The ARK Curriculum was developed after a two-month trial with three of our children who were unable to access the regular curriculum due to emotional and behavioural needs.
During the trial, the children explored identity (learning that they, and others had value), relationships (how to relate to and respect others, deal with emotions appropriately and take responsibility for their actions) and purpose (they are born for a purpose – to make a difference to the world around them, undertaking Acts of Random Kindness within the school to encourage them to be outward looking).
This trial began to impact not only the children’s view of themselves and others, but it also started to affect their relationships positively at home too. After seeing such encouraging results in just two months, we saw the value of developing the curriculum for the whole school, so that all the children benefitted from it. We wanted to give them a tool box for life!
Research has shown that for humans to flourish, they need a healthy connection with God, themselves, others and the world around them. The Curriculum is based around these connections and the three core values of the school – love, forgiveness and hope.
Term 1 – Love (Developing a Healthy Identity)
Discovering the power of identity, thoughts, loving others, the words we speak, encouragement and thankfulness.
Term 2- Forgiveness (Developing Healthy Relationships)
Discovering the importance of healthy friendships and relationships, healthy boundaries, healthy communication, forgiveness, honesty and trust and healthy emotions.
Term 3 – Hope (Building Hope and a Healthy Future)
Discovering that we all have a unique purpose and can influence the world around us, we have free choice – the ability to make good and bad choices, we are responsible for ourselves (mind, thinking, actions, words) and the world around us, it is okay to fail and how to celebrate success, looking at goals and dreams for the future, being courageous and overcoming obstacles in life (resilience).
Whole school assemblies have provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of having a healthy connection with God, which underpins all of the other connections.
We are currently rolling out Term 2 of the curriculum, so it is early days in terms of seeing the impact on the school. However, there has been anecdotal evidence which shows that it is already impacting hearts and minds!
Evidence of the Impact so far:
The evidence so far suggests that the curriculum is not only affecting the children and staff at the school, but also their families and the community beyond. We are gathering information and resources to encourage parents be supporting the curriculum at home too. We are also thinking about how we can bless and impact the local community through our Acts of Random Kindness.
We believe that this curriculum can be transformational, and that transformed people go on to transform the world around them!