Head Teacher

Rachel Tomlinson

Deputy Head Teacher

Laura Rostron

Long Term Plans

Long-Term Plans at Barrowford School

At Barrowford School, we believe in providing a rich and engaging curriculum that not only covers the National Curriculum but also encourages a deep, meaningful connection to learning. Our long-term plans are designed to guide our pupils through a dynamic and project-based learning journey, where each year group tackles a series of carefully crafted projects that are structured to inspire, challenge, and empower every child.

Curriculum Overview

Our long-term plans follow the National Curriculum and incorporate the Lancashire progression steps to break down content further, ensuring that we meet the specific needs of our pupils while also pushing their learning forward. We map out key subject areas across the year, ensuring a balance of core subjects like English, Maths, and Science, and foundation subjects such as Geography, History, Art, Music, and more. Each year group’s curriculum is designed to build on previous learning, supporting progression and mastery across the full spectrum of subjects.

Project-Based Learning

Our projects are often framed around overarching themes such as History, Geography, or Science. These project themes form the core of our curriculum for the term, and all other subject areas are carefully integrated into these projects to create a comprehensive, cross-curricular learning experience. By using a project-based approach, children engage with real-world topics and questions that connect their learning to both local and global contexts. At the heart of each project is a ‘big question’—a guiding inquiry that children explore and attempt to answer by the end of the project. This approach helps to provide a clear focus for their learning, making it purposeful and meaningful.

Child-Led Learning and Social Action

Projects at Barrowford are led by the children. We encourage independent thinking, critical reflection, and collaboration throughout the learning process. Pupils are given the opportunity to drive their own learning, exploring areas of interest within the broader project themes. This allows them to develop a deeper connection to the subject matter, fostering curiosity and a sense of ownership over their education.

Every project culminates in an outcome—often a piece of work or presentation that demonstrates the learning and progress made during the project. In line with our commitment to making learning matter, all projects conclude with a form of social action or change, where children take the knowledge they have gained and apply it to real-world issues, empowering them to become changemakers in their communities.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Barrowford, equality, diversity, and inclusion are woven into every aspect of our curriculum. This “golden thread” ensures that our teaching is reflective of the diverse world we live in, making it accessible and meaningful for every child. Our curriculum challenges stereotypes, promotes fairness, and fosters an environment where every child feels valued and empowered. We actively celebrate diversity by exploring multiple perspectives, voices, and experiences across all subjects, and we ensure that all children can see themselves reflected in the learning. Through our commitment to anti-racism, inclusivity, and accessibility, we aim to create an environment where all pupils feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.

Purposeful and Meaningful Learning

At Barrowford School, we ensure that all of our projects are purposeful, engaging, and meaningful, bringing the learning to life for every child. We use storytelling to create a make-believe world, where children are fully aware that the stories are fictional. This approach allows us to introduce real-life concepts in a safe and engaging way, without overwhelming children. Through ‘let’s say’ scenarios, children explore how these concepts might play out in the real world, enabling them to empathise with the issues and gain a deeper understanding.

By linking the learning in our subjects to these made-up stories, children are able to see how the knowledge they acquire connects to real-life situations. As they work through these fictional stories, they develop a sense of agency and purpose, using their newfound understanding to bring about change within the ‘storyworld’. This leads to meaningful social action, whether big or small, within our local area and school community. By doing so, we ensure that every child’s learning has a real purpose, and that they are empowered to make a positive impact both in their fictional world and the real one.

Celebrations, Events, and Exhibitions

Our long-term plans also highlight key celebrations and events that take place throughout the year. These provide an opportunity for pupils to showcase their work, celebrate their achievements, and engage with the wider community. Exhibition events at the end of each project allow pupils to present their learning outcomes to peers, parents, and other stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of their work and encouraging a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Summary

At Barrowford School, our long-term plans provide a structured yet flexible framework for delivering a curriculum that nurtures the whole child. Through project-based learning, a focus on social action, and a strong commitment to equality and inclusion, we ensure that every child receives a broad, engaging, and meaningful education. Our approach allows children to not only gain academic knowledge but also develop the skills, values, and mindset needed to become responsible, empathetic global citizens.

Please click the links to view our long terms plans for each year:

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