At Mount Pleasant, we are passionate about providing the best possible learning opportunities for everyone. We aim to develop resilience, independence and resourcefulness in our pupils in order to give them the skills - as well as knowledge - that they need to be prepared for life. Our children are taught to understand that learning is a lifelong skill; one that makes a difference to their lives now and in the future. Ensuring that our children are active and involved in their learning, enables them to achieve to their highest potential in all aspects of their education. . Below you will see how our curriculum is organised, our teaching and learning intentions and how we evaluate impact.  A fundamental part of our curriculum is our Darwin Values.  This set of values underpins everything that we do, teaching skills that will prepare our pupils for life.  Children work through school, acquiring and developing these skills in a variety of areas and achieving Darwin Awards at key points in their journey.  Details of this can be found at the bottom of this page.

Skills and knowledge are developed across the curriculum and as children move through school to ensure that they 'master' the knowledge and skills that are required in each subject area.  Teachers plan to ensure that learning builds on existing knowledge and skills. There are no limits on learning here and children are encouraged and enabled to not only achieve mastery but to gain a deeper level of knowledge and understanding wherever possible. Alongside the traditional lessons that you might expect to be taught , we also support our pupils to learn the skills of critical thinking, reasoning about problems, creating solutions to problems set in real life, confident speaking to others and working collaboratively.  In line with Government recommendations, we deliver lessons set out in the National Curriculum.  We feel that our children's knowledge of the world around them begins with building their understanding of their place in the local community, town and wider local area.  Our curriculum has been designed to ensure that pupils learn about significant local historical, geographical and economic features of our town, instilling a sense of pride in the community in which they live. During their time with us, pupils will complete the 'Four Peaks Challenge', climbing four Shropshire hills that are well known local landmarks.  We also offer children many additional opportunities such as the English Speaking Board Examination known as 'Speak up' to help them to develop confidence in speaking, listening, presenting and performing to an audience.

Phonics is taught using mainly the 'Song of Sounds' programme. The teaching of reading is prioritised to ensure that all children learn to read fluently as quickly as possible and that they develop a love of reading.  We use a range of different reading materials to teach reading, including Big Cat Phonics, Rigby Star, Oxford Reading Tree and Bug Club.  Children benefit from a range of reading resources and initiatives and have access to the school's excellent library facilities.

Throughout the academic year, we continue to review and improve the broad and balanced curriculum offered to our children here. We are keen to develop children’s interest in the arts: music, art and design, dance and drama. We have a specialist music teacher who teaches classes weekly and offers opportunities for individual and group instrumental tuition. We enrich the curriculum further by extending opportunities through visiting performers and school trips to a variety of places. There are a wide variety of after school clubs available to our children, such as: sports, computing, art, debating, cooking, drama and many more.  A specialist performing arts company - 'Top Hat' - run a drama club, offering our children the opportunity to develop singing, acting, dance and performance skills.

Our outside space is truly wonderful and includes an extensive and well developed Forest School area.  We employ a full-time Forest School Leader who delivers high quality provision which further enriches the curriculum.  In Forest School, children develop essential skills in collaboration, creative thinking and team building as well as being empowered to follow their own interests and reflect on their choices.

We value the contributions of parents and work in partnership with them to enrich the curriculum. Parents are informed about the curriculum through curriculum letters, our school website, homework, and are positively encouraged to become involved.

Teachers take our long term plans (below) and use them to plan out the year of learning.