Ballycastle Road, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 2ER

028 7034 4597

dradcliffe589@c2kni.net

Harpur's Hill Primary School

Achieving Success Through Respect and Encouragement

Curriculum

All children are taught according to the areas of study, prescribed under the Northern Ireland Curriculum. Through this we aim to develop each child to his/her full potential, not only intellectually, but physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and we will provide the basic skills to enable a child to work towards attaining these goals.

At present, with the introduction of the Revised Curriculum, many changes are taking place throughout the education sector in Northern Ireland. At Harpur’s Hill Primary School, we will endeavour to implement these new initiatives as seamlessly as possible, (as detailed in our School Development Plan), ensuring that every child’s educational development is paramount.

 

For information on all aspects of the curriculum click on the web address below:

Foundation Stage

https://ccea.org.uk/foundation-stage

 

Key Stage 1 and 2 

http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/key_stages_1_and_2/areas_of_learning/ 

 

LITERACY - SCHOOL LIBRARY

To see how your child is doing in their reading tests, click on the following link - Accelerated Reader using your child's individual user name and password. (Please contact your child's class teacher if they have forgotten this!) To find out more check out A Parent's Guide to Accelerated Reader.

 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

All classes receive un-denominational religious education each day; either through collective worship in assembly or through class lessons. Parents may withdraw their children from R.E. classes and Assembly by informing the Principal of their wishes. Such pupils will have alternative supervision.



MUSIC

Music plays an important part in the school curriculum and all children are trained through a part-time music teacher. Children with the required aptitude are offered tuition in brass instruments and the school’s steel band. The school has a policy for promoting all forms of music, speech and drama. After school activities are available for children who wish to further develop their interest in these areas and pupils are encouraged to perform in assembly, school productions and at local festivals, where we have enjoyed great success in recent years.



Shared Education

Education for Mutual Understanding and an awareness of our Cultural Heritage also form an important part of our curriculum. The school develops links with other children from the local community and shared projects with St. Malachy’s Primary School help to build up lasting friendships. The school enjoys funding from the EA for this work and the children derive many benefits from the social contact with other children.



P.E. AND GAMES

The school provides all pupils with opportunities to:

  • Experience a range of sports
  • Be aware of the benefits of sport in terms of healthy lifestyles and physical well-being
  • Develop sports skills
  • Create an awareness of the benefits of team work.


All children are expected to take part in physical education, unless they are medically excused. Classes are timetabled for physical education and full use is made of our P.E. hall, playground, grass pitch and multi-use sports facility. When the weather forces us indoors, we are very fortunate that we can avail of the excellent soft-surface 5-a-side pitch based at Sunlea Youth Centre, adjacent to the school.



SWIMMING LESSONS

Children from P5-P7 are taken in turn to Coleraine Leisure Centre during the school day for swimming lessons. At the end of each series of lessons of around ten weeks, the children are tested and given distance certificates according to their performance.



HOMEWORK

Pupils will be expected to do homework ranging from a few minutes reading preparation in Primary 1 to 45 minutes written work in Primary 7. From Primary 3, children will have spellings and tables to learn, increasing in volume, with age, up to Primary 7. Please ensure that the work is neatly presented. Depending on the maturity of your child, he/she would be allowed to do as much as possible with the minimum of supervision. However, parents are encouraged to work with their children explaining points and praising effort.


EDUCATIONAL VISITS

These are viewed as a vital part of a child’s educational and social development and all children are encouraged to take part in educational visits throughout the year. The visits range from half-day and day visits for the younger children, to those of a week’s duration for the more senior classes. The consent of parents is always obtained before children are taken out of school and the cost of these trips is covered by voluntary contribution from the parents.

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