At Guardian Angels we have a bespoke, progressive & embedded curriculum which inspires curiosity and compassion.  Each subject, including Art & Design, Design & Technology and Music all have a curriculum written and embedded by their prospective subject lead. We actively promote a lifelong love for learning and enjoyments of arts and culture and offer children a range of experiences and opportunities.  Music, Art and Design Technology is timetabled over a two-week schedule to ensure regular exposure which is equal to other foundation subjects.  Each subject within the arts, incorporates teaching from a skills progressive scheme, that is accessible for all teachers and can be adapted to the needs of the cohorts and individuals within them.  The schemes are then supported by extra-curricular experiences such as Local Authority peripatetic music lessons, Art Club, school visits, Forest School and workshops and events. 

Music is taught across the Federation meaning our children have exposure to a range of skills from pianists, flautists, guitarists, and singers.  Every child in school has the opportunity to perform throughout the academic year.  In EYFS and KS1 each child performs through theatre, dance and singing in our Nativity performance.  Key stage one and two are offered the opportunity to join the drama and choir after-school clubs.  Children are also given the opportunity to perform twice a year for the school and parents through class assemblies and Collective Worships.  In the summer Upper Key Stage 2 present a show of music, theatre and dance.  In addition to this, our school choir have opportunities to apply their skills in the wider context and have been involved in productions in partnership with Bury Met Theatre, recently performing Hansel & Gretel.

Hymns are practiced and celebrated within school weekly as a whole school and regularly at our Church, Guardian Angels.  Pupils perform for special church occasions such as advent, lent and celebratory feast days for the local community.

To ensure that every child has the opportunity to access outdoor learning, Forest School is a timetabled, integral part of curriculum.

Our inclusive approach is fundamental to our ethos and is directed through our Inclusion Lead.  This role supports all teachers to ensure the bespoke needs of each child are being met and ensures mental well-being and emotional health and well-being remains at the top of our agenda.  At Guardian Angels’, we have a vast range of opportunities to access for children with additional needs such as a Drop in café, trauma-informed classrooms, and a hub.  These are all areas away from the traditional classroom working environment where all subjects, including the arts, can be accessed.

Our links with local community such as Bury Art Museum and Burrs Country Park have begun but present an opportunity for growth.  The success of our outdoor provision (including our award-winning school allotment) has highlighted we have an opportunity to develop the use of Forest School further reaching children through intervention, learning outside of the classroom opportunities and a potential to improve attendance through well-being opportunities combined with the forest school principles.  In addition to this, we feel there is an opening for family learning where we invite parents to share the experiences on offer within the Forest School environment.

Finally, we see that by developing relationships with local colleges and universities, it will allow our pupils to see how they are able to express their creativity through the arts and illustrates the creative and cultural industries as potential career choices.