Please contact your child's teacher, or Mrs Naylor, if you wish to find out more about our curriculum. If you are not a parent or carer, and wish to find out more, please contact the school office on 01695 558560.

St Francis of Assisi Catholic School Curriculum Statement

Intent

At St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School ‘We love and grow in Christ, we live and learn in partnership, we build and share together.’ Through our broad and balanced curriculum, we strive to develop the skills, knowledge and learning attitudes of our pupils so that they may reach their full potential living life in all its fullness. Our Catholic values help children to develop their social and moral code, as they build their sense of uniqueness and self-worth as an individual. We believe all children deserve the opportunity to nurture their individual talents and to become the best that they can be. We intend to develop pupils who are creative, confident, resilient, responsible, articulate, inquisitive and literate, who have the knowledge and skills needed to allow them to achieve highly and who are well-prepared for life in modern Britain.

Implementation

In Nursery and Reception we follow the EYFS areas of learning. Our KS1 & 2 curriculum is built on the National Curriculum programmes of study for each subject area. In Religious Education throughout the school we follow the ‘Come and See’ programme as recommended by the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

We aim to make learning both flexible (knowledge and skills that can be applied in a range of situations) as well as durable (knowledge that can be easily recalled). The curriculum is structured in such a way as to ensure the sequential development of knowledge and skills.  As children move through the school, the expectation for the depth and breadth of their learning is increased.

Our approach to pedagogy is based on the cognitive science and educational research that underpins effective learning. Certain subjects require a distinctive approach to teaching and learning - in mathematics, for example, our approach is based upon the highly successful Singapore models.

Extra-curricular clubs also form an important part of the school’s provision, especially in sports and the arts, providing opportunities to develop and apply skills and knowledge in a less formal setting. Many of the clubs on offer are provided by school staff as well as visiting experts.

Learning based on the local environment and educational visits further afield makes learning ‘come alive’ for children. Wherever possible, aspects of the curriculum in science, geography and PE are delivered outdoors. The delivery of PE is supported by specialists, who work alongside teachers to deliver the PE curriculum, as well as a wide range of ‘bolt on’ activities.

The school takes pride in providing a highly inclusive environment, where learners demonstrate high levels of enjoyment in their education and the majority make very good progress in most subjects and areas of learning. Children at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for greater depth and those who struggle are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.

Subject leaders play an important part in the success of the curriculum by leading a regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice contributes to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further. All subject leaders are given training and the opportunity to keep developing their own subject knowledge, skills and understanding, so they can support curriculum development and their colleagues throughout the school.

Impact

Practice across the school provides a strong foundation and opportunities for children to collaborate and develop social skills both indoors and out. This 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 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 further opportunities. Children are encouraged 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. Awards such as the International Schools Award, the School Games Gold Award, the Artsmark Gold Award and the Green Tree School Gold Award are amongst those that we have recently received. Developing the independence and motivation of our learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.

‘I have come in order that you may have life – life in all its fullness.’ (John 10:10)