St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
Curriculum Policy Document
Reviewed June 2014
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Contents
Introduction
4
The ethos of the school
5
The school as a learning community
6
Curriculum organisation and planning
7
Assessment
11
Equality of opportunity
12
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Introduction
The Curriculum Policy document sets out the beliefs of the school, informed by the
school’s Mission Statement, about the needs of children and adults as learners and is an
attempt to provide a framework within which individual areas of the school’s curriculum
will fit.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is a Roman Catholic Church Academy, and part of a
partnership with the Diocese of Clifton. Within this Christian ethos, the Governing Body,
the Headteacher and the staff accept their responsibility for the part they play in
promoting the spiritual, social, cultural, intellectual and physical development of all the
children in the school community.
This Curriculum Policy sets out the Governing Body’s “written statement of what, in
their opinion, should be the aims of the secular curriculum for the school.”
(Education Act 1996)
In this school where the class teacher is responsible for so much of the delivery of the
curriculum, a sound basis is provided for developing an appreciation of the wholeness of
learning within children.
The school uses a variety of approaches to children’s learning using class, group and
individual teaching as appropriate. All are encouraged to respect their own and each
others’ efforts in all activities. Sometimes areas of learning are taught as separate
subjects, but the school does not see learning as always falling into neatly separate
compartments and often uses topics, centres of interest and even answering a whole
school big question as vehicles for learning. Work and play are not seen as opposites, but
as complementary. Learning throughout the school is seen as a purposeful activity.
Opportunities for co-operation, collaboration and working together are encouraged since
they enhance the values that are a reflection of the Gospel. As children grow, develop
their gifts and begin to realize their God given potential, all learners, including the
teachers, are empowered. This experience affirms the worth of each individual and
deepens relationships within the school.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
The ethos of the school
St Mary’s puts great store by the ethos or “spirit” of the school seeing this as the power of
the Holy Spirit at work in the school community. Indeed our Mission Statement states
right at the beginning,
“Where two or thee are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
The quality of relationships within the school reflects the openness of the school to the
presence of the Holy Spirit. The school endeavours, through its range of teaching styles
and learning experiences, to give confidence to both children and adults alike.
The spirit and ethos of the school does not come about by accident. It results from:

A conscious pursuit of specific values;

A determination of clear priorities of what is taught and how;

The way in which the school is governed, managed and organised;

The relationship the school has with the parish of St Mary’s, its sister school
StCatherine’s, the local community and with the global community.
These things come about not just from written policies but from a living faith.
We will ensure that those areas of the curriculum which enhance the spiritual will be
adequately experienced, particularly music, art, literature and dance.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
The school as a Learning Community
The school should have an atmosphere of orderliness, involvement and courtesy, with
children moving around purposefully in the course of their learning.
Voices should be calm, and there should be constant sharing and mutual help. Children
should be enthusiastic about what they are learning and should be able to convey this
when speaking to others about it.
The surroundings and artefacts, inside and outside the school, should be in keeping with
education and there should be many things which add interest and stimulus to the
learning environment.
Thought, reason and careful observation will be pursued in a desire which is to be shared
by all, children and adults alike. Standards of excellence will be pursued by all.
The whole school and its surroundings are seen as a learning environment, where
learning experiences should be planned, purposeful and organised, yet still allow for
spontaneity.
The work of all within the school is to be valued. Materials, equipment and resources
should be of the highest quality, suited to their purpose and selected to enrich the learning
environment.
The school is seen as an extension of home. The school environment is planned to
influence, to provide opportunities for choice within an appropriate and carefully devised
range and to produce a climate where children experience a mature pattern of social
relationships and catch a sense of standard and judgement in this pattern, as well as in
their work.
What is taught is to be matched to all children according to their individual and group
needs, and aimed to develop the whole child. Children must be engaged in their own
learning, and have understanding of the purpose of particular activites and its relevance to
the learning outcome.
St Mary’s school sets out to provide an environment in which children are encouraged to
develop in a way appropriate to them. As far as possible, there should be opportunities for
first hand experience using educational visits, field trips and the school environment as
well as individual discovery. Creativity in the classroom and within the curriculum is to
be encouraged and the development of reading skills and a love of reading are given
special emphasis.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Curriculum Organisation and planning.
During the school year 2010-2011 a detailed review took place of the structure of the
school which in turn altered not only of the long term planning structure but also the
medium term planning. The school has moved away from a curriculum that was subject
based, relying heavily on the QCA subject schemes of work, to a thematic topic approach
making cross curricular links whenever possible; the areas of learning being taken from
the Rose Report of 2010. This provides an integrated approach towards learning and
allows for cross curricular writing to take place at every opportunity.
Foundation Stage
The children who are in the Reception class will follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum
as set out by the Standards and Testing Agency and leads to the compilation of the
Foundation Stage Profile throughout the year. The three prime areas are:
Communication and Language;
Physical Development;
Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
These prime areas are then strengthened through four specific areas of:
Literacy;
Mathematics;
Understanding of the World;
Expressive arts and design
Any topics will be developed through these learning goals.
Lower Learning Phase
Children in Year One will follow the Primary Framework for Literacy and Mathematics
as well as using topics to cover History, Geography and Science (the learning area
Knowledge and Understanding of the World.) These topic titles can be decided by the
class teacher but the topic title must be sufficiently broad enough to be able to link
different subject areas.
History should be taught through a skills approach using chronology, empathy, cause
and effect and fact and opinion. The children should learn about famous people and
events as well as how children lived long ago, how homes were different, how materials
have changed, how transport has changed etc.
Geography should be taught through an investigative skills approach. Field work should
be used to learn about location, place and direction, finding ways around the school,
using the school environment as well as simple maps and routes. This should then be
extended beyond the school gate so that a comparison can be made of a location beyond
the school.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Science should be incorporated into these topics through looking at the content of the
scheme of work introduced to the school by Dr Tom Robson, Head of Teaching and
Learning for Wiltshire LA, in November 2009. Planning as far as possible should be
done collaboratively with colleagues.
A topic could be, for instance:








based around a story book;
based around a fairy tale;
anything to do with change;
anything to do with movement;
anything to do with creation and living things;
about the environment;
about the local area;
all about me.
This list is not exhaustive.
Middle Learning Phase
The learning area, Knowledge and Understanding of the World will be covered using the
main subjects of History, Geography and Science throughout the year. Again a skills
approach to History using chronology, empathy, cause and effect, fact and opinion should
be used using both primary and secondary sources rather than historical facts. A book
topic is also included in the long term planning so that more cross-curricular leaning can
take place.
The phase operates a three year rolling programme so that children do not repeat the same
topic within their three years in the Middle Learning Phase.
History
 Ancient Egypt, Invaders and Settlers, Aztecs
Geography
 India/Kenya, Weather, Improving the Environment, Settlement
Science
 The topics for science will be taken from Dr Tom Robson’s scheme of work
appropriate for the year and year group.
BookTopic
 Each year a book will be chosen by the team to study in depth. These will change
from year to year and may include the following authors; Dick King Smith, C S
Lewis, Roald Dahl (this list is not exhaustive)
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Upper Learning Phase
The learning area, Knowledge and Understanding of the World will be covered using the
main subjects of History, Geography and Science throughout the year. Again a skills
approach to History using chronology, empathy, cause and effect, fact and opinion should
be used using both primary and secondary sources rather than historical facts. A book
topic is also included in the long term planning so that more cross-curricular leaning can
take place.
History
 Tudors, Tudor Exploration, Victorians, Britain since 1930s
Geography

Contrasting local area with an area of similar population, a residential visit, (field
study work to be used as far as possible and an investigative approach is to be taken),
rivers and mountains
Science
 The topics for science will be taken from Dr Tom Robson’s scheme of work
appropriate for the year and year group.
Book Topic
 Each year a book will be chosen by the team to study in depth. These will change
from year to year and may include the following Skellig, Kensuke’s Kingdom,
Holes, Journey to Jo’burg (this list is not exhaustive)
Core subjects will be taught discretely when necessary, excluding ICT which will take a
cross curricular approach. Physical Education will also be taught discretely with Dance
being incorporated into Topic or R.E. Design Technology, MFL, Music and Art and
Design will be integrated into topics. P.S.H.E. will be taught in three ways either through
Topic (if appropriate) R.E. or discretely.
Literacy and Mathematics
All classes will use the Primary Framework for Literacy and Maths. This will ensure
coverage for mixed year classes. Layered targets of MUST, SHOULD and COULD are to
be used in classes and these can be taken from the Primary Framework.
Weekly planning books are to be handed in each Monday. These books will use a
prescribed format setting out the learning objectives to be covered each weekly for each
of the core subjects with R.E. being the lead subject.
Topic webs and aims of each topic are to be displayed in the staff room to inform others
of what is being covered in different areas of learning.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Medium Term Planning
Medium term planning takes place according to an agreed whole school format.
This format gives:




An outline of the topic to be covered;
A topic web with cross curricular links;
The learning objectives to be covered in each of the areas suggested by the Rose
Report;
A cross curricular checks.
Copy enclosed Appendix A
All teachers plan within their Learning Phase and each Team Leader within the Learning
Phase will meet with the Headteacher in terms 1, 3 and 5 to discuss planning.
Short Term Planning
Teachers’ weekly plans are written in a spiral bound book to an agreed format. The
learning objectives of the core subjects, Religious Education, English, Mathematics and
Information Communications Technology are written on the left hand side of the page.
Before the learning objectives are written, there is a heading, “Implications from last
week’s learning” in which the class teacher records anything of significance.
There is also a section for direction and deployment of Teaching Assistants under how
support is given in class, this may also include opportunities for differentiation.
Weekly short term plans are submitted to the Lead Teacher of each Learning Phase to be
monitored and signed.
Teachers are free to write their daily plans in their own way.
Opportunities for Differentiation
All teachers should be aware of children with particular needs and make appropriate
provision for them in their planning and through the deployment of their Teaching
Assistant. They should also keep in mind the barriers to learning that affect children with
dyslexia. For example, all photocopying should be done on light blue paper, font used
should be Comic Sans MS and a visual timetable should be displayed in each classroom.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Links with Special Educational Needs
All class teachers should make themselves familiar with the school’s policy for Special
Educational Needs and keep it in mind when planning for particular children’s needs.
Planning the curriculum should always take into account its accessibility to children who
are placed on the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs. This is also the case
when considering any barriers to learning caused by disability of any kind.
In class support by Teaching Assistants should always be planned for and written up in
the weekly planning book. Any withdrawal from class should be done not just for isolated
literacy skills, but always for a purpose and not at the expense of foundations subjects
Assessment
Assessment is the process by which teachers and children gain insight into learning. The
school’s assessment policy details two main types of assessment, formative and
summative. Good assessment practice uses a variety of techniques, is used to inform
planning and has a clear purpose.
In addition to statutory assessments at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2, the following
opportunities for assessment are common practice in the school:

Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 participate in assessments in December, February and
June;

Years 1, 3, 4 and 5 participate in end of year optional SATs;

All pupil performance, according to optional SATs is tracked in December,
February and June. A Teacher Development Day is held at the end of June to look
at each child’s progress. It is at this T.D. day that certain children’s performance
will be targeted during the next school year;

At least one piece of work per term for English is assessed against the APP
guidelines for children in Middle and Upper Learning Phases.

Mathematical assessments are undertaken throughout the year and again are
assessed against APP guidelines

Individual pupil reports are provided annually to parents;

Moderation meetings within each Learning Phase are held regularly to agree
standards. All staff are involved in the marking of Key Stage 1 SATs.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Equality of Opportunity
Equality of opportunity underpins our school community and its curriculum. Teachers
aim to give every child the opportunity to experience success in learning and to achieve
as high a standard as possible. Equality of opportunity extends to gender, ethnicity,
learning disability of any kind, including dyslexia and dyscalculia as well as physical
disability. Equality of opportunity extends to all members of our school community.
Children bring different experiences, interests and strengths to school, which influence
the way they learn.
Teachers should aim to create learning environments in which:

The contribution of all children is valued;

All children feel secure and are able to contribute appropriately;

Stereotypical views are challenged and children learn to appreciate and view
positively the differences in others, whether arising from race, gender, disability
or ability.

Different learning styles are catered for whether kinesthetic, visual or auditory.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE
Homework
It should be noted that homework can be set in many different forms with many different
expectations and outcomes. It is important to remember that when expecting and setting
homework there are a number of points to consider:1. The nature and type of homework changes throughout a pupil’s school career
2. Amount and frequency of homework could increase as the pupil gets older.
3. It will not necessarily come in the form of a written task.
Recommended Time Allocation
Homework should never be too onorous nor should it create stress within a family. If
parents have any concerns they should not hesitate to contact the school. Normally, more
than one day will be allowed for the completion of a homework task, except where daily
practice is to be encouraged e.g. reading, spelling and times tables.
The following are government recommendations as appropriate time allocations for
homework activities.
Years 1 and 2
Years 3 and 4
Years 4 and 5
1 hour per week
1.5 hours per week
30 minutes per day
Homework Tasks
Listed below, for each Learning Phase, are a number of example tasks and activities that
might be given as homework. This is by no means an exhaustive list and is open to
constatnt change, although many of these tasks and activities will be used on a regular
basis. Homework activities will change to meet the needs of the pupils involved and
activities that might be occurring in class. All homework tasks and activities will have a
clear purpose and assist pupils in the process of their academic development.
Foundation Stage
These may include:
 Reading books
 Counting up and down stairs
 Reciting nursery rhymes
 Identification of shapes in the environment
 Letter and rhyme of the week
 Fastening and unfastening buttons and zips and tying shoelaces
Lower Learning Phase
These may include:
 Reading
 Spellings
 Literacy activities
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE


Numeracy activities
Real life numeracy related problems e.g. shopping, car, bus and house numbers
etc.
Middle Learning Phase
These may include:
 Reading
 Spelling
 Researching a topic
 Literacy activities – either preliminary pieces of work or follow-up work
 Numeracy activities – learning tables, practicing calculations strategies
Upper Learning Phase
These may include:
 Reading
 Learning spellings
 ‘Talk Homework’ that involves discussin the focus for a future piece of writing
 Handwriting practice
 Reading comprehension activities
 Planned pieces of writing
 Planning presentations
 Researching topic
 Learning times tables
 Learning number facts and number bonds
 Practising calculation strategies learned in class
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is the trading name of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Academy Trust), Swindon, registered
in England and Wales under 07697658, registered office Bessemer Road East, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1PE