Whole School Overview
Our aim at St Joseph and St Theresa’s is to provide a broad, balanced and rich curriculum, which ensures full coverage of all subject areas with Jesus at the centre of all teaching. This curriculum, through scaffolds, supports and constraints is made accessible to all of our pupils as we are passionate in allowing all children to receive a full curriculum. Through our ‘Curriculum Journey’, we provide a curriculum to challenge, enthuse and support children in becoming confident, curious and active learners. Within all the topics taught, links are made to History, Geography, Science and Art and Design to help children build a fuller picture of all aspects. The curriculum design is led by the Catholic Pupil Profile virtues alongside the standards outlined in 2014 National Curriculum. These have been used to create clear progression grids for all foundation subjects where knowledge is built upon each academic year.
The curriculum design provides opportunities for all children to be included and achieve their potential. Learners are able to make positive decisions in order to achieve in all aspects of life. They are attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make and the effects of those choices.
Learners are empathetic and compassionate to the needs of others and support their peers. They have high self-esteem and believe that they can contribute to the world. High expectations of the vocabulary children should use are set and maintained throughout the lessons enabling children to eloquently discuss learning and understanding. Appropriate challenge and opportunities for children to deepen their thinking and understanding are provided in each lesson to all pupils. The use of imagination, ‘I wonder’ and curiosity questions are used to spark children’s’ interests and elicit higher order thinking skills as well as allowing children to apply their knowledge and learning to other situations.
Common Vocabulary
Resilience Learners know that finding things difficult results in growth and will not be put off by failure; instead, they show a resilience and yearning to continue
Challenge Learners approach challenge positively and know that the challenge will support them in reaching their potential. Learners are happy, confident and have a desire to learn and improve
Ambition All learners are aspirational and are able to demonstrate how they can reach their goals. They are intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and prophetic in the example they set to others.
Curiosity Learners show a curiosity in the world around them and ask questions to drive their own learning. They are curious about everything; and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can for the better.
Our curriculum design identifies the different topics which are taught through each year group and the breadth of opportunities which we provide. Each topic is used as a vehicle to teach a range of foundation subjects in interesting and imaginative contexts. Knowledge organisers for each topic in each year group can be found on class pages.
Though the summative and formative assessment process created across the school, children’s prior knowledge is continually developing and strong links are made to learning in previous topics which is evidenced on the curriculum journey topic front page and ‘Previously in…’ documents. This range of assessment techniques highlights children who are working above and below ARE so planning can be adjusted accordingly. The curriculum provides pupils with ambition and a thirst for knowledge which has been improved by the implementation of topic homework which children are enjoying completing at home. For all topic homework, please see individual Google Classroom pages.
Whole School Curriculum Design 2020-21
curriculum design whole school 2021-22
Inspire Workshops
Inspire Workshops are an opportunity for parents to see ‘lessons in action’ gaining an insight into how a lesson is run, the different strategies which are used to teach certain aspects and tips and ideas on how support children in completing independent activities at home.
Dates for the Inspire workshops are shared via termly events letter for each class; weekly parent newletters; and in diary dates page on school website.