PRIMARY SCHOOL
CURRICULUM
A BRITISH EDUCATION
NATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR ENGLAND
The National Curriculum provides children with a learning framework that supports the development of their knowledge, understanding, and skills. It offers teachers the flexibility to plan more advanced work for children whose attainment is significantly above the expected standard, while also preparing lessons for those who need additional support and guidance. Our teachers use a variety of assessments to set ambitious targets, encouraging students to challenge themselves and achieve the best possible results.
At The Casco School, we utilise world-class learning programmes that are ideal for a multilingual international setting. We follow a mastery approach to mathematics using the White Rose Maths programme. For English, we use the Talk for Writing approach, and in Spanish, we implement a curriculum based on guidelines from the Ministerio de Educación de España and the Instituto Cervantes. This curriculum supports both native and non-native Spanish speakers, ensuring that children who are not yet fluent in Spanish receive targeted support. Through streaming, we group children according to their attainment in both subjects, creating an individualised learning experience. This approach not only fosters academic progress but also provides emotional benefits, helping children feel more confident and supported in their learning journey.
UK Primary Curriculum - Designed to engage children
The UK Primary Curriculum is adopted by schools worldwide to provide children with a diverse mix of personal, academic, and international learning experiences. The UK Primary Curriculum offers a framework for both teachers and students, concentrating on three key areas: Subject, Personal, and International. These areas support children’s development in:
- Knowledge—facts and information from a variety of sources.
- Skills—practical abilities which children learn, develop, then master.
- Understanding—deep and growing awareness of key concepts.
In every lesson at The Casco School, children work towards clear Learning Objectives focused on knowledge, skills, and understanding. These objectives provide students with a clear goal to aim for during their learning. The objectives are further broken down into Success Criteria, which are small steps that guide students in achieving the Learning Objective. Through ongoing dialogue and feedback from teachers, students gain a better understanding of their progress and the next steps needed to continue advancing in their learning.
Personal Objectives help children develop essential skills for modern life, empowering them to become adaptable, empathetic, ethical, resilient, respectful thinkers, collaborators, and communicators. These are embedded in the ethos of daily life at The Casco School.
Children develop a sophisticated worldview, focusing on the journey from “self” to “other,” fostering an awareness of global perspectives and interconnectedness.
Your child’s performance is evaluated based on their knowledge, understanding, and abilities. Teachers assess your child’s progress across all areas of the curriculum through a combination of Formative Assessments, which provide real-time feedback on understanding and performance, and Summative Assessments, such as quizzes and tests, which take place at the end of units to ensure your child has fully absorbed the learning and can apply it to new contexts.
This information is used by teachers to tailor instruction at a level that best supports your child’s learning. Assessment is an ongoing part of school life and plays a key role in helping children develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. It is used to:
- Enhance and improve teaching and learning
- Set targets for individuals, groups, and cohorts
- Share learning objectives with students
- Involve students in self-assessment
- Help students recognise the standards they can aim for
- Raise standards of learning
- Identify areas for academic intervention
- Inform parents about their child’s progress
Primary students receive three academic reports each year: in Autumn, Spring, and Summer. These reports are used by teachers to communicate students’ academic and social development to parents, along with personalised targets for each subject to focus on before the next reporting period. The reports are designed in compliance with MEduca standards to ensure they meet the required educational criteria.
In addition, teachers hold parent consultations by appointment throughout the school year to discuss students’ progress and provide further support.
PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
TIME OF CHANGES...
BIG STEPS FOR CHILDREN
Personalised Learning for Primary Students
At The Casco School, we take pride in our co-teaching model. Each class is led by both an English and a Spanish teacher, working together in pairs with up to 22 students to tailor learning to individual needs.
Literacy is taught separately in English and Spanish, focusing on phonics, spelling, grammar, and punctuation in both languages. Core texts from diverse authors support topics such as science, technology, geography, and history, with opportunities for artistic and social expression. All lessons are carefully designed to cater to students’ varied interests and abilities.
We also support a smooth transition to secondary school, offering activities in collaboration with our Middle and High School teams to prepare students academically, socially, and emotionally.
A Bilingual Primary Education
Our Primary School combines the best of the British and Spanish curriculums to provide a bilingual education for children in Years 1 to 6 (ages 5 to 11). The curriculum focuses on developing knowledge, skills, and understanding to help students become confident, responsible, and ambitious learners, prepared for the challenges of a globalised world.
Beyond academic achievement, our students develop a love for learning, build friendships, explore their passions, and strengthen their sense of community, fostering respect and tolerance. Through our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) lessons, following the Jigsaw programme, children build emotional literacy, resilience, and an understanding of their role in society, helping them grow into confident, well-rounded individuals.
We prioritise fluency in both English and Spanish, with immersive learning experiences inside and outside the classroom, ensuring students gain confidence in both languages.
Our teachers are committed to creating dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and deeper understanding.
PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Topic-based Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed around engaging topics that integrate multiple subjects, helping students make meaningful connections.
For example, in Amazing Animals, students explore the science of habitats, adaptation, and conservation while linking this to geography by studying different ecosystems and their global significance. In history, the topic of Ancient Greeks allows children to examine the impact of Greek mythology, democracy, and philosophy while making connections to art, literature, and modern society.
By incorporating international perspectives, collaborative projects, and global themes, we encourage students to think critically, develop a broad worldview, and appreciate cultural diversity.
The core curriculum from ages 5 – 12 (Year 1 – Year 6) includes all the next areas of learning:
PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Areas of learning
- English and Spanish. Phonics, reading and writing
- Mathematics
- Computing
- PSHE: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic
- Topic: History, Geography and Science
- Art and Design
- Music
- Physical Education
- PACE (Personal and Citizenship Education)
- Panamanian Studies
