Curriculum Information
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Our Curriculum Philosophy
Defence Children Services (DCS) operates throughout the world. We recognise that each location is a unique and special place to live, learn and work. Each context, rich with culture, nature, history, technology and belonging to its military community is the starting point to realise the DCS aim: ‘Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation’. Recognising individual talents, all learners flourish, leading to academic achievement, personal success, and lifelong learning.
Our Curriculum Vision
Our curriculum will:
- Promote a culture where safeguarding is paramount.
- Rapidly develop a sense of belonging and self-identity to enable learners to flourish personally and academically.
- Adapt to the variety of needs of learners from their starting points.
- Create curious, life-long learners in our unique schools and settings.
- Foster a love of learning which is broad, brave and ambitious.
- Develop confidence to contribute positively within our global community.
- Reflect the individual values and attributes of each school and setting to nurture holistic learners.
- Ensure that learners are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of education and future careers.
Our Curriculum Information
The overarching DCS curriculum document lays out the philosophy, vision and expectations of DCS in regard to curricula at all of our schools and settings.
Local Policies
Whilst all schools and settings follow statutory curriculum guidance from the Department for Education (DfE), Head Teachers have the freedom to develop a curriculum suited to their locations and cohorts of children. Individual school curriculum policies can be found on the school pages. When developing their own curriculum policies, Leaders ensure that the overarching DCS philosophy (as mentioned above) and vision are taken into consideration.
Curriculum Maps
Please see individual school pages for curriculum maps detailing what your child will be learning throughout each year of their schooling whilst they are with us.
To see a school Curriculum Map please click on the name of the school below (please note these pages are under construction and some links will not be accessible until 2025).
Cyprus
- Queen Berengaria School
- Episkopi Primary School
- Akrotiri Primary School
- St John’s School
- King Richard School
Rest of World
- Hornbill School
- Mount Pleasant Primary School
- SHAPE International School
- BFS Naples Primary School
- Afnorth School
- Ralston School
- St David’s School
- Attenborough School
Scotland
- Queen Victoria School
Teaching of Phonics
DCS Schools and Settings are currently aligning the teaching of Phonics in all locations. Until that vision is realised, Head Teachers will continue to use a range of phonic schemes. This is referenced on their individual web pages.
Statutory Policies
- The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework: Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- The English National Curriculum: National curriculum in England: English programmes of study – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- The Scottish Curriculum for Excellence: Curriculum for Excellence | Education Scotland
- The Education of Service Children Overseas, JSP 342: The education of service children overseas (JSP 342) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Relationships and Sex Education
Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
The DfE introduced compulsory Relationships Education for primary pupils and Relationships and Sex Education for secondary pupils from September 2020. Additionally it is compulsory for all schools to teach Health Education.
To meet the DfE requirement that schools are to develop a personalised Relationships Education (Primary) and Relationship and Sex Education (Secondary) Policies with their communities and immediate stakeholders, an overarching DCS Policy does not exist. Please see individual school pages / websites for this information.
The DfE introduced Relationships Education at primary, to put in place the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships of all kinds. Starting with family and friends, how to treat each other with kindness, and recognising the difference between online and offline friendships etc. Head Teachers at our Primary Schools can choose to teach sex education (which goes beyond the existing national curriculum for science), which is recommend by the DfE. This is tailored to the age, physical and emotional maturity of their pupils. Please see individual schools pages / websites for this information.
Withdrawal from Sex Education
As per DfE guidelines, parents have a right to request to withdraw their child from Sex Education delivered as part of RSE in primary and secondary schools. The Head Teacher can grant this up to three terms before a child turns 16. At this point, if the child themselves wishes to receive Sex Education rather than be withdrawn, the school can make arrangements for this to happen in one of the three terms before the child turns 16 – the legal age of sexual consent.
If you wish to withdraw your child from Sex Education lessons please put this in writing, addressed to the Head Teacher. Please note that should you be granted permission to withdraw your child, alternative educational provision during the sessions will not be provided.
Withdrawal from Relationships Education
As per DfE guidelines, there is no right to withdraw children from Relationships Education.
Useful Policies & Information