Infant and Junior Curriculum
Our curriculum blends academic excellence with creativity, independence and resilience, ensuring that every pupil is empowered with the skills, knowledge and self-belief to thrive.
From her very first days in our Infant School to the challenges and opportunities of her Junior years, we aim to unlock every girl’s unique potential, encouraging her to explore, question and grow.
Infants
Reception to Year 2
At Sheffield Girls’ Infant School, we encourage all girls to develop independent learning skills while fostering a love of learning in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.
In Reception we follow the National Curriculum Early Years Foundation Stage in which the three key areas of learning and development are:
Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
The four specific areas of learning and development are:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design
Our Reception pupils tackle a new topic every term and will explore themes along this topic as part of their curriculum and broader learning. We carefully plan focused activities and purposeful play, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities.
Learning is enriched through an engaging programme of visits and visitors. Some examples of recent visits are:
- Lyceum Theatre
- Ecclesall Woods
- White Post Farm
- Bolsover Castle
- Tropical Butterfly House
In Year 1 and Year 2 we offer a broad, balanced and flexible curriculum which provides opportunities for all pupils to make progress, enjoy learning and fully develop their abilities.
Juniors
Year 3 to Year 6
In the Junior School, we encourage girls to be enthusiastic, self-motivated and enquiring learners and ensure that what is taught is relevant and stimulating whilst meeting the learning needs of each individual. We foster a love of learning, stimulate curiosity, encourage independence and enhance self-belief.
Our Fusion Curriculum is central to our teaching and gives our pupils educational and extra-curricular experience in six core competencies: creativity, independence, morals and ethics, confidence, appreciation and curious cognition.
As well as the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, our broader curriculum includes History, Geography, Religious Studies as well as specialist teaching in Music, Modern Foreign Languages (French, Spanish and German), Art and Design and Physical Education.
Learning is enriched through an engaging programme of visits and every year group in Juniors will participate in a residential trip once per year. Some examples of recent visits are:
- Hepworth Gallery
- Magna Science Adventure Centre
- Eyam
- Castleton
- Thornbridge
- Whitby
- Kingswood Outdoor Centre
Outdoor Learning
At Sheffield Girls’, our Explorers programme embraces this love of the outdoors, blending the principles of Forest School with a bespoke approach for young learners from Reception to Year 4.
From seasonal discovery in Reception to bushcraft, knot-tying and orienteering in Year 4, Explorers invites every girl to step outside, build confidence and curiosity, and develop a growing sense of independence as they breathe in the fresh air and get their hands muddy.
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- We understand the way girls learn and our teaching styles and classrooms are designed to reflect this.
- We actively seek to challenge gender stereotypes and we share a view of the world, without limitations, with our pupils.
- We deliver specialist teaching in Modern Foreign Languages, Art, Music and PE from the first year of school, delivered by subject experts.
- We provide a framework of knowledge, skills and understanding that prepare your daughter for the opportunities and responsibilities ahead of her.
- We provide a curriculum which speaks to the school’s core ethos and aims.
- We prioritise technical literacy, ensuring our pupils are confident Chromebook users before they move on to Juniors.
- We are the Primary Hub for Robotics in the region, leading delivery of WER and Lego Strike robotics programmes from Year 3 onwards.
- We promote leadership and autonomy from day one, encouraging girls to engage in their learning and be confident decision-makers.
- We support our pupils in developing their social skills and building lasting friendships within their class and beyond.
- We expose our youngest pupils to mentors and role models from older year groups and Sixth Form to help demonstrate the possible paths ahead.
- We provide a welcoming, safe and supportive girls-only environment, free from distractions, where our pupils can explore and be the individuals they are.
- We provide the guidance and pastoral support to enable all our pupils to meet their potential.
- We tailor our teaching to your daughter’s needs and aptitude.
- We encourage excellence and provide opportunities and challenges for her to develop her linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, social, physical and creative abilities through subject matter appropriate for her age, and reflective of her interests.
