HJS Curriculum
Curriculum Lead: Ben Paull
At Howard Junior School, we believe that children should learn more and remember more over time. Our curriculum is carefully designed as a progression model, where knowledge is built step by step in a clear and coherent sequence. This ensures that every child, regardless of their starting point, can make meaningful connections and develop a deep understanding of the world around them.
For our teachers – particularly those working with mixed age classes – knowing what pupils have already learned is crucial. The American psychologist David Ausubel once said: “The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly” (Ausubel, 1968). Similarly, Professor Graham Nuthall’s research reminds us that on average, children already know around 40–50% of what is being taught, but the challenge is that every child knows a different 50% (Nuthall, 2007). At Howard Junior, this reinforces the importance of teachers knowing both the curriculum and their pupils exceptionally well.
To meet this challenge, our curriculum is tailored for mixed age learning, running on a carefully structured two-year cycle. Some units are taught every other year, while others are designed specifically to support mixed age learning and are taught annually. This ensures that children are consistently challenged and supported, while also covering the full breadth of curriculum knowledge.
Certain subjects follow a hierarchical sequence, where concepts must be taught in a precise order. For example, in Science, pupils first explore what plants need to grow before moving on to how they reproduce – it would not make sense to learn about seed dispersal without first understanding how a seed becomes a plant. Likewise, in Geography, children study aerial views before progressing to more complex relief maps. This approach allows us to carefully scaffold learning in mixed age classes, offering support for those encountering new content and providing stretch for those with more prior knowledge.
Other areas of the curriculum are more cumulative and flexible in sequencing. For instance, pupils might study Australia before South America, or vice versa, while still developing a strong global understanding. What matters is that over time, children build on prior knowledge, make links between units, and retain what they have learned.
At Howard Junior School, our bespoke mixed age curriculum includes clear guidance within each lesson to help teachers support progression across the year groups. Current examples of our tailored mixed age units include:
- Science: Plants (Years 3–4, 5–6)
- Science: Human Body (3–4, 5-6)
- Geography: Spatial Sense (Years 3–4, 5–6)
Through this carefully sequenced curriculum, Howard Junior School pupils learn more, remember more, and achieve more, preparing them not only for the next stage of education, but also for a lifetime of curiosity and success.
Individual subject overviews and further information are available under each subject heading.