Thinking about the Peterborough Curriculum

We’ve been talking with the five schools taking part in the Peterborough Curriculum project for a couple of months, and it’s already sparking lots of exciting ideas about how schools might work with their local community. Gemma Brown, a teacher from Dogsthorpe Junior School, shares what she’s been thinking…

"On first being given this project at Dogsthorpe Junior School, I was confident that we could make a difference in how our young learners perceive their local area. I immediately began looking into what the school already do to utilise the services and people around Peterborough. It became clear that although we were a school who are using the local area, we probably don’t do it enough. Were school visits being taken close to home or further afield for the sake of feeling like you’d done a proper trip? How many people from local business had been used? What community links are strong; which community links were worth strengthening?

Having taken on whole school initiatives before, I knew it was wise to tentatively integrate new ideas and thought it best to support one year group in completing a Peterborough based curriculum project for the first year, leaving the rest of school to pursue their agreed themes. However, after reflecting and looking into the theme areas for all four year groups, I have decided to change my approach. Discussions both with other Peterborough Curriculum champions out loud and internally (mulling over the impact of different strategies,) I have arrived at the idea that I will encourage each year group to lead one of their themes using as many Peterborough links as possible. I will then ask the team leaders to review the links they have made and say whether it is worth pursuing as a ongoing relationship.

I am conscious this will evolve and change and am ready to embrace all the opportunities for our young people. Watch this space!"