Curriculum

The Curriculum

 

We strive to deliver the kind of programme that we feel is going to make a real difference to children’s lives.  Ensuring that our children grow up to lead safe, happy and successful lives is at the heart of what we do.  We are working hard to meet the outcomes of the “Every Child Matters” agenda by taking every opportunity to integrate them both within and beyond the school.

 

 

Core Subjects:                                                    RE, Maths, English, Science

 

 

The Foundation Subjects:                           Information Technology,

                                                                                    History, Geography,

                                                                                    Design & Technology,

                                                                                    Music, Art, PE

                                                                                    PHSE & Citizenship

 

In addition St Mary’s offers a modern foreign language (French) and a range of outdoor educational activities.

 

The programmes of study for the above foundation subjects are taught within carefully selected topics which draw upon a number of different subject areas. 

The children are taught these National Curriculum subjects and RE in mixed ability groups.

 

Liaison with St Joseph’s RC Middle School, Hexham ensures continuity and progression through the programmes of work for the children as they work through Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum in Years 3 and 4 with us at St Mary’s then into Years 5 and 6 at St Joseph’s Middle School.

 

Religious Education

 

 

St Mary’s School is a Catholic school created by a community of faith wishing to pass on a way of life and an understanding of this faith to their children.

 

This is the reason for our existence and is at the heart of everything we do.  We hope it is clearly expressed in our Mission Statement and reflected in our relationships with each other.

 

We celebrate our faith in a variety of ways; daily in each class, weekly in separate assemblies for the younger and older children as well as a whole-school assembly, and with the school Parish community both in school and church.

 

The programme for teaching Religious Education is based on “Here I Am” and it is integrated into many other aspects of the curriculum as well as our wider parish communities.  We are greatly enriched by the strongly supportive community to which our children belong.

 

Preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist usually takes place in Year 3 in partnership with the parish to which the children belong.

 

For children of other faiths we look for shared beliefs rather than differences and welcome the opportunity to grow closer to each other in our common search for God in our lives.

 

 

 

 

English

 

Reading:  Children learn to read with understanding and fluency.  They are encouraged to be enthusiastic, independent and reflective readers.  The school uses a variety of resources.  The children are introduced to a wide range of literature to extend and enrich their reading experiences.

 

Writing:  The children are stimulated to write stories, letters, poems and are taught punctuation, spelling rules, grammar skills, language structure, handwriting, layout and presentation.  They are encouraged to record their work independently in science, technology and humanities.

 

Speaking and listening:  Children are encouraged to speak with confidence, fluency, clarity and to express thoughts, feelings and ideas as clearly as possible.

Listening skills are developed to enable the child to understand, concentrate and follow instructions, to memorise and discriminate.

 

 

Mathematics

 

Through mathematics children are helped to develop rigour, precision and focus.  These are all features of the subject but set in a stimulating and challenging context.  Our school gives high priority to Mathematics which is taught directly each day.  Teaching is clearly focused and a brisk pace of work is encouraged.  The learning aims are similar for all children within the year group but the tasks set are differentiated to suit varying ability levels.

 

The main areas of learning can be described as:

 

                                     b) Multiplication and Division

 

 

Science

 

Science incorporates knowledge about living things, different kinds of materials and physical processes, but it presents them in an exciting and practical way which stimulates children to investigate and to make sense of the familiar world around them.  We use a wide range of resources and equipment to challenge the children to explore, to investigate, to think about their findings and to present their discoveries in a systematic manner.

 

 
 
Information Communication Technology

 

All of our children from Reception class onwards benefit from our ICT facilities.  Each classroom has internet access and an interactive whiteboard.  We also enjoy the facility of an ICT suite where the whole class can work simultaneously. 

Our range of equipment and software caters for all aspects of ICT at a variety of levels and so prepares our children to be confident and capable users.

 

 

 

Music

 

This is an important part of the curriculum.  We provide opportunities for choral, instrumental, tuned and untuned percussion playing.  We train children to listen to and appreciate music.

 

All children are encouraged to show their creative skills in productions and participation in celebrations whenever possible.  Ocarina and recorder lessons are held for Year 2 and above.  We also have peripatetic violin, guitar, cello and percussion teachers who visit the school on a weekly basis by arrangement.

PE

 

PE plays an important role in the whole curriculum at St Mary’s.  We see PE as developing the whole child physically, socially and intellectually.  We try to build on the child’s enjoyment and enthusiasm.

 

The children have opportunities to experience dance (including country dancing), games (both individual and team), athletics, gymnastics and swimming in both key stages.

 

 

 

Humanities and Technology

 

Design technology, history and geography are linked to a variety of topics throughout the school.  Most topics have a particular emphasis to ensure that specific areas of the curriculum can be covered while incorporating other subject areas. 

 

 

Art

 

Children are given opportunities to experience and investigate a variety of materials, tools and techniques.  By making comparisons and reflecting upon works of art and artifacts, including their own they are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of art.

 

 

 

 Education for Personal Relationships

 

EPR is taught through Religious Education and Science as well as other areas of the curriculum by way of a cross curricular, integrated approach.  All elements of PHSE and Citizenship are covered.  We are part of the Northumberland ‘Healthy Schools’ initiative and deliver areas of EPR through Health Education too.

We recognise that EPR requires sensitive teaching which is matched in particular by the specific needs and concerns of pupils.  Teachers will use their professional judgement when addressing issues in EPR. 

 

It is our hope that parents would wish pupils to be involved in the schools programme of sex and relationship education.  However we recognise parents have the right to withdraw their children from this but not from those areas which are required by National Curriculum Science.  If you wish to withdraw your child you must confirm this in writing to the Headteacher.

 

 

 

Special Help for Children

 

The staff and governors continue to ensure the importance of provision of Special Educational Needs across the whole curriculum.  Provision of SEN will be an integral part of each separate curriculum policy, through planning and providing for activities which are suitable to best reflect the individual pupil’s level of ability and interest, and ensuring that this is matched to national Curriculum Attainment Targets within appropriate levels.

 

It is initially the responsibility of the class teacher, liaising with parents, to identify and register children whose academic, physical, social or emotional development is giving cause for concern.  Children’s areas of need which require extra attention are then identified.

 

At first, action will normally be taken to meet the child’s needs within the normal range of differentiated classwork.  If further, more detailed ,help is required, an individual education plan will be drawn up to address problem areas more specifically.

 

In the event that specialist advice is sought (educational psychologist, social services, specialist teacher etc) this will guide the formulation of a special education plan, which, again, will still be carried out within the normal school setting as far as possible.

 

If professional advice is such that still further help is needed the child will be referred to the LEA for statutory assessment which may then lead to a statement setting out the child’s difficulties and the measures which must be taken to address them.

 

While these are the formal stages which are followed, the principle of support and encouragement by school and parents and the identification of strengths as well as weaknesses are vitally important.  In their individual work plans children are set a small number of achievable goals, buildings on what they have already achieved, so that they experience success.  This is the most powerful stimulus of all.