Tracker.