Limba Română 
All subjects are taught in English. The handbooks are from Great Britain and the materials are of the best quality. The pupils have the possibility of sitting in specific exams at the end of the 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 grades, extending thus their graduation portfolio.
At the Foundation Stage, the curriculum is organized into six “Areas of Learning”.
For Key Stages 1 and 2, the “Core Subjects”comprise English, Mathematics and Science. Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Art, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Romanian, Music and Physical Education make up the other “Foundation Subjects”.
Romanian, Music, ICT, Art and Physical Education are taught by specialist teachers throughout the school. The other subjects are taught by the class teacher and the teaching assistant.
An Integrated Approach
Although each subject has its own key objectives, teachers will often deliver these in lessons as part of a more thematic and cross-curricular approach. Subjects are combined wherever appropriate to emphasise links and make the work meaningful for the children. For example, English will often be taught as part of a History lesson, Mathematics in Science or Design and Technology, while a particular topic may often involve both historical and geographical aspects.
English
The purpose of our work in English is to develop our children’s ability to communicate confidently and effectively in speech and writing and to listen with understanding. It should also enable them to become enthusiastic, responsive and knowledgeable readers.
Our English programme is designed with these overall aims in mind. It takes full account of the requirements of the National Curriculum, while the content of our work and the teaching strategies that we use have been formulated drawing on the best practice introduced by the such initiatives as the National Primary Strategies.
The National Curriculum divides the range of work covered in English at Key Stages 1 and 2 into three major areas of:
- Speaking and Listening
- Reading
- Writing
These elements of English are however closely interrelated. For example, it is from their reading, if properly directed, that pupils develop their awareness of language use, which they will then apply in their own writing. Our teaching methods build upon the vital links between oral and written skills and between writing and reading.
Of course, children’s language development is not confined to the work they do in English lessons. We endeavor to make appropriate links between all curriculum subjects: work across the curriculum provides a rich source of experience, language and stimulation to support the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
At OLGA GUDYNN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, teachers will encourage children to express themselves confidently and clearly, and to be attentive, courteous and thoughtful listeners. These skills will, of course, also be consolidated in the home environment.
Mathematics
Due emphasis is given to the breath of the mathematics curriculum. Children follow a balanced programme covering the four “attainment targets” of the National Curriculum.
- Using and Applying Mathematics
- Number and Algebra
- Shape, Space and measures
- Handling Data
Teachers have at their disposal a range of published schemes and printed materials, along with up-to-date interactive whiteboard and other ICT resources, drawing upon them as necessary to provide the most appropriate support for the work at hand.
In the early stages, children do much work on sorting and matching using sets of objects. They are then introduced to counting, first to numbers to 5, then to 10.
Science
The science programme offers opportunities for our children to:
- Develop their knowledge and understanding of important scientific ideas, processes and skills and relate these to everyday experiences;
- Learn about ways of thinking and of finding out about and communicating ideas;
- Explore values and attitudes through science
Science in the National Curriculum is divided into four broad areas for Key Stages 1 and 2.
Scientific Enquiry (Experimental and Investigative Science)
Children are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of important scientific ideas, processes and skills and relate these to everyday experiences.
Life Processes and Living Things
Pupils broaden their knowledge of plants and animals with specific reference to themselves as living creatures. They begin to study living things in their natural environment.
Materials and their Properties
Here children study a variety of materials and define means of classifying them using different simple properties.
Physical Processes
Through Key Stage 1, language development is enhanced by the scientific programme in the early years. During their scientific investigations, children are encouraged to ask questions about why things happen and to explain phenomena in terms of their own ideas, fostering a sense of curiosity about the things they observe.
An essential part of the scientific curriculum at Key Stage 1 is the child’s ability to work practically, safely and co-operatively.
Art and Design
Our work in Art encompasses art, craft and design. These are approached through a wide range of activities, involving many different media. Art is both a personal and a shared activity. Our children are given opportunities to experience different approaches to art, including working individually, in a group or as a whole class.
Two-dimensional work
- Drawing – the use of line and tone, using a variety of media (pencil, crayon, etc)
- Painting and colour mixing – primaries and secondaries; experimenting with textures
- Printing – with fingers, leaves, corks, developing pattern and structure
- Collage – using a variety of papers and scrap fabrics
- Sewing and weaving – using different threads and materials
Three-dimensional work
- Models from assorted scrap materials
- Models from clay, plasticine, paper
- Making simple puppets
Romanian
Our aims are:
- to develop the ability to communicate competently in Romanian
- to give pupils opportunities to use the 4 attainment targets – listening, speaking, reading and writing
- to provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulus
Our Romanian language work is topic-based. Topics are chosen from the following areas of experience:
- everyday activities
- personal and social life
- the world around us
Geography
Our Geography teaching aims to:
- stimulate children’s interest in their surroundings and in the variety of human and physical condition on the Earth
- foster children’s interest of wonder at the beauty of the world around them
- help children develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and learn to care for it as the future of the human habitat
History
In their history work, our children study the lives of men, women and children in different societies, cultures and countries in the past, investigating similarities with, and differences from, the present. They are led to understand history as a sequence of events, and begin to develop a chronological framework in which to place the events and times they are studying.
ICT
The purpose of information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the primary school curriculum is to provide pupils with opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and attitude to enable them to make effective use of ICT and to extend and enhance their learning throughout the curriculum.
ICT facilities
The school has a wide range of ICT facilities and equipment to support the teachers and children in their work. Resources currently include:
- A computer suite, comprising of 20 (?) networked computers with internet access;
- Laptops for all teachers, used in lesson preparation and with the interactive whiteboards;
- Interactive whiteboards
- School radio with easy-speak microphone
- Digital cameras
- CD and DVD players
Music
The aim of our music programme in the junior school is to develop children’s understanding and enjoyment of music, in exposing them to a variety of artistic experience.
Children become aware of pulse and contour of melody and learn to recognize rhythmic patterns and notation. Children are expected to be able to both sing and play from memory as well as perform in public.
Physical Education
The aim of our Physical Education programme is to give children a balanced and enjoyable range of activities to promote and improve their physical skills, personal health and fitness. Full use is made of the range of facilities available, including a gym and an all-weather basketball area and playground for tennis table, badminton and other games. The school has an open-air swimming pool where children learn swimming during the summer club.
Assessment
Most assessment that goes on in the junior school is what is called formative assessment (or assessment for learning). Such assessments may involve observation, marking of written work, oral or written testing (e.g. weekly spelling tests). The results are used by the teacher to evaluate the appropriateness of the work or teaching approach for the class or individual, and thereby to inform future planning. During the year you will receive information about your child’s progress through a printed termly report of your child’s attainment and effort, followed by a termly invitation to a Parents’ Meeting to discuss your child’s progress with the class teacher and help set targets for further improvements.
At key stage 1,2 and 3 (age 5-14yrs) the British National Curriculum is accompanied by a series of 8 levels. These levels are used to measure your child’s progress. Please remember that these levels are based on teacher assessments (not tests), which give an all round view of your child’s progress.
The younger the child, the more difficult it is to assess their level, particularly as the majority of our pupils are second language learners. The spread within each level is wide and it can take, on average two or more years to complete each level. For this reason our Year 2 reports will tell you which level your child is working within and will not be sub-divided as in other years. The report will state whether they are developing, secure or consolidating within Level 1 or Level 2.
Objectives
The first term in the international class is all about developing spoken and written language and consolidating basic math skills or number recognition and counting.
The majority of the pupils still need significant support with speaking English and most are learning to read individual letter sounds and blend them together to read words. Some pupils are further on than this and we are helping them to add greater variety and correct structure to their spoken English and develop their pace and expression when reading simple texts.
Again, in Maths, most children are able to count to 20 confidently and can add and subtract simple numbers. Some still need support with this whereas others are extending their knowledge with larger 2 digit numbers. We are also learning about shape and measures.
Many other skills and facts are being developed and learned through a wide range of practical activities too. We are learning science, history and geography on a regular basis – even if not as part of a formal subject lesson.
By the end of this term we hope to see the children ready to access more complex information in English and to be better equipped to continue developing key skills that will be needed later in life; both for learning and for social interaction.
