The Broader Curriculum
At The Grange we offer our pupils a broad and balanced curriculum. Our curriculum reaches far beyond the classroom, we provide opportunities for children to participate in a number of events and activities designed to both enhance the delivery of the statutory National Curriculum and provide learning opportunities beyond the statutory requirements.
This section of the website gives a brief outline of some of the curriculum enhancements that we provide.
Sports
In addition to the statutory Physical Education Curriculum, we provide children with the opportunity to take part in a number of competitive events both in school and against other schools. We compete in the following events.
- Indoor athletics championships
- Basketball tournament
- Cross country championships
- Girls football tournaments
- Highland Games championships
- Swimming Gala
- Boccia championships
- Reception School Games Festival
- Netball tournament
- New age curling tournament
- Football - Griffith Cup
- Football – Fay Cup
- Football – Bootle and District League
(further details on the school’s sporting achievements can be found in the sports premium section of the school website)
Junior Chef Academy
All children from Year One to Year Six have the opportunity to participate in a Junior Chef workshop. This is a well established annual event where children make a meal or snack to take home under the guidance of a trained chef and his staff. T
"Junior Chef's Academy is all about helping young people make smarter choices about healthy eating by making food education Fun."
Music and Drama
All children in Key Stage Two mainstream classes have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument; either a djembe drum or a ukulele. In addition to this children had the opportunity to take part in the following curriculum enhancements.
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School choir have sang in the ‘Young Voices’ concert in Manchester Arena
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School choir sing in old people’s homes at Christmas
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School choir have sang at the Pride of Sefton Awards
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All children in take part in annual school productios
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Science Week
We hold an annual science fairs in school, there are organised by the pupils. We invite visitors to school for example ‘Mad Science’ - a company that visit schools to inspire and excite children with science . All Science Weeks are based on a theme, most recently, classes completed a number of science investigations linked to books by Roald Dahl. The week culminated in a Science Fair that was hosted by children from each class. This was followed by a helium balloon race where every child released a balloon from the playground. The first balloon was found on the Yorkshire Moors within an hour of the launch.
Cycling
Bike it
Children in Year Two and Year Three have a cycling training day on the school playground. By the end of these sessions most of the children who could not previously rides a bicycle, learn how to ride a bicycle without stabilisers.
Bikeability
Bikeability is today’s cycle training programme. It’s like cycling proficiency, but better. It’s about gaining practical skills and understanding how to cycle on today’s roads. Bikeability gives everyone the skills and confidence for all kinds of cycling.
There are three Bikeability levels, each designed to improve cycling skills, no matter what is known already. Levels 1, 2 and 3 take trainees from the basics of balance and control, all the way to planning and making an independent journey on busier roads.
Catch 22
Catch 22 is a registered charity that works with the children in Year Five and Year 6. They run workshops aimed at raising awareness of issues such as child sexual exploitation, drugs and gangs.
Residential trips
Every year we provide the opportunity for all children in Year Four, Year Five and Year Six to go on a residential visit. Children from Year Four and Year Five have the opportunity to visit Crosby Hall - a local center set in spectacular woodland owned by Crosby Hall Educational Trust. Children in Year Six visit Lakeside Adventure Centre, Windemere.
"Research shows that school trips and outdoor learning can improve academic achievement and make students more willing to learn. And at Lakeside we offer so much more. Our outdoor education programmes are designed around your students and young people, no matter what their needs, background or learning objectives.
On the shores of Lake Windermere, they’ll be taken out of their comfort zone. They’ll learn to work as a team, trust themselves and one another, and take on challenges they never thought possible – all while having the time of their lives." (Lakeside Website)
https://www.lakesideymca.co.uk/
"The value of residential courses for children is widely recognised; a period of community living is seen as an essential part of a child’s social and educational development. Immersion in this beautiful and friendly environment, away from the distractions and pressures of everyday life, can benefit students of all ages, often allowing previously undiscovered talents to emerge. We offer a number of options (see below), providing full board, freshly prepared nutritional meals and a comprehensive timetable of activities for residential stays. Having recently extended our facilities we are now able to accommodate up to 60 children, with all groups benefitting from sole occupancy." (CHET website)
Move It
Move It is a six week exercise and nutrition program aimed at pupils wanting to improve their health and fitness. During the sessions children receive healthy eating tips and take part in multi sports activities, fitness circuits and nutrition based games.
Charitable Giving
- Children in need
- Remembrance Poppies
- Comic Relief
- Smile Challenge
Scrambler Bike Project
Children in Year Six work with Merseyside Police on a project to raise awareness of the dangers and community impact of the illegal use of scrambler motorbikes. Children who have won competitions as part of this project have visited Lapland and have been on skiing holidays.
Curriculum Enhancements and Class trips and visits
The following off-site educational visits took place during the autumn term:
- Choir Club Performed a selection of songs for the residents at James Dixon Court, St. Nicholas’ Nursing Home and The Park Hotel
- Class One Local Area Walk
- Class Four Chester Zoo
- KS2 Classes Performed a selection of seasonal songs at St. Oswald’s
- Church
- Year Six Crosby Lakeside Activity Centre – Scrambler Bike Project
- Year Six Croxteth Fire Station – Scrambler Bike Project
- Class Two Liverpool Museum and Waterfront
- Class Twelve Chester Zoo
- Class Two Local Area Walk (canal)
- Class Three Southport Eco Centre
- Year Four Liverpool Museum and Walker Art Gallery
- Class Five Crucial Crew Safety Day (Formby)
- Class Eleven Calderstones Park – Story Barn and Grotto
- Class Six Chester Zoo
- Class Five (x4) Mathematics Challenge at Litherland High School
The following off-site educational visits and curriculum enhancements took place during the spring term:
- Launch of new general knowledge homework initiative
- TT Rockstars ‘Battle of the Bands’
- Eco Committee members appointed
- Diamond Dash tables contests in assemblies
- Year Five and Year Six Indoor Athletics (Won lots of races)
- Year Two football team (brilliant) – runners up with Mr E, winners with Mr H
- Scrambler bike competition presentation evening at Merseyside Police Headquarters
- Year Six residential visit to Lakeside (not one bed had to be made by staff!)
- Swimming Gala (All of team from Year 4 and 5 – good for next year!)
- Skiing Trip to Scotland for four Class Six children
- World Book Day and ‘Book in a Box’ competition
- Year Four and Year Five residential visit to Crosby Hall
- Year Three and Year Four Indoor Athletics
- ARIB team at Highland Games
- Fire Service visit to Class Seven and Nursery
- Class Nine at Grand National Multi Skills event
- Class Four (three children) visit to Houses of Parliament (see below)
- Deaf Active working with Key Stage One and ARIB classes
- Class Two visit to Clitheroe Castle
- Class one visit to Knowsley Safari Park
- Tree planting at Killen Green Park
After School Clubs affiliated to Children's University
- Busy Club
- Choir
- Circuit Training
- Cookery
- Community Garden
- Creative Crafts
- Cross country Running
- Digital Leaders
- Discovery Club
- Drama and Props
- Film Workshop
- Football
- Football Tots
- Gardening
- Netball
- Outdoor Activity Club
- Playtime Pals Games
- Story Club
- Study Support
- Winter Crafts
- Yoga