After completing the Early Years Foundation Stage, children move naturally into Year 1, the first stage of Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) and an exciting new chapter in their learning journey. To ensure a smooth and reassuring transition, our Year 1 students remain at the Thigiri campus, where familiar surroundings and nurturing teachers help them thrive.
Lessons begin to take on a slightly more structured approach, but learning remains joyful, creative, and hands-on. We continue to encourage curiosity and imagination while helping children develop growing independence and confidence in their learning.
In Year 1, children build strong foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics. English lessons focus on phonics, reading comprehension, and creative writing across a variety of genres – from stories and poetry to letters and diary entries. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are woven through all subjects, helping children become clear and confident communicators.
Mathematics is brought to life through practical activities and problem-solving using real-world examples. Pupils explore number, place value, and operations, developing reasoning and fluency using a range of manipulatives and visual resources.
Science lessons spark curiosity about the world, encouraging children to explore, question, and investigate through observation and simple experiments. Topics include Materials, Animals, The Human Body, Habitats, Electricity, Changing State, and Plants, allowing students to make connections between what they learn in class and the world around them.
Throughout Year 1, our core values of moral integrity, ambition, respect, and kindness guide everything we do. This strong foundation—combined with our creative, child-centred approach - ensures that every child continues to feel inspired, supported, and excited about learning.
Geography involves developing locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and beginning to use geography skills like mapping. The school is located next to Karura Forest which provides a natural treasure trove of places and features to explore.
History involves researching different time periods and ways of living. Students explore both their local environment and the wider world around them. Topics draw upon different cultures, allowing students to understand that people have different beliefs, customs and traditions, encouraging understanding and tolerance of other people and their environments.
Our core values of moral integrity, ambition, respect and kindness, together with a strong sense of community, is at the heart of a Durham education, ensuring continuity and consistency across all areas of learning and development.
