Where Curiosity Thrives and Knowledge Connects
At The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School, our Thematic Curriculum empowers pupils to develop flexible, lifelong skills through a rich blend of academic and co-curricular experiences. Our curriculum, combined with a strong pastoral system and dynamic house structure, provides a framework for exploring a wide range of interconnected disciplines.
Through consistently excellent teaching, we aim for our pupils to:
- Sharpen critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Grow as confident communicators and reflective thinkers.
- Embrace challenges with persistence and resilience.
- Approach learning actively, both independently and collaboratively.
- Take risks and view failure as a stepping stone to success.
- Exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions.
- Foster empathy and a strong understanding of others’ needs.
- Achieve excellence both academically and personally.
Themes
Our Junior School Thematic Curriculum is designed to provide a rich, integrated learning experience for or pupils. This Curriculum approach is centred around year group termly themes, each underpinned by a "big question" that connects all areas of learning. These themes encourage our pupils to think critically and make connections across subjects, fostering a deeper understanding of the material.
Autumn Term:
Free To Be Me
- Little Cubs: What are my feelings inside?
- Big Cubs: What makes me special?
- Reception: How are we all unique?
Spring Term:
Talents and Powers
- Little Cubs: What is a superhero?
- Big Cubs: Can you be a superhero?
- Reception: How can you use your superpower for good?
Summer Term:
The Earth Beneath My Toes
- Little Cubs: Whose footprints are these?
- Big Cubs: What is hiding here?
- Reception: What can we learn from digging in the dirt?
Autumn Term:
Home Sweet Home
- Little Cubs: Who lives here?
- Big Cubs: What makes a home special?
- Reception: Home: A place or a feeling?
Spring Term:
Look Up!
- Little Cubs: What is above us?
- Big Cubs: What makes our sky wonderful
- Reception: What can we learn from exploring the sky?
Summer Term:
Imagination
- Little Cubs: Can you tell me a story?
- Big Cubs: What magical things can happen when you read a book?
- Reception: How can our imagination help us?
Autumn Term:
Heroes Villains
- Can a villain ever be a hero?
Spring Term:
Beyond the Horizon
- What draws us to the mysteries of the oceans?
Summer Term:
From Soil to Sky
- How has our world changed over time?
Autumn Term:
Marvels of the Wold
- What makes something a marvel of the world?
Spring Term:
Bravery vs Fear
- How do stories of bravery inspire us to face our own fears and challenges?
Summer Term:
A Twist in the Tale
- Is change good or bad?
Autumn Term:
Magic and Wonder
- How do we explain the unexplainable?
Spring Term:
Conquerors
- How can the lessons of past conquerors inspire future leaders?
Summer Term:
Myths and Legends
- How have stories influenced people's lives?
Autumn Term:
Hidden Depths
- How much of the past is hidden from us?
Spring Term:
Invention and innovation
- Are inventions limitless?
Summer Term:
Exploration and Discovery
- What role does the past play in the future of exploration?
Autumn Term:
Power Vs Principles
- Decision-makers or rule-breakers?
Spring Term:
Conservation and Creation
- What does the future of our city/world look like?
Summer Term:
Crime and Punishment
- Do two wrongs make a right?
Autumn Term:
Peace and Conflict
- Is global peace achievable in our lifetime?
Spring Term:
Breaking Barriers
- Does stereotyping and prejudice stand in the way of individuals breaking barriers?
Summer Term:
Crossing Borders
- Identity, belonging and home: Is nationality important or should we aspire to 'One World'?
Skills
At the heart of our educational philosophy are two complementary pillars, PGS Learn and PGS Life, which together foster the academic and personal growth of every pupil.
PGS Learn
Alongside subject and age specific skills and techniques to master, we look to develop three central PGS Learn skills to equip our pupils to succeed to the best of their ability in education now in the future.
Analysis • Global Literacy • Communication
PGS Life
PGS Life skills are three crucial areas of expertise that we want to develop in our pupils so that they can flourish in the changing world beyond the school arches.
