English National Curriculum

The English National Curriculum has the potential to challenge and excite all students, whatever their interests or abilities and provides a solid framework from which to expand the skills, knowledge and understanding of all children.

The curriculum for primary school children is broken down into three distinct phases called Key Stages. These are:

1. Early Years Foundation Stage- Nursery and Reception (ages 3-5)
2. Key Stage 1- Year 1 and Year2 (ages 5-7)
3. Key Stage 2- Years 3-6 (ages 7-11)

The Early Years – Nursery and Reception

Four guiding principles underpin the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) setting:

• Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
• The development of positive relationships between teachers, children and parents are essential.
• Children learn and develop in stimulating environments which respond to their individual needs.
• Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

Providing opportunities, and the environment, for children to explore, play, and learn at POWIIS Primary.

Our Nursery and Reception unit is a stimulating child-centred environment where every child can thrive. By building positive and caring relationships, our teachers will create a warm, welcoming and secure setting in which your children feel valued. A strong partnership between home and school is a priority. In the EYFS, the curriculum covers seven areas for learning and development. These areas are planned for on a weekly basis (although amendments are often made daily) with planning remaining flexible and responsive taking into account the children’s interests.

The Seven Areas of Learning and Development

Prime Areas

• Communication and Language Development: speaking, listening, expressing oneself in a rich language environment.
• Physical Development: active, interactive activities developing coordination, control and movement. Also the importance of a healthy diet.
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development: developing a positive sense of self, forming positive relationships, developing respect, managing feelings and appropriate behaviours in groups

Specific Areas

• Literacy Development: linking sounds to letters for early reading and writing, a wide range of reading materials in the environment.
• Mathematics: developing skills in counting, using numbers, noticing patterns, describing shapes and measurements.
• Understanding the World: making sense of the physical world, learn about the community, people and the environment.
• Expressive Arts and Design: using and exploring a wide range of media, expression through art, music, movement, role-play and design.

Key Stage 1 – Year 1 and Year 2

The students from Year 1 onwards will follow the English National Curriculum with adapted content to ensure learning is meaningful and relevant for our context and our students. There is an emphasis on establishing a strong foundation in reading and mathematics which will enable students to access the rich and broad curriculum on offer. Children will build their skills and knowledge in science, geography, history through themed integrated curriculum units e.g. The Rainforest. Technology is woven into all aspects of the curriculum where and when appropriate. Lessons are taught by specialist teachers in music, art, Bahasa, Mandarin, physical education and swimming. Class teachers ensure philosophy and personal, social and emotional health education are a part of the children’s weekly programme.

Key Stage 2 – Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6

In the final four years of primary school, the English National Curriculum is adapted and enhanced to ensure students are inspired, engaged and challenged by relevant topics. A strong framework of skills, knowledge and understanding continues to underpin the children’s learning experience. Themed integrated units also feature in Key Stage 2, however, there is an increasing specialism in the sciences in Year 5 and Year 6. Technology is woven into all aspects of the curriculum where and when appropriate. Lessons are taught by specialist teachers in music, art, Bahasa, Mandarin, physical education and swimming. Class teachers ensure philosophy and personal, social and emotional health education are a part of the children’s weekly programme.

For further details regarding specific subjects please refer to the overview below.

Extra-curricular

The creation of a broad and rich ECA programme is an essential part of school life and ensures all students have the opportunity to develop their talents, build confidence and explore interests above and beyond the curriculum. At POWIIS Primary we aim to offer outstanding extra-curricular provision, which provides significant enrichment to your child’s educational experience. As well as building skills and having fun, an effective ECA programme helps students develop their social skills as they will often be interacting with teachers and students from outside their class or year group. When taking part in the ECA programme, we want our students to have fun, perhaps try something new, enjoy themselves, to build friendships and to work together.

A well-designed ECA programme should provide opportunities for children to:

• Develop their social awareness, group responsibility and empathy
• Extend their talents and skills individually or as part of a team
• Explore interests and take part in activities irrespective of their ability or previous experience*

Key Stage 3: Years 7, 8, 9

For the first three years (Years 7-9) pupils follow a general curriculum that allows them to experience a wide range of subjects before they make choices.

The exception is that there is a choice in the languages where it is necessary to maintain a degree of flexibility to take into account children’s backgrounds and to satisfy Ministry of Education Malaysia requirements for Malaysian children.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum is based mainly on the National Curriculum for England and Wales but is extended and adapted to suit all abilities and to fit the local environment.

All children will have a reasonable level of English when they join the School, but some may still need extra support lessons on a one-to-one or small group basis. 

Curriculum Subjects:

• Mathematics
• Science (taught separately as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from Year 9 onwards)
• English (Language and Literature), English Language Support (as required)
• Languages (Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, French)
• Humanities (History, Geography)
• Arts and Technology (Art, Design Technology, Computing)
• Performing Arts (Music, Drama)
• Physical Education (including Sport and Dance)
• Personal, Social and Health Education (including Moral Education, Islam and Islamic Studies, as required)

Key Stage 4: Years 10 and 11

In Year 10, students begin their IGCSE courses.

Normally pupils take IGCSEs in the five core subjects and choose an additional four option subjects. Some students will also be offered Further Pure Maths and/or English Literature. All courses follow either the Edexcel or CIE IGCSE syllabuses.

All students study the core subjects:

• Mathematics
• English Language (with Literature for some)
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• *Personal, Health and Social Education (including Moral Education, Islam and Islamic Studies, as required)
• *Physical Education (including Sport)
  (* = Non-examined)

In addition, all students choose 4 options, including at least one of History or Geography and one language.
Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (compulsory for Malaysian citizens), Mandarin Chinese, French
Humanities: Business Studies and Economics, Geography, History, Global Perspectives
Arts and Technology: Art, Design Technology, ICT, Computer Science, Drama, Music, Physical Education

We encourage pupils to progress in their own languages and we shall support this whenever possible. We do not encourage pupils to take extra examinations just for the sake of doing so, but special permission may be granted, for example to take IGCSE Japanese in the case of a native speaker.

Sixth formers have a free choice of A levels, choosing three or four subjects.

Guidance will be given on subject combinations and the number of courses to follow. The timetable is written to accommodate students’ individual choices, the only exception being that uncommon and unusual combinations may occasionally not be possible. For some, specialisation will have great appeal whilst others will prefer to combine a mixture of types of subjects in order to preserve breadth. Five subjects will only be considered in exceptional cases.

All sixth formers also follow a general course covering university applications, preparation for independent living and personal, social and health education (PSHE). In year 12 students will also commit to a regular community service activity.  The completeness of a POWIIS sixth form education will come from continued participation in the range of sporting, cultural, social and intellectual activities on offer.

The subjects offered at A level include:

Sixth Form candidates are encouraged to indicate their preferred subjects at the time of application, making a free choice from the complete list. They are welcome to discuss their choices with POWIIS staff either at interview or before. We do our best to provide each individual’s subject and combination choice, but this may not be possible in rare cases of low demand for a subject or an unusual combination.