The Sharp Lane Curriculum

At Sharp Lane, we have designed a curriculum that is not only fun, creative and interesting but also unique to us. We offer a unique and creative curriculum designed to inspire every child to grow in confidence, independence, and teamwork. Our safe and stimulating environment encourages curiosity and celebrates every achievement, helping children reach their full potential. We value strong partnerships with families and embrace the rich diversity of our community. Through a variety of engaging experiences, we prepare happy, well-rounded children who are ready for the future, while supporting their mental and physical wellbeing every step of the way.

At Sharp Lane, children embark on exciting 'journeys' to real and imaginary places, where they take on roles like Scientists, Historians, and Artists. Through these immersive adventures, they gain knowledge and develop essential skills while exploring captivating themes tailored to each journey.

Beyond the classroom experiences

We are fully committed to providing the children with a wide and rich range of learning experiences beyond the classroom.

Educational Visits

We build opportunities for children to visit museums, galleries, theatres, parks, places of worship and historical landmarks. Not only do our children regularly explore our local area, visiting places such as Middleton Park and Woods, we also take full advantage of the wealth of museums and historic buildings in Leeds and the surrounding areas. We expect that all children will participate in all educational visits as it links and enhances their classroom learning.

Specialist Visitors and Projects

Artists, musicians, authors, sports coaches and theatre groups frequently visit Sharp Lane Primary School to work with children, providing specialist support in developing new skills.

School Residential

We feel it is important that children experience a residential as part of their learning experience to help in their personal and social development. Children get the opportunity to experience a residential within the school or an external residential in Years 3, 4, and 6.

 

Our Teaching and Learning Philosophy

At Sharp Lane Primary School, we believe every pupil can achieve their very best. Our goal is to ignite and nurture the imagination of young minds! Lessons are engaging and fast-paced, with pupils actively involved in deciding how and what they learn.

Our curriculum is carefully designed to ensure pupils secure their year group’s learning objectives while providing ample opportunities to deepen and extend their understanding. We plan learning experiences that help pupils make meaningful and exciting connections between their own experiences and the wider world. We build on their natural curiosity to question, explore, and make sense of the world and one another.

At Sharp Lane Primary School, we believe the best learning happens when:

  • Pupils are empowered to develop autonomy and independence. From an early age, we consistently foster their skills, attitudes, and habits as effective learners. Pupils are taught to understand how they learn, supported by our pupil-friendly approach that helps them master skills and deepen their learning through practice and application.

  • Learning is purposeful, task-based, and rooted in creativity—invention, imagination, and communication. Our activities encourage curiosity and enthusiasm, with plenty of opportunities for collaboration.

  • Pupils are challenged appropriately and consistently, as we know they thrive when stretched.

  • Teaching reflects four key elements of highly effective learning: Feedback, Autonomy, Challenge, and Engagement.

  • Assessment actively informs teaching. This happens in every lesson, across sequences of lessons, and throughout each year’s programme of study. We provide support, repetition, and extension tailored to each pupil’s starting point.

  • The learning environment is orderly and purposeful, where children feel safe and emotionally ready to learn.

  • There is a strong partnership between home and school, with purposeful and effective Home Learning activities that contribute meaningfully to pupils’ progress.