Curriculum

St. Catherine’s C.E. Primary School - Curriculum Statement

Rationale

At St. Catherine’s, we aim to provide a broad, balanced education that caters to the needs of all pupils, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and understanding they need for their future lives. Our curriculum not only focuses on academic success but also fosters creativity, problem-solving, responsibility, resilience, and physical development, alongside well-being and mental health. By promoting these elements, we support the development of the whole child and cultivate a positive attitude toward learning.

Curriculum Vision

We believe that expanding children’s knowledge of the world is vital. This is a key driver in our curriculum planning, as it enriches their understanding of life, strengthens their skills as readers, and raises their aspirations. Our curriculum goes beyond academics, focusing on the holistic development of each child. All pupils have full access to the National Curriculum.

Curriculum Approach

Our curriculum is broad, balanced, and designed to build on the knowledge, skills, and understanding of every child, regardless of their starting point. It incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014, alongside additional experiences that best meet the needs of our pupils. Delivered through an integrated topic-based approach, our curriculum is driven by a book-led model, ensuring that each year group’s learning is connected to carefully selected texts.

While some subjects are linked to these texts, others may stand alone or be connected to teacher-chosen literature specific to each cohort. We recognise that children’s personal development is equally important as their academic progress, with an emphasis on fostering creativity, independence, problem-solving, self-reflection, and resilience. Our goal is to equip children with the skills to become successful, independent learners, ready for their next stage of education.

Curriculum Enrichment

We believe in providing children with a wide range of opportunities to extend their understanding of the world. Our curriculum includes:

• Specialist Teachers: Experts in music, Spanish, and physical education enrich the learning experience.
• Thematic Weeks & Whole-School Activities: We incorporate special theme weeks, whole-school events, and activities beyond the classroom to create dynamic learning experiences.
• After-School Clubs & Events: A variety of clubs and events provide additional enrichment.
• Educational Visits & Residential Trips: Children participate in a wide range of trips, including two residential visits during their time at the school. We ensure that all children experience key activities, such as learning to play two tuned instruments, visiting the coast, attending the theatre, and performing in large external venues.

Focus on Well-Being and Personal Development

Our curriculum integrates the Heartsmart PSHE Scheme, with a strong emphasis on well-being. This fosters social, emotional, and mental health development, ensuring that children grow as well-rounded individuals, prepared for life’s challenges.

Outdoor Learning & Community Engagement

The outdoor environment and local community are integral to active learning at St. Catherine’s. Our school grounds have been developed to enrich various curriculum areas, particularly science, and are used for Forest School activities, which are offered to all age groups. These opportunities allow children to connect learning with real-world experiences and develop a deeper appreciation of their surroundings.

Year group pages contain curriculum newsletters that we send home to our parents throughout the year. They outline what will be covered in each subject as well as giving details of the trips, experiences and exhibitions planned to help enrich the children’s learning.

Please see the 'Curriculum Entitlements' document on this page, that outlines various experiences that we aim to provide for our children as they progress through the years.

If you have any further questions about your child's curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact your child's class teacher. 

Links to Policies and SEND

To find out how our curriculum approach complies with the Equality Act 2010 and SEND regulation 2014 please follow the below links to polices and SEND.