Curriculum Statement for St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary Academy

Curriculum Intent:

Ethos

The Academy’s direction stems from its Mission Statement: Promoting high quality education, love, care and forgiveness of others as taught to us by Jesus and our Patron Saints to provide an environment in which the dignity of each person as a child of God is recognised and developed; and to promote the full potential of each child through a curriculum which develops spiritual, academic, social and emotional growth. We provide a Catholic education based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, in which the values of the Gospel underpin all aspects of school life; our ethos is shared with Governors, teachers, pupils, parents/carers and our wider community.

Curriculum rationale

The curriculum is fluid and not repetitive, however sequential, that gives pupils the opportunity to solve problems and develop aspirations whilst inspiring them to learn. We believe in broadening pupils’ horizons through personal challenges, charitable work and developing a spiritual and holistic mindset.  We pride ourselves on ensuring pupils achieve their potential and understand the importance of having a healthy body and mind as this will prepare pupils for later life. We are ensuring the application of skills to problem-solve and this feeds into teachers designing future learning. 

Curriculum coverage

Our curriculum has been created by the teachers using the national curriculum key skills to ensure that it is creative, enriching and fully inclusive, whilst being broad and balanced and celebrating pupil’s individual skills and talents. It is delivered through topics that build on previous skills whereby cross curricular links are embedded alongside British values.  We are rigorous in our delivery of the curriculum and it is regularly reviewed and evaluated through pupil progress.  Phonics, reading, spelling and clear cursive handwriting is prioritised across the curriculum, as leaders have identified this as a key foundation stone to learning.

Curriculum Implementation:

Our carefully crafted curriculum balances the national expectations and an all-encompassing range of experiences allowing our children to flourish that is inclusive to all. Clear strategic planning allows the curriculum to be dynamic and adapt to the context of the school and children’s needs matching the Academy’s Intent. 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. Outstanding classroom environments stimulate and engage quality thinking and reasoning. Explicit weekly and medium term planning is responsive to children’s needs; incorporating holistic approaches to teaching and learning. Ongoing professional training for staff enables them to further develop curriculum pedagogy and lead their subjects. Our marking policy is an opportunity for children to reflect on their learning and think deeply following their feedback to progress and embed new strategies.  Teaching teams undertake regular pupil progress meetings with the Principal to ensure each pupil is identified and tracked enabling the teachers to provide ongoing challenge to all. Extra-curricular challenges such as The Spelling Bee, Science and Maths weekly challenges are fully inclusive and are implemented to raise the pupil’s aspirations and commitment, thus celebrating their skills and talents.

Curriculum Impact:

We use rigorous monitoring throughout the year to gauge the impact of the curriculum design. Alongside senior leadership, middle leadership and core subject leadership, carefully crafted curriculum teams monitor individual subjects: reviewing learning, evaluating pupil voice, providing individual feedback to move practice forward, celebrating positives and highlighting areas of development. Our whole Academy team strengthens our ethos and vision as we work together to reflect upon our curriculum and share outcomes driving forward next steps. We don’t confuse coverage with progress when assessing as learning is measured through careful analysis of the application of skills across the curriculum; showing how acquisition of knowledge is enhanced dramatically by expectations to evidence quality thinking and demonstrate individual understanding.

As a diverse and multi-cultural Academy community, we believe our children possess unique talents, skills and qualities. As such, they have the right to succeed, the right to recognise their own greatness and the right to develop who they are in a respectful and nurturing environment.

The Academy provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills both indoors and out thus becoming conversationalists. This curriculum design ensures the needs of individual and small groups of children can be met within the environment of high quality first teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. In this way it can be seen to impact in a very positive way on children’s outcomes.

Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. High quality visits and visitors to the school enhance the curriculum and provide opportunities for writing for a purpose.

Children have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through school-based and external exhibitions, performances, competitions and events involving other schools and Academies. 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.