The Harehills Curriculum
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Our bespoke curriculum has been designed around our motto because we believe that if children laugh and have fun when they are learning and love being at school, then they will learn and achieve to the best of their ability.
At Harehills Primary School we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and:
- Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and:
- Prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
The Key Principles of the Harehills Curriculum
Aims
- At Harehills Primary School we want to create a curriculum which will enable our children to learn, laugh and love.
- To prepare our learners with the skills to respond to opportunities, responsibilities and experiences.
- To create quality activities, enabling children to develop happy and lasting memories.
- To ensure high expectations are embedded within an effective curriculum.
- To promote high quality teaching and learning to inspire, motivate and challenge all learners.
- Staff and children are deliberately ambitious in all that they do and barriers to learning and achievement are recognised and removed.
- Enable children to have the essential knowledge and skills needed to become educated citizens and outstanding members of tomorrow’s community.
- Ultimately, we aim to provide a rich, relevant curriculum that will be broad and balanced and enable all children to leave our school with real life skills and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.
Phonics
At Harehills Primary School, we teach phonics using the DfE-approved Essential Letters and Sounds programme, which is delivered consistently by all staff. Daily, structured phonics lessons take place in Reception and Year 1, ensuring children build strong early reading skills. Learning is reinforced throughout the day through regular practice, including flashcards, reading opportunities and targeted support for those who need it. Phonics remains a key approach for decoding unfamiliar words and developing spelling, supporting children to become confident and fluent readers across the school.
Essential letters and sounds information for parents.
Reading
At Harehills Primary School, we place reading at the heart of our curriculum, recognising it as a vital life skill that supports children’s cultural, emotional, intellectual and social development. We are committed to developing lifelong readers and fostering a genuine love of books through our carefully planned reading diet & 'best books' which includes rich story time experiences with high-quality, diverse texts that reflect our community and the wider world. Children regularly access our school library and reading bus, and take part in exciting events such as World Book Day, author visits and reading initiatives to further inspire a love of reading. We actively encourage reading at home through reading records and daily practice, recognising that regular reading builds fluency, stamina and vocabulary. Through this combined approach, we support every child to become a confident, enthusiastic and reflective reader.
English
At Harehills Primary School, we recognise that communication is at the heart of everything we do. Strong English skills enable children to access the full curriculum, build relationships and succeed in the wider world. We are proud of the rich diversity of languages and experiences our children bring with them, and we use this as a strength to shape our approach to learning. Our curriculum is designed to be engaging, inclusive and ambitious for all learners. We place a high priority on developing speaking, listening, reading and writing through meaningful, purposeful opportunities across all subjects. A strong focus on vocabulary through reading VIPERS lessons and Jane Considine Writing lenses ensures that pupils are equipped with the language they need to express themselves clearly and confidently.
Maths 
At Harehills Primary School, we aim to develop confident, resilient mathematicians who approach challenges with curiosity and determination. We want every child to build a secure and lasting understanding of mathematics that will support them both in school and in later life. To achieve this, we use White Rose Maths as the foundation of our teaching, supported by a range of high-quality resources. Learning is carefully sequenced to build small, connected steps, allowing pupils to deepen their understanding over time. Through practical experiences, visual representations and structured tasks, children are supported to explore concepts in different ways and make meaningful mathematical connections. This approach encourages pupils to think critically, explain their reasoning and apply their knowledge with confidence, developing the skills they need to become successful and independent problem solvers.
You can support your children’s learning in Maths using the following links below:
| Numbots | TT RockStars | My Maths | White Rose Maths |
|---|---|---|---|
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Science
At Harehills Primary School, we provide an engaging and progressive science curriculum that builds strong knowledge across biology, chemistry, physics and geology. We encourage curiosity and enquiry, helping children to question, explore and understand the world around them.
Through carefully sequenced learning and regular hands-on investigations, pupils develop key scientific skills and deepen their understanding over time. Our aim is for children to become confident young scientists who can think critically, apply their knowledge and explain their ideas clearly.
Humanities
At Harehills Primary School, our humanities curriculum inspires children to explore the world around them and understand how the past has shaped the present. Through geography and history, pupils develop a sense of place by learning about their local environment before expanding their knowledge to wider and contrasting locations, including through rich first-hand experiences and residential visits. Our carefully planned curriculum encourages curiosity, comparison and enquiry, enabling children to think like geographers and historians while developing a deeper understanding of communities, cultures and change over time. We ensure that our humanities curriculum is enriched by workshops, trips, residentials and through the use of technology.
Music
Music at Harehills Primary School is taught using a specialist music teacher. Our curriculum aims to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. We’re passionate about children’s music learning and its potential to help them grow up as kind, curious, and open-minded young people, who are sensitive and knowledgeable about music and the arts.
Computing
At Harehills Primary School, our computing curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge and skills to use technology confidently, responsibly and safely. We place a strong emphasis on digital literacy and online safety, helping children to understand how to navigate the online world securely while benefiting from its many opportunities. We use Surf Protect filtering to support this, providing real-time protection by blocking harmful content and alerting safeguarding staff to potential risks. Through this combined approach of education and robust systems, we help pupils become safe, informed and resilient digital citizens.
Art / Design Technology
At Harehills Primary School, our art curriculum encourages creativity, imagination and an appreciation of artistic heritage. Through exposure to a wide range of artists and styles, children develop an understanding of art across different times and cultures. We provide opportunities for pupils to explore and experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, including drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles and 3D work. Our approach supports children to develop both their practical skills and their ability to think creatively. Through engaging, hands-on experiences, pupils are guided through a process of creating, refining and evaluating their work, enabling them to express themselves confidently and develop as thoughtful and reflective young artists.
PSHE
Our responsive PSHE programme is at the centre of the school curriculum, providing opportunities to explore knowledge strategies and skills that enrich the wider curriculum and prepare our pupils to be able to flourish and thrive with the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern day Britain. Our adaptive and inclusive curriculum meets the needs of all our pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our curriculum celebrates diversity and encourages respect towards everyone.
Personal Development
Our curriculum, ethos and approach at Harehills Primary School fully supports the personal development of each and every pupil. Children are nurtured and encouraged to develop attributes such as confidence, resilience and independence as well as an understanding of British values in order that they are fully prepared for life in 21st Century Britain, and indeed, the world. Equality and diversity are promoted and celebrated throughout school and we are very proud of a curriculum which equips our children with the knowledge, skills and understanding to lead happy, safe and healthy lives whilst enabling them to develop their talents and strive for their goals.
Our ethos of Learn, laugh and love is built upon these principles.
Anti-Bullying
Everyone at Harehills Primary School has the right to feel welcome, safe and happy. We want our children to say they feel “free from bullying.”
At Harehills Primary School we are committed to ensuring that all pupils learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Our school is a place where every person has the right to be themselves, to be included and to learn.
Religious Education and Assemblies
Our intent for RE is to stretch minds, widen ideas and to build tolerance and respect in multi-faith Britain.
The Harehills Primary School R.E curriculum recognises the importance of developing our pupil’s as individuals so they can grow up to be responsible citizens. It develops our values, behaviours, knowledge and understanding of religions and beliefs. The Harehills Primary School RE curriculum is based on the Leeds Agreed Syllabus, updated September 2024.
Assembly is a very special time in our school; giving children time to gather together and share, celebrate and reflect. This is done in Family assemblies (Family 1 – Years 2,4 & 6 and Family 2 – Years 1,3 & 5), Key Phase assemblies for two-year groups (Early Years, Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2)
Our assembly calendar enhances what our children learn in RE lessons; showcasing achievements, celebrating milestones, focusing on key ethos statements and informing about different religions and cultural events.
Physical Education
At Harehills Primary School, we promote a love of physical activity and sport, helping children to develop confidence, resilience and a commitment to achieving their personal best. Through high-quality PE, enrichment opportunities and a wide range of clubs, pupils learn to work collaboratively, celebrate success and respect others. Our strong partnerships with organisations such as Leeds Rhinos and external providers such as Teambuilding in Schools and Ping Pong Pete enrich our provision, giving children access to expert coaching and inspiring experiences. These opportunities play an important role in supporting both physical development and overall wellbeing. We also encourage children and families to make healthy lifestyle choices, with a clear focus on nurturing healthy bodies and healthy minds, ensuring pupils leave us ready for active and balanced lives beyond primary school.
Cultural Capital
By the end of Year 6, every Harehills Primary School child will have had the opportunity to...
Long Term Plans
If you would like to find out more about our curriculum, please contact the school office or email your request to info@harehills.leeds.sch.uk.