Our Primary Curriculum
At our British Elementary School in Chicago, the Primary curriculum covers a diverse range of subjects: English, Math, Science, American Studies, Art, Computing, Dance, Music, Physical Education, Games, and World Languages (French and Spanish). Children are encouraged to make meaningful, thematic connections between their subjects.
National Curriculum for England (NCE)
The NCE provides children with a learning framework that promotes the development of their knowledge, understanding, and skills. It gives teachers great flexibility; they can plan higher level work for children whose attainment is significantly above the expected standard and, at the same time, prepare lessons for children who need extra support and guidance.
Our teachers use a wide range of assessments to set children their targets which are ambitious by design, to encourage students to push themselves and achieve the best results they can.
International Primary Curriculum
Since 1984, schools across the globe have used the International Primary Curriculum to engage children in a world of personal, academic, and international learning. The curriculum challenges children’s assumptions, nurtures their natural curiosity, and hones the traits they need for a successful school career. Through the International Primary Curriculum, children also gain a deep sense of their nationality and culture, as well as respect for and understanding of the global community—of which they will become citizens.
Daily learning focuses on a central theme (called Today’s Topic), like animals, transport—even chocolate! The Topic enables children to make connections across subjects, which instils in them an interdisciplinary approach to learning from a young age. The process of learning Topics gives children a clear structure, and encourages them to become fully engaged with the curriculum as a whole.
Learning Goals
The International Primary Curriculum guides teachers and students alike through three Learning Goals: Subject, Personal, and International.
All three help children build:
- Knowledge—facts and information from a variety of sources
- Skills—practical abilities which children learn, develop, then master
- Understanding—deep and growing awareness of key concepts.
Subject Goals
In every lesson in the curriculum, children work toward Subject Goals related to knowledge, skills, and understanding, all of which give them a clear aim when they’re learning.
Personal Goals
Personal Goals help children to develop essential skills for modern life. This empowers them to become adaptable, empathetic, ethical, resilient, respectful, thinkers, collaborators, and communicators. These are embedded in the ethos of daily life at South Loop.
International Goals
By working towards International Goals, children develop a sophisticated worldview by focusing on the journey from “self” to “other”.
Assessment
Your child’s performance is analysed based on what they know, understand, and can do. This information is then used by teachers to instruct them at a level that resonates with them most.
Assessment is a daily part of school life, and helps children develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
- Enhance and improve teaching and learning
- Set targets for individuals, groups, and cohorts
- Share learning goals with students
- Involve students in self-assessment
- Help students recognize the standards they can aim for
- Raise standards of learning
- Identify possibilities for academic intervention
- Inform parents of their child’s progress.
Academic Reports
Primary students receive three academic reports each year; in Fall, Spring, and Summer. Teachers use these reports to communicate students' academic and social development to parents, and they set personalized targets for each subject upon which students should focus prior to the next reporting period.
Our teachers also hold parent consultations during the school year by appointment.
Curriculum Guide
Primary Curriculum Guide - 2023-24
