Curriculum
Our Vision: In the light of Christ, we will learn what we need to be the difference in our world.
Our aim is to provide the highest possible standards for the children in our care. The whole child is important to us and we aim to develop our children intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually. We help every child to reach their potential, whether it be academically, in sport or in the performing arts such as music, drama, art and as a good citizens in society.
Respect and love for everything in God’s world is a main part of our ethos and we encourage children to think and evaluate, to reflect and communicate.
The Purpose of our Curriculum:
To open children’s eyes to the world beyond their immediate environment, to make them well-rounded and prepared for the next stage of their lives:
To raise children’s aspirations and self-esteem so that they believe (in themselves) to achieve.
To increase involvement of all stakeholders so that we are all engaged in life-long learning.
To deliver a curriculum that seeks to extend opportunity and develop a growth mindset so that all pupils have the resilience and determination to embrace challenge in all aspects of life.
To enable our children to live happy, healthy and productive lives.
To have respect for all people including themselves and for the world around us.
Our Mission statement: We learn, we love, we look after our world. We strive to be the best that we can be, following in the footsteps of Jesus.
What we offer our pupils at St. George’s:
· A reading rich curriculum which recognizes reading as the key to all learning and writing as a vehicle for expressing knowledge and understanding.
· A mastery approach to maths that creates children who are numerate, independent and inquiring.
· A broad and balanced curriculum where every subject is valued.
· Quality teaching of knowledge, skills and vocabulary across all subjects so that children will be encouraged to be inquisitive, ambitious and creative.
· Active learning recognizing that this not only promotes a healthy body but stimulates the mind.
· Exciting opportunities which enhance their learning throughout progressive themes and topics.
· A curriculum that will help them to develop the skills that they need to deal with the demands of a rapidly changing world and be successful, caring and valued citizens in society.
· The chance to open their eyes to the wonders of creation and marvel at the incredible and fantastic world in which we live and recognize that we are stewards of this.
Our curriculum design ensures that the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on pupil outcomes. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things.
Implementation
Our curriculum balances the national expectations together with a wide range of experiences that allow our children to flourish. Age-related expectations combine the acquisition of knowledge and development of skills to create a purposeful and exciting learning journey for every child. The curriculum has high expectations to combine transferable skills, demonstrate a breadth of vocabulary and develop strong cross-curricular links.
Our classroom environments stimulate and engage quality thinking and reasoning. Our marking and feedback policy is an opportunity for children to reflect on their learning and know what they need to do to improve further. Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review. The delivery of the curriculum means that there are many opportunities for children to work in teams and develop social skills both indoors and out.
As part of this Statement of Intent, we have outlined below examples of how the school enriches the curriculum in order to give all pupils the opportunity to excel and to ensure that they are stimulated by their learning and motivated to learn more.
During their time at St. George’s Catholic Primary School, each child can expect to experience the following:
· Regular opportunities to share their achievements in celebration assemblies and other whole school events
· Regular opportunities to contribute towards their learning and be involved in decision-making that effects the whole school either through School Council, Eco- Council and through regular pupil perception surveys etc.
· Opportunities to represent the school through sporting events and musical/dramatic performances
· A wide range of clubs and extra-curricular activities both after school and
child-led play leading during lunchtimes
· The opportunity to play a musical instrument through the Wiltshire Music Connect
· The opportunity to join a choir – KS1&2
· Regular opportunities to forge links with the local community of all ages
· Regular opportunities to fundraise and support local charities and initiatives within the local, national and international community
· The opportunity to be a peer mentor, where older pupils might support younger pupils in their reading or writing
· The opportunity to undertake cycling proficiency through the Bikeability programme.
· Opportunities to perform in plays and other dramatic and musical performances and the support for those who find that challenging
· On-going opportunities to learn through practical, hands-on, investigative activities.
· High-quality coaching from professionals in sport as a means to inspire the children and make tangible links with the sporting world beyond our school community
· A commitment and focus to being active: reward systems are in place for active school journeys and an active approach to learning
· Forge a strong mutual relationship with parents and carers, recognising them as important partners in the education of the children.
· A ‘POWer Project’ approach to homework to stimulate and excite the children to harness and build upon their learning at home
To support with our curriculum implementation the school uses the following schemes: White Rose for Maths; Kapow for Geography, History, Computing, Art & Design, Design Technology and Music; Language Angels for Spanish; God Matters for RE and Life to the Full Plus for PSHE & Relationships.
Visits and Visitors
Whilst they are at St. George's Catholic Primary School, each child can expect to experience the following visits and visitors to the school:
· The opportunity to work alongside a professional writer or storyteller each year – KS 1 & 2
· The opportunity to visit the library to promote reading and foster a love of books
· The opportunity to work with a local artist and artisans at least once during their primary schooling – KS 1 & 2
· Visits from sporting professionals throughout the year for the whole school and class specific, culminating in a week of activity and enterprise working in houses
· To develop strong links with secondary schools and benefit from their expertise and facilities.
· A residential visit in Upper Key Stage 2
· Visits or visitors linked to the children’s learning – at least one visit per term – KS 1 & 2
· The opportunity to play in local sports tournaments across the year – KS2 with some opportunities to participate in festivals in KS1
· Opportunities to perform in front of an audience both KS1 and KS2.
· Opportunities to perform in a theatre or concert hall – KS1 and KS2
· Regular opportunities to work alongside parents on a day-to-day basis and during practical whole school projects
· The opportunity to hear from past pupils who can share their achievement and experiences since leaving St. George’s
Curriculum Impact
St. George’s uses triangulated monitoring throughout the year to gauge the impact of the curriculum design.
The impact of our curriculum will be seen by:
· Improving standards: consistently performing at or above national and local averages.
· Progress that is improving year on year.
· Quality experiences which are memorable, worthwhile and challenging.
· Learners who are resilient, independent and confident global citizens.
· Individuals who value and respect one another and have an appreciation of a diverse community.
Our children will learn more, remember more, enjoy more and develop more in a spiritual, social and emotional way, thus enabling them to be ready for the next stage of their lives and to play a valued role in society.
For further information about our Curriculum please contact the Head teacher.