Curriculum
Curriculum at St Mary’s School
The aim of the curriculum at St Mary’s RC Primary School is to provide pupils with a rich, relevant, broad and balanced education, in line with the National Curriculum. We believe that the curriculum should be relevant to the children’s life experiences. We approach learning in exciting, enriching and creative ways in order to engage, inspire and enthuse our children.
As a Catholic school, the principles of Catholic education remain at our core. We are committed to the development of every child in our care to reach their full potential. We recognise that parents are the primary educators of our faith and we work closely with the local parish and community in embedding strong links and fostering an ethos of serving both individuals and society.
Children enjoy practical, fun and challenging learning experiences that will prepare them for life in 21st Century Britain. From Nursery to Year Six, the teaching staff consider what they want the children to learn, why they are teaching it and carefully reflect on how to teach and assess it. We focus on skills, enquiry, research and knowledge. Staff utilise a variety of approaches including using drama, computing, real-life experiences and outdoor learning to name a few. This all contributes to providing opportunities to achieve memorable learning experiences, achievement and significant growth in pupils’ knowledge.
Community involvement is an essential part of our curriculum. Our children leave our school with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community, where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.
In the curriculum design we recognise that children’s learning is enhanced by different experiences. Using the local area where possible, we offer children a wide range of educational visits which are used to motivate and engage learning. For example, visits to Battersea Park and Battersea Power Station. Workshops also enhance the pupils’ curriculum knowledge and skills, allowing pupils to explore the curriculum at a deeper level. Visitors in school give the children another perspective on values, attitudes, learning and understanding.
We ensure our pupils serve others through a wide-range of charities in their local community and are also globally aware of the needs of others.
Our Curriculum Vision
- To provide a safe and nurturing environment that develops the whole child, working with families so that each individual has good mental health, high self-esteem and a strong foundation for the next stage of their education.
- Become fluent and confident readers and to develop an appreciation and love of Reading whilst gaining knowledge across the curriculum.
- Use excellent basic skills across the curriculum including Reading, writing and mathematics.
- Retain key knowledge and have a broad and lasting knowledge of subject specific vocabulary.
- Be excited and motivated to learn by a curriculum that is inclusive and diverse.
- Become independent, confident, resilient and divergent learners so they are ready for secondary school (and beyond).
- Be challenged and make progress across all areas of the curriculum (including disadvantaged pupils and those with a special need and/or disability).
- Have a wide range of life experiences that enhance their learning (including trips and extra-curricular activities).
- Develop a sense of morality, respect and community and to prepare each pupil to become contributors to the good of society as a whole.
The staff at St Mary’s are experienced, dedicated and passionate, ensuring that every child is happy. We understand that children are most receptive when they are happy and have the confidence to complete a range of tasks and challenges. We stimulate curiosity; days are designed to be fun so that lessons are learned intuitively in an atmosphere of excitement and inquisitiveness.