Our Curriculum
PLEASE READ ABOUT OUR CURRICULUM BELOW:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CURRICULUM PLEASE SEE OUR CLASS PAGES
DAILY INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH CLASS DOJO SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING IN CLASS.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School,
a Voluntary Academy
Curriculum Policy Statement
“We have an academically
challenging curriculum
with a wide range of
learning experiences”
At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy we believe that every child is unique and has the skills to be engaged, effective and successful life-long learners, with the potential to make outstanding contributions to society.
Curriculum INTENT
It is our core purpose, therefore, to develop our children’s learning potential so that they become resilient, resourceful and reflective learners, who are confident to take risks based on reasoning skills, can think creatively and communicate through a reciprocal approach to learning. At the heart of our curriculum we promote Catholic Values which ensure our children are responsible, can explore beliefs and others’ values and show respect both in the local and global community. The seven Rs are a part of our school culture and shape our curriculum aim. They provide a clear and coherent rationale for our curriculum design.
They prepare our children for the next steps in their learning journey and link into both Secondary School and Graduate attributes.
The seven Rs are broken down into key concepts which form a part of our curriculum model and support school staff in their roles to cultivate these values in all children. The thematic exploration of these concepts develops each child's capacity for learning and increases their practical ability, both across the curriculum and in everyday life situations.
We intend that the aims and principles of our curriculum will provide opportunity for greater knowledge to develop in all our children as they become learners who show:
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Curriculum IMPLEMENTATION
Our children follow a curriculum designed by our staff and the children. We ensure our expectations are challenging and engaging; leading to children reaching or exceeding age related expectations for their year group.
Our rigorous mapping of children’s attainment and standards, following the National Curriculum, leads to strong support in learning; ensuring children make continued progress and achieve their best.
We ensure our curriculum is relevant and offers opportunity for children to make a positive difference in their communities.
Our pupils are engaged and motivated through learning that has relevance, meaning and purpose.
We follow the National Curriculum which sets out subjects and content which we must teach. Within this, however, there is flexibility so that we can interpret and plan to meet the needs and interests of our children now and for the future. The key aim for all our teaching and learning is to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn, to enjoy and to achieve their potential.
Please see the ‘Curriculum Overview’ for each classes termly themes and subject overviews shaped around a ‘BIG QUESTION’ which children explore through ‘KEY CONCEPTS’ each term.
Please see the 'Curriculum Jigsaws' for each year group's learning outcomes and the year group expectations which allow for the curriculum coverage supporting all pupils to access the content of the curriculum and make progress through the curriculum.
We encourage and stimulate the best possible progress and the highest attainment for all our pupils. Our curriculum builds on pupils’ strengths, interests and experiences and develops children’s confidence in their capacity to learn and work independently and collaboratively.
We place great importance on the core skills of Literacy, Numeracy, RE and continually promote skills that help our learners to improve their own learning, whilst encouraging pupils every opportunity to work together. Our Curriculum coordinators ensure the curriculum has sufficient depth and coverage of knowledge in the subjects and they provide a model of curriculum progression for every subject, please see ‘Curriculum Portfolios’ for each curriculum area. Coordinators work alongside staff to map out the curriculum to ensure there is sufficient coverage across the subject over time. The Co-ordinators review the curriculum to ensure it is successfully implemented showing pupil progression in knowledge. Teachers ensure the pupils successfully ‘learn the curriculum’. Curriculum resources are selected, including textbooks, which serve the school’s curricular intentions and the content of study and enable effective curriculum implementation.
We place a high priority on developing pupils’ physical skills, self-esteem and emotional well-being providing a rich environment for activity. We encourage children to recognise the importance of pursuing a healthy lifestyle and keeping themselves and others safe. We promote happy, effective relationships that are based on respect for themselves and for others.
Curriculum IMPACT
Our children grow up as successful learners, ready for Secondary Education and comment on the foundations of learning they receive at St Josephs, in a caring and supportive environment.
Leaders at all levels, including governors, regularly review and quality assure the curriculum subjects to ensure that it is implemented sufficiently well. Meetings between all parties provide experience of the curriculum and highlight strengths and areas for continual development. Leaders ensure that ongoing professional development/training is available for staff to ensure that curriculum requirements can be met as they evolve.
The school management team ensure that interventions are appropriately delivered to enhance pupils’ capacity to access the full curriculum.
This joined up approach to curriculum impact leads to clear expectations which are reported to parents and assessments which ensure progression across each class and Key Stage.
“The School’s Mission Statement simply explains the ethos the school throughout the years, children are encouraged to the best they can be,” parent of the school.
“The school has a friendly, caring atmosphere where children are encouraged to think of and help their peers. Children are nurtured and encouraged to do their best,” parent of the school.
“Staff are caring and bring out the best in the children. Children are encouraged to be independent and talk about problems with their peers,” parent of the school.
“A Welcoming school with friendly staff members. A safe learning environment for children achieving the best they can,” staff of the school.
“Well trained staff and support staff who are always willing to go the extra mile,” staff of the school.
An Inclusive Curriculum
At St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy all class teachers are responsible for providing a curriculum that is suitable for all pupils in the class, including those with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) with support from the SENCo. We have high expectations for all pupils and are committed to ensuring our curriculum complies with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. Our inclusion statement emphasises the importance of providing an inclusive learning environment for all pupils including those with SEND. Additional information on this can be found in our Special Education Needs Information Report and Equalities Policy.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEWS - Big Questions for each Cohort each term
CURRICULUM COORDINATOR PORTFOLIOS
Names of Phonics / Reading Schemes in KS1
We now use Little Wandle for phonics and early reading with a wide range of books from Big Cat Education linked to our Little Wandle phonics provision. We used to use Jolly Phonics and Letters and sounds for phonics, however the new scheme is DFE approved.
Our free choice reading books are sourced from a variety of publishers including Oxford Reading Tree scheme and Rigby Star scheme.