Intent

At the St Mary Federation, our broad and balanced curriculum is underpinned with the aim of broadening experiences via nurturing and growing Courage, Curiosity, Confidence, Collaboration and Compassion. In line with our vision “many people, one body; many gifts, working together”, we recognise, value and use individual skills, working together to achieve maximum benefit for all.

Our curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced, revisiting and introducing new material, in order to meet the needs of all our children and to provide the opportunities needed for them to achieve their full potential within a caring Christian ethos, including preparing our learners for life in modern Britain.

We have recognised and proactively designed our curriculum to overcome the challenges we face. These include mixed age classes, some very low starting points for language acquisition on entry and environmental factors such as social disadvantage, geographical isolation, coastal community deprivation, lack of cultural diversity and limited local facilities. Advice is taken from professionals to add to staff knowledge and experience as to how best to include, and support the development of, individual pupils with SEND.

Factors which make our school unique, such as our rural setting, richness of surrounding natural environments, local history and village community, have all been maximised.

Implementation

Our curriculum journey begins in EYFS with rich and engaging learning opportunities which maximise both the indoor and outdoor environments. Here we operate a curriculum which incorporates in-the-moment and child led learning activities as well as core planned lessons, all of which fall under a wider themed heading.

We operate a two – year rolling programme of study based around engaging, knowledge rich units which ensure that positive features of our unique environment are maximised. These are taught through quality first teaching.

Our units identify essential key coverage, but maintain the scope to be adaptable, ensuring that staff and pupils develop a degree of ownership and can further enhance learning with their own interests and passions. We plan to provide a range of enhancement opportunities to broaden the children’s experiences, address barriers and the challenges listed above and create memorable moments. We place a high value on providing a language rich environment.

“Live feedback” is given wherever possible to address misconceptions and move children on. The emphasis is on “keep up” not “catch up” wherever possible. Key assessments enable teachers to monitor, evaluate and reflect with rigour.  We recognise the importance of formative assessment in all subjects. 

Impact

The innovative 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 opportunities for writing for a purpose.

Children have opportunities to share their learning with each other, their parents and carers and other learners through open mornings, performances, competitions and events involving other schools. Growing their independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.