Wellington Today Wellington Today 2017 en | Page 26

WELLINGTON TODAY 2017
WELLINGTON COLLEGE CHINA
OUR
CURRICULUM
Wellington is a national centre of Excellence for primary
and secondary education in China, delivering a world class,
international curriculum. Based on the Wellington values and
identity, we are totally committed to nurturing and developing
the whole child, and the curriculum reflects this.
As well as embracing the best elements of the English national
curriculum, the globally recognised and innovative International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is also part of our
curriculum. Both Tianjin and Shanghai schools are officially
authorised as IB World Schools.
Teaching and learning is firmly rooted in the clear structure
of the English national curriculum which, combined with the
International Primary Curriculum (IPC), provides a world class
learning experience for all pupils from the Early Years.
Foundation Stage (Pre-Nursery to Reception), through Key
Stage 1 (Years 1&2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6). Deliberate
emphasis on enquiry-based learning is suitably enhanced to
incorporate exciting elements from other international curricula
to reflect the fact that both Colleges are international schools
with a multi-national student body.
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE (AGE 2–6)
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a statutory
framework used in the UK and across the world that sets the
standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that
children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.
It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school
readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and
skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress
through school and life.
The EYFS provides sufficient flexibility for practitioners to follow
children’s interests, respond to their ideas for developing play
activities, and provides structured activities (which can also
be playful) to teach specific knowledge and skills. It is believed
that every child deserves the best possible start in life and the
support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children
develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences
between birth and age five have a major impact on their future
life chances. Four guiding principles should shape practice in early
years’ settings.
These are:
As pupils move toward the Senior School, completing Key
Stage 3 (Years 7-9), they study a wide range of core and
– Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can
foundation subjects. They then embark on the challenging and
be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
focused International General Certificate of Secondary Education
– Children learn to be strong and independent through positive
(IGCSE) examination courses in Years 10 and 11, the results of
relationships
which will shape their academic futures in the Sixth Form and
beyond.
– Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in
which their experiences respond to their individual needs and
Sixth Form pupils (Years 12 and 13) undertake the International
there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, an exciting, academically
and/or carers
demanding, highly prized and arguably the world’s foremost
qualification for university entry.
The prime areas of learning and development begin to develop
quickly in response to relationships and experiences, and
continue to be fundamental throughout the EYFS. They are
particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm
for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form
relationships and thrive.
– Children develop and learn in different wa ys and at different
rates. The framework covers the education and care of all
children in early years provision, including children with special
educational needs and disabilities
These three areas are fundamental, work together and move
through to support development in all other areas.
The prime areas, are:
– Communication and language
– Physical development
– Personal, social and emotional Development
The specific areas of learning and development include essential
skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in
society. They grow out of the prime areas and provide important
contexts for learning, through which the three prime areas are
strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:
–
–
–
–
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design
A UNIQUE
CHILD
ENABLING
ENVIRONMENTS
POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIPS
LEARNING AND
DEVELOPMENT
The ways in which a child engages with other people and their
environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating
and thinking critically – underpin learning and development
across all areas and support the child to remain an effective
learner.
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