At St Mary’s RC Primary School we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children, whatever their starting points, as they progress through each Key Stage. The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum (2014) and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the pupils in our school. The aim of our curriculum is for pupils to have the requisite skills to be successful, independent and motivated learners in readiness for their next stage of education.
The school uses a cross-curricular approach to teaching and learning. This means that skills, knowledge and understanding across a range of subjects are brought together and form a topic. Within the topic, children are able to practise and apply their reading, maths and English skills in other subject areas.
Our ‘Long Term Maps’ show each year group’s overview of topics and curriculum learning.
Our ‘Topic Maps’ show each year group’s half termly areas of learning. They are led by enquiry questions posed by the pupils to determine what they already know about the topic, what they would like to know and what they have learned. The topic maps detail the class novel, writing and maths across the curriculum and WOW experiences. These could include a class trip, a visitor to school or a celebration of learning event.
Specialist teachers and instructors support music, physical education and the teaching of Spanish. All subject leaders are given training and opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school. Theme weeks, whole school activities and opportunities within and outside school all enrich and develop the children’s learning. After school clubs and events extend these opportunities further. The school is well resourced in terms of learning materials, books and technology.
Pupils have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based or external presentations, performances, competitions and events involving other schools. Developing their independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.
For more detailed information about Curriculum, please ask to speak to Mr David Miller, Headteacher.
Please click on the following pdf document to see ‘Our Model of Outstanding Teaching’:
