In Derryboy Primary School we offer a broad and balanced curriculum. The experienced and professional staff all work together to ensure that the requirements of the Northern Ireland curriculum are met. In addition, however, we aim to extend learning by employing a wide range of teaching strategies. The children are encouraged to be active learners and the nature of composite classes means that we are able to provide experiences at the level of each child rather than being constrained by teaching according to year groups.
Where a particular need is identified, a dedicated support teacher works in conjunction with the class teacher to provide additional help as deemed appropriate.

AREAS OF LEARNING
-Language & Literacy
-Mathematics & Numeracy
-The Arts (Art & Design, Drama, Music)
-The World Around Us (Geography, History & Science)
-Physical Education
-Personal Development & Mutual Understanding

-Religious Education (RE) 

SKILLS & CAPABILITIES 
At the heart of the curriculum lies an emphasis on the development of skills and capabilities for lifelong learning and for operating effectively in society through opportunities to engage in active learning contexts across all areas of the curriculum. 

CROSS CURRICULAR SKILLS
-Communication
-Using Mathematics
-Using Information & Technology

THINKING SKILLS & PERSONAL CAPABILITIES 
-Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision Making
-Self Management
-Working With Others
-Managing Information
-Being Creative

Language and Literacy 

FOUNDATION STAGE
Literacy focuses on developing each child's ability to understand and use language, both spoken and written, as an integral part of learning in all areas.

Language is used to communicate with people, to share and express feelings, to give and obtain information and to understand ideas and develop thoughts. 

Language and literacy are considered in a holistic way, taking account of the integral nature of the areas of Talking & Listening, Reading and Writing which extend across all areas of the curriculum.

KEY STAGE ONE & TWO
Literacy focuses on developing each child's ability to understand and use language as an integral part of learning in all areas. It enables pupils to interact effectively with the world around them, to express themselves creatively and to communicate confidently (through Talking & Listening, Reading and Writing) using a variety of skills and media.  
 

Language and Literacy are fundamental prerequisites for thinking, learning and interacting in personal, social and work contexts throughout life.

Mathematics and Numeracy 

FOUNDATION STAGE
Children will acquire early mathematical concepts through activities that involve sorting, matching, comparing, classifying and making patterns in a variety of contexts. These activities should involve children playing, exploring and investigating, doing and observing, talking and listening and asking and answering questions.

As the development of mathematical language is of fundamental importance, talking about work has a high priority in the early years.  By engaging in a wide variety of activities, children will begin to understand mathematical language and then use this language to discuss their work.  
 

Children should also be given opportunities to develop their skills in mental mathematics during counting activities, by playing games and through daily classroom routines.

KEY STAGE 1 & KEY STAGE 2
Numeracy is the development and application of mathematics across the curriculum and in real life situations.  Skills in numeracy should help children to make informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives.

Throughout the primary school children will engage in a wide range of purposeful activities which should involve them in different modes of mathematical learning, including playing, exploring and investigating, doing and observing, talking and listening, asking questions, reflecting, drafting, reading and recording.

ICT 

(Information and Communications Technology) 

Information and Communications Technology, across the curriculum, has the potential to transform and enrich pupils' learning experiences and environments.  It can empower pupils, develop self-esteem and promote positive attitudes to learning.
 

 Additionally, the creative use of ICT has the potential to improve pupils' thinking skills, providing them with opportunities to become independent, self-motivated and flexible learners.  
 

Using ICT describes the ability to handle and communicate information, solve problems and pose questions through the use of information and communication technologies in a variety of contexts across the curriculum.  It includes collaboration within and beyond the classroom; allowing pupils the opportunities to share and exchange work; and exhibit and showcase their learning.

Across the curriculum, at a level appropriate to their ability, pupils should be enabled to develop skills to:

EXPLORE
Pupils should be enabled to:
-access, select, interpret and research information from safe and reliable sources;
-investigate, make predictions and solve problems through interaction with digital tools.

EXPRESS
Pupils should be enabled to:
-create, develop, present and publish ideas using a range of digital media. 

EXCHANGE
Pupils should be enabled to to:
- communicate safely and responsibly using a range of contemporary digital methods and tools, exchanging, sharing, collaborating and developing ideas digitally.

EVALUATE
Pupils should be enabled to:
-talk about, review and make improvements to work, reflecting on the process and outcome and consider the sources and resources used, including safety, reliability and acceptability.

EXHIBIT
Pupils should be enabled to:
-manage and present their stored work and showcase their learning across the curriculum, using ICT safely and responsibly.