Unlock the Potential

At Bright Futures we prioritize the holistic development of each student, preparing them for higher learning. Our curriculum values every subject and challenges students to reach their full potential. We believe that education goes beyond memorization, focusing on critical thinking, creativity, and a passion for learning.

Our curriculum encompasses core subjects like mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, forming a strong foundation for academic growth. However, we go beyond traditional disciplines. Cultural education plays a significant role, as students participate in bi-weekly cultural trips. In the past, we have explored the Horniman Museum, Croydon Museum, Talawa Theatre Company, and other enriching experiences that expose students to diverse cultures and perspectives.

Our ultimate goal is to empower students to become lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and future leaders in higher education and beyond. Explore our detailed curriculum below and discover the transformative educational experience that awaits our students.

Explore our Curriculum

Our ethos

At Bright Futures we follow the Christian ethos and this permeates every aspect of our educational journey. Our Christian foundation shapes the character development and moral compass of our students. It inspires them to embrace empathy, kindness, and respect for others, fostering a nurturing and inclusive community. Through teachings centered on faith, we aim to instill principles of forgiveness, perseverance, and humility, guiding students to become not only academically successful but also compassionate individuals who positively impact the world around them.

CURRICULUM

Years 5-6

Fiction Texts:

The Korean War - Birthday Boy (2004)

The Ancient Greeks - 12 Tasks of Heracles

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883)

Adventure at Sandy Cove - Pie Corbett

Alien Landing - Pie Corbett

Tears of the Sun God (2021)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)

There is a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom (1987)

Kensuke's Kingdom (1999)

The Other side of Truth (2000)

WWII - Goodnight Mr Tom (1981)

Poetry and spoken language

Non-Fiction Texts:

Letter-writing

Persuasive, balanced arguments

How to be a Greek God - Instructions

Diary recounts

Descriptive poems about the universe

Victorian era news and recounts

African news and recounts - asylum seekers

Reportative writing

Years 7-8

Fiction Texts:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)

Much Ado About Nothing (1600)

The Merchant of Venice (1598)

When Life Gives you Mangoes (2020)

A Monster Calls (2017)

Poetry and spoken language - Belonging and Love

The Gothic - comparisons and creative writing

Non-Fiction Texts:

Comparison of non-fiction texts

Rhetorical analysis

Essay-writing

Exploration of cultural context within Fiction texts

Enquire

Years 5-6

Living things and their habitats; life cycles, reproduction in plants and animals, classification of animals and plants

Earth and Space; movement of Earth, moon and other planets in the solar system, the Earth's axis and seasons

States of matter; properties of materials, knowledge of solids, liquids and gases, process of mixing, dissolving and other changes of states

Forces; effects of gravity, water / air resistance and friction, forces exerted in mechanisms and pulleys

Light; relationship of eye, how light travels

Electricity; circuits, voltage, amps, circuit diagrams

Evolution and inheritance; animals and plants adaptation to their environment

The Human Body; the circulatory system, healthy lifestyles, impact of diet, exercise and drugs

Scientific experiments

Years 7-8

Forces; speed, gravity, contact forces, pressure.

Electromagnets; voltage and resistance, current and flow in a parallel circuit, magnetism

Energy; costs of fluorescent and filament light bulbs, energy transfers in a hand-crank torch, electric motors, conduction, convection and radiation

Waves; sound and light, effects and properties

Matter; particle model, separating mixtures based on their properties, sorting elements of the periodic table, compare properties of elements with properties of a compound formed from them

Reactions; metals and non-metals, acids and alkalis, chemical energy, investigate changes in mass for chemical and physical processes

Earth; rock formation, the solar system, natural and human chemical processes on CO2 emissions, extraction

Organisms; movement in the skeletal system and muscular system, cells, breathing, digestion

Ecosystems; interdependence, reproduction in plants and animals, respiration, photosynthesis

Genes; variation, human reproduction, evolution and extinction, inheritance

Years 5-6

Counting and comparing

Calculation of four properties: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

Investigating properties of shapes

Presentation of data

Numbers and the number system

Visualising and constructing nets

Exploring fractions, decimals and percentages

Exploring time

Measuring and calculating space

Investigating angles

Approximating and estimating

Proportional reasoning

Patterns

Equations

Consolidation

Years 7-8

Calculation of four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

Algebra: sequences, substitution, co-ordinates, plotting graphs, solving equations

Geometry: angles, shape, polygons and parallel lines, properties of shapes, transformations, area and volume

Statistics and probability: processing and representing data and probability, statistical graphs, averages, interpreting data

Proportional reasoning: ratio

Operations with negative numbers, decimals, fractions, factors and multiples, powers and roots

Years 5-6

Religious Studies:

Belief and practice; Christianity, Hinduism,

Islam, Judaism, Sikhism

Spirituality through art

Beliefs regarding death

Initiation practices

Signs and symbols

Moral dilemmas and rules for living

History of belief in the UK

Special leaders

Religious buildings

Bible Talk:

Bible Introduction - the shape, structure and history

The Old Testament and the New Testament

The 66 books of the bible

The psalms; particularly 1, 23, 27, 91, 100, 119

Bible Interpretation - the ways it can be read and understood

What does it mean to walk by faith?

Years 7-8

Religious Studies:

Examining key religious beliefs between different faith

The life of Abraham and Moses - key figures of the Jewish faith

Judaism - the history, beliefs and modern practice

Holocaust and Religious Persecution

The Life of Jesus - the birth, life, teaching and death

The Church - conception and modern use

Islam - key history, beliefs and practices

Bible Talk:

Bible Introduction - the shape, structure and history

Bible Interpretation - the ways it can be read and understood

Old Testament Heroes and Heroines

New Testament Heroes and Heroines

The Nature of God

Christology - understandings of Jesus as 'The Messiah' or 'Christ'

Pneumatology - the person and work of the Holy Spirit as part of the Trinity

Eschatology - understanding different Christian ideals about what may happen at the end of the world

Years 5-6

Information Technology:

E-Safety; securing your information, being kind and responsible, reporting concerns about content and contact, recognising acceptable / unacceptable behaviour

Digital literacy; understanding computer networks, the internet, Microsoft software, research and collaboration project

Computer Science:

Coding games; Scratch

Creating media; video production, 3D modelling

Programming; sequencing, repetition, selection, variables

Data and Information; databases, spreadsheets

Years 7-8

Information Technology:

Data representation; the binary number system

Central Processing Unit and Input / Output devices

Understanding the Internet

Famous Computer Scientists

Computer Science:

Coding; Scratch, Python programming - variables, sequence, selection, iteration, functions

Web Development; HTM, CSS and JavaScript

Years 5-6

Geography:

Land use in the UK; allotments, farming, maps,

grid references

Climate zones; Polar, Arctic and Antarctic, The Americas

Mountains, rivers and coasts

Food transportation, irrigation, natural resources

The River Nile

Climate change

Indigenous people

Tourism

History:

Early British History to Iron Age

Romans, Saxons and Vikings

Ancient Greece; the Olympics

Non-European History

Post-1066

The World Wars

Years 7-8

Geography:

Development of Earth

Map Skills; OS Map and Atlas skills

UK geography; human and physical

Coasts; natural processes, coastal landform development, and human use and management

Africa; human and physical

Natural hazards; earthquakes, volcanoes

Population and migration

Rivers; natural processes, river landform development, and human use and management

Asia; human and physical

History:

Vikings and Anglo-Saxons

The Norman conquest

Medieval Kings and life

West African Kingdoms

The Renaissance

Tudor England

The Stuarts

London development

The Industrial Revolution

The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Abolition

Years 5-6

Health and Wellbeing:

Online safety; phones, e-safety, protecting information, independence

Human reproduction / puberty

Health and safety - basic emergency first aid

Relationships:

Conflict resolution and negotiation strategies

Differences and similarities - Equality Act

Recognise and challenge stereotypes

Identify personal boundaries and respect others

Living in the Wider World:

Understand the range of national, regional, religious

and ethnic identities in the UK

Look at customs and values globally

Basic understanding of financial concepts: tax, debt, loans

Media studies - biases, social media

Years 7-8

Health and Wellbeing:

Online safety; phones, e-safety, protecting information, independence

Human reproduction / puberty - unwanted contact, FGM

Health and safety - basic emergency first aid

Drugs and alcohol - misuse and pressures

Emotional wellbeing; mental health, body image, coping strategies

Relationships:

Diversity, prejudice and bullying

Discrimination; racism, religious discrimination, ableism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia

Self-worth, romance and friendships

Introduction to contraception and consent

Living in the Wider World:

Developing skills and aspirations - careers, teamwork, enterprise skills and raising aspirations

Community and careers; equality of opportunity, different types of work

Financial literacy; saving, borrowing, budgeting

Our Cultural Trips

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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's home in Croydon

Meeting Croydon's first Poet Laureate - Shaniqua!