THE CURRICULUM

All pupils follow a broad general curriculum designed to introduce them to a wide range of educational activities and to help them to develop their full potential.

We believe that given equal access to the Curriculum, children become successful learners when

-they are actively engaged in meaningful tasks which build on previous knowledge and experience.

-the tasks set are intended to extend their understanding of the world around them.

-through their experience they are encouraged to develop the ability for written and oral modes of expressions, and where they are enabled to remember facts accurately and to apply knowledge gained appropriately.

-skills already acquired and re-inforced through a wide range of activity which will foster their curiosity, challenge their ability, encourage them to reflect and discover solutions to problems through perseverance.

-they have a positive attitude to themselves and others through co-operation, independence, self-discipline, and thus are valued as persons in their own right.

-they are recognised by the teacher as partners in learning.

-the role of the teacher is that of facilitator using sensitive intervention to raise the standard and quality of work undertaken.

The National Curriculum has been introduced progressively from Autumn 1989. RE continues to be a basic part of the curriculum. Our programmes of study in the 3 core subjects - Maths, English and Science will be as prescribed in Curriculum 2000 and schemes of work are available for reference in the school. We will continue to offer a variety of educational opportunities through a combination of the Foundation subjects, History, Geography, Technology including Design & I.C.T., Music, Art and P.E. KS1 children spend 23 hours 45 minutes a week on curriculum activities and KS2 children, 25 hours and 50 minutes.

NATIONAL CURRICULUM TASKS
At the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children take National Standards Tests (SATs)
Y2 and Y6 complete these in the summer term. The children are also assessed by the class teacher in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. The results of these assessments are reported to parents in writing in the end of year reports.

Click here to see dfes report and tables

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Religious Education is a very prominent and important part of our school life and as such is not an isolated subject but a way of life. The religious education has, as its goal, to enable the children's faith to become living, conscious and active, through the light of instruction. We try to complement the home and church environment by putting before the children the high ideals of the Christian life and, as far as possible, allowing them to experience the happiness derived from following God's plan in their daily lives. Each teacher instructs the children in the basic principles of Christian doctrine, using the ‘Here I am’ Programme at each age level. The importance of the Mass is emphasized as a source of strength and the greatest act of worship in each one's life.

We encourage the children to become actively involved in the community by offering their services voluntarily, so that by their example, they can be living active witnesses to Christ's message. We have a school assembly on Mondays and Fridays and classes take turns to lead an assembly for the School on Thursdays. The Act of Worship takes place in individual classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Parents can withdraw their children from all or part of the religious education and collective worship provided but this would obviously be counter to all that the school values.

ENGLISH
The basic skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing are given great importance. All children from Reception up to Year 6 take part in the Literacy Hour daily. Children are taught to express their own thoughts and feelings appropriately. Our aim is to sharpen their perceptive awareness and stimulate interest and imagination. It is hoped that when children leave Primary School they are equipped with the necessary skills to be able to converse confidently, read and write for a variety of different purposes, record work legibly and thoughtfully and enjoy fully the world of books.

The Oxford Reading Tree is the core reading scheme used in the school and the important role of parents in hearing their children read regularly is stressed. All children take home reading books and Reading Progress books which you are encouraged to sign when hearing your child read.

Our aim is to saturate the children with books of various kinds at their level so that they are helped to develop the habit of reading and can discover pleasure and satisfaction, a sense of values and an enlargement of sympathies in imaginative stories, whilst being helped to develop a discriminating and critical attitude to what is read, heard and seen. In addition to the core reading scheme, we have a range of supplementary reading books at all levels which are colour coded according to an individualised reading list. (Cliff Moon).

MATHEMATICS
Our aim in this area is to make mathematics alive and realistic. The language of Maths is of great importance and we use it as soon as the child has gained confidence. We ensure that a common core of essential mathematical concepts is covered, based on progressive stages of first-hand experience, application and skill-development.

In accord with the National Numeracy Project all children have a daily Maths lesson lasting between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

The daily Maths lesson works like this:

SCIENCE
In this area the school endeavours

- to stimulate the children’s interest and natural curiosity
by providing opportunities to investigate the world around us.

- to help the children to develop the skills and methods of science to extend their knowledge and understanding of the world.

The children learn about living things, materials, energy, forces and the earth in space, through topics chosen for their relevance and which are appropriate to their experience.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
We aim to provide a wide range of sporting activities which promote physical, mental and emotional satisfaction.

Pupils are offered physical challenges which demand courage, initiative, creative thought and healthy competition.

Sport is an important part of the curriculum and we are fortunate in having a large Gym as well as a Hall, a large playground and field.

Y4 and Y3 each go swimming once a week for half a term. Less able swimmers continue this in Years 5 and 6.

The school takes part in Borough Sport Activities. All pupils, regardless of age, participate in Skills Zone Sports afternoon each year.

Physical Education and Games are compulsory for all children. It is thus essential that the children have the required kit.

These items of clothing should be clearly marked and placed in a PE bag.
If a child is unable to take part in these lessons a note of explanation must be sent by the parents.

MUSIC
We have a music specialist who comes in three days a week and children are encouraged to take part in all aspects of music through song, dance and the playing of musical instruments. Throughout the school much use is made of television, recorded music, radio and percussion instruments. The KS2 children have the opportunity of recorder lessons. The school has peripatetic teachers for a variety of instruments for individual and small group lessons. Emphasis in our school is on relating music skills to our assemblies, liturgies and para-liturgies.

GEOGRAPHY
Our aim is to stimulate pupils’ interest in their surroundings in the variety of physical and human conditions on the Earth’s surface to foster their sense of wonder at the beauty of the world around them and thereby enhance their sense of responsibility for the care of the Earth and its peoples.

HISTORY
Our aim in History is to

a) To encourage children to research and discover our rich heritage of the past.

b) To discover about the lives of famous people and the diversity of cultures that have influenced change.

c) To learn that the past and present shape the future for the benefit of all.

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
This is a process which uses knowledge of everyday life to solve problems in a creative way. The children will be involved in design & problem solving activities to create an end result which is evaluated and modified if necessary. There is a range of tools, materials and construction equipment available for use throughout the school.

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (I.C.T.)

An I.C.T. suite has been set up enabling children to work in small groups on R.M. Computers.

Each class has its own computer and the KS1 children have concept keyboards also and there are some extra computers providing different facilities. All children are given an opportunity to develop Computer Skills. Computer programmes support most curriculum areas and the children have access to word processing and the Internet.

FRENCH
French is taught throughout the school from the nursery upwards. The subject is approached through conversation, games and song, the essential aim being to show that learning a foreign language can be fun.

ART/CRAFT
All children are taught the skills and knowledge of art, craft and design as outlined in the National Curriculum. They are offered a wide range of resources and are given opportunities to work individually, in groups and as a class.

They are taught the safe and appropriate use of equipment and materials.
Children’s work is displayed throughout our school so they can reflect on their achievements and extend their awareness of themselves as artists.

SEX EDUCATION
It is not our aim to treat this as a separate subject but to provide areas of study appropriate to the children at different stages of their development. To this end we have adopted the Catholic Scheme of Work called "In the Beginning".

In general children will learn about the reproductive system of plants and animals and of human growth and change through science, social studies, health education, religious education and education in personal relationships. However, we undertake to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where sex education is given to any registered pupils at the school, it is given in such a manner as to encourage those pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of Christian family life