Classes

School organisation and classes.
We currently have 132 pupils on roll. All of our classes have mixed year groups and sometimes we have to split year groups. This gives our children the opportunity to work with children who are younger or older than the year group that they are in and allows them to develop good cooperative work skills. It also gives them experience of being the older role models and helps them to develop leadership skills. Currently we have five classes, two in Key Stage 1, and three in Key Stage 2.

Statement for School Structure and Organisation

Every year we organise our classes based upon the numbers in each year group. With a planned admission number of less than 30 children each year, this means a number of our year groups are split. The best structure for each school year is carefully considered.

The process cannot take place until after the school receives notification of allocated new reception intake for September, as well as consideration for in year admissions for other year groups. 

For each school year we have to look closely at every year group, consider the numbers across the school and work out the best option for each class. This is never easy with seven year groups (Reception to Year 6) and fewer classes. We always have to split some year groups in some way. If your child attends an Exe Valley Federation school, they may be placed in a split year group class at some point. 

When dividing a year group between two classes, the split is based on age, with older pupils being placed into the class with the older year group, for example, older Year 1 children go with Year 2, and younger Year 1 children with Reception.

In every class, teaching is adapted to make sure that children learn at the right level, regardless of their chronological age. We make every effort to give children opportunities to see friends in other classes on a regular basis; for example, on residential visits in Key Stage 2.

There may be exceptional circumstances where it is appropriate for this decision may be overridden and this decision will be made by school leaders in consultation with other professionals.

Heads of School will be able to talk through the way the classes are arranged at each school.  The class structure is reviewed carefully by senior leaders every year; this decision will lie ultimately with the Head of School and Executive Headteacher.

Curriculum Enrichment at Whimple.
We are absolutely committed to ensuring that our children receive a broad and balanced curriculum which is further enhanced and enriched by using opportunities in our locality and further afield to bring our children's learning alive. We have excellent links with our local community and use many of the villages resources to support learning.
We recognise the importance of being able to respond to local and national events and reflect these in our curriculum to promote active citizenship.
As a Skills Builder Partnership School, we achieved a Gold Award in July 2024. Now the skills are embedded throughout the school day, offering opportunities for all involved to develop and improve their own skills. 
The websites listed below will also help you to support your childrens home learning.

Useful websites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/  - lots of things for all areas of the curriculum

Primary Homework Help | Online Games For Kids - BBC Bitesize - maths, English and science activities for key stage two

 

Curriculum
Because we have mixed classes, we work to a two-year rolling curriculum plan (with a few tweaks). This ensures that all children cover all of the programmes of study for each subject. The curriculum is based on themes with explicit teaching of some areas such as phonics, grammar and punctuation and mental maths strategies. Each term we send out curriculum newsletters for each class so that you know what your child is learning and can help support them at home. The curriculum newsletters can be found on each classes page. Click on the class links to find out more about each classes curriculum and to see pictures of the classes at work.

Every state-funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, and which:

  • promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and
  • prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

The school curriculum comprises all learning and other experiences that each school plans for its pupils. The national curriculum forms one part of the school curriculum. All state schools are also required to make provision for a daily act of collective worship and must teach religious education to pupils at every Key Stage.

All schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), drawing on good practice. Schools are also free to include other subjects or topics of their choice in planning and designing their own programme of education.

 
Find below our detailed calculation policies to help you support your child in mathematics throughout their primary education.