Hasmonean Primary School

Welcome to Hasmonean We provide a high standard of education in both our Chol and Kodesh departments and aim to bring a joy of learning and creativity to both departments as well as providing specialist teachers in Music, Art and Design and Technology and Physical  Education. Our Curriculum is broad and exciting and our pupil voice where we hear from the pupils as to what they have learnt encourages us to further develop our subjects from Nursery to Year 6. Our guiding principle is “Torah Im Derech Eretz” and our staff are truly committed to bringing out the best in every child in their Torah and secular education as well as in their personal and social development.

Your children are unique. We feel privileged to be able to assist their development during their formative years and can assure you that we will do whatever we can to make their time here happy and successful

We strive to teach to the highest standard in English , Maths and Science. Reading is of fundamental importance to us at Hasmonean as is language and communication as well as phonics in our Early Years. Our Maths curriculum aims to give a solid understanding of key mathematical concepts as well as providing the pupils with the key skills to critically solve problems .

We have a broad and balanced curriculum that is taught in all our year groups  from Nursery through to Year 6. Our curriculum has been carefully planed and sequenced from Nursery to Year 6 and consists of all the National Curriculum Subjects which are taught at Hasmonean as individual subjects. At Hasmonean we have definable threads running through all our subjects such as our Jewish heritage and travel and migration and we find links where appropriate between each subject.

We teach our Curriculum Subjects by developing the pupils knowledge, understanding and key skills which are built on each year which leads to greater understanding by our pupils. Our Pupil Voice which runs half termly encourages us to further develop and enhance our Curriculum by developing our different subjects according to the pupils needs and interests.

Our Curriculum is varied, fun and exciting. We are working on ensuring that our foundation subjects curriculum is accessible to all our different learners at Hasmonean, irrespective of disability and/or special needs. We aim to integrate our value and ethos into the Curriculum wherever possible and our guiding principle of “Torah Im Derech Eretz” with its overarching aim to develop the whole child underpins everything we aim to teach from our Curriculum.

Our Vision

• Inspire our children with a love for their Orthodox Jewish Heritage.
• Provide an enjoyable, safe and supportive environment.
• Nurture confidence and self-worth.
• Contribute positively to the wider community.
• Develop the ‘whole’ child.
• Commit to continual improvement.
• Promote close partnerships with parents, governors and the wider community.
• Prepare our pupils for their future as committed Jews.
• Foster a sympathetic understanding of our multicultural society.
• Ensure a healthy, disciplined and caring environment.
• Provide a rich Limmudei Kodesh curriculum.
• Offer many and varied extra-curricular activities and events.

Summary of Spiritual, Moral. Social, Cultural and Community Cohesion

• Spiritual Development is facilitated by : a daily act of Collective worship, our own Jewish Studies Curriculum, show and tell activities to value each other’s opinions, celebration of birthdays and other family events and encouraging a climate of respect
• Moral Development is facilitated by: class and school rules, discussions about right and wrong behaviour, stories with examples of honesty and respect, moral and ethical lessons from Bible stories, the 7 Noahide Laws as a set of moral imperatives, Hillel’s teaching that “What is hateful to you, do not do to others”
• Social development is facilitated by: various charity collections throughout the year, guest speakers, allocation of special responsibilities (e.g. prefects, monitors), class performances and residential trips, our team point system, the principles of Pikuach Nefesh (saving lives) and Tikun Olam (social action such as acts of kindness and charity)
• Cultural development is facilitated by: celebration of Jewish festivals, music from other lands and periods of history, trips to places of cultural interest (e.g. museums and art galleries)

All of the above encourage pupils to appreciate and value the diversity of backgrounds that make up our multicultural society and to show tolerance towards, and have respect for, other people’s feelings, values and beliefs. They have a  good understanding of how to be good citizens and play a responsible role in society (e.g. groups visit elderly care homes and participate in civic events such as Holocaust Memorial Day). Visits to the Houses of Parliament and the election of our School Council promote the importance of democracy and pupils are taught the ancient Jewish principle of Dina d’Malchuso Dina – the law of the land is the Law.