St George's CE Primary School

Our Curriculum

At St George's CE Primary School, we aim to provide a vibrant, balanced and quality education for each child. We plan for work to be stimulating and interesting and to challenge all children.

We have planned a topic based curriculum that is creative, fun and focused on knowledge, skills and understanding. We believe that learning should be interesting and fun and aim to capture children's imagination and enthusiasm as well as providing them with the skills they need as they grow and mature. By linking subjects through a theme, the work becomes more exciting and motivating. We do, in addition, plan for discrete teaching in some subjects. In this way, children are able to recognise the individual nature of specific subjects while also appreciating the links between different curriculum areas. Teachers ensure that a balance is maintained between the different areas of the curriculum and that these are fully developed within the framework of the topic. The emphasis throughout the curriculum is working with meaning and understanding. Children are encouraged to take pride in the quality and presentation of their work and to become motivated and independent learners.

We always endeavour to create an enriched curriculum for our children, injecting varied and rich learning experiences. Every term each class has at least one first-hand learning experience; they might go on a visit or we may invite a visitor into school.

Within any age group of children there exists a wide range of ability and it is the responsibility of the class teacher to ensure that children’s work follows school policies and that it matches the needs of individual children. Advice and help is available to teachers with children who are experiencing particular learning difficulties and where necessary, Provision Maps are prepared for children. Such programmes are discussed with parents as their support and involvement is an important element in determining their success.

We work from the National Curriculum to meet our children's needs. In doing this we place a high emphasis on basic skills to enable our children to achieve well.

Core Subjects:

English: This incorporates phonics, reading, writing, grammar, spelling & punctuation and speaking & listening. We follow the ‘Letters & Sounds’ scheme in phonics. In reading, children follow a colour banded scheme through school. Parents are encouraged to listen to their children read as often as possible, recording this in their child’s reading diary. All children have a specific reading lessons with their teacher three times a week. Spelling, grammar and punctuation is taught either within English writing lessons or as a discrete lesson. Children are taught to write using the cursive style, with the pre-cursive style used in Reception.

Maths: We teach maths using a range of resources including ‘White Rose Maths’ and ‘Target Your Maths’. Children are taught the skills of reasoning and applying as well as the ability to be fluent in maths. Times Tables are an important part of the maths curriculum. We use ‘Rock Stars Times Tables’ to make this area of maths fun and purposeful for the children.

Science: Children learn more effectively from investigation and ‘doing’. Much of our science is based on first-hand experience to develop an ‘enquiry’ approach. Children are encouraged to predict possible outcomes and test those predictions and theories.

Foundation Subjects:

Topic: This incorporates history, geography, art and design technology. We choose topics to engage the interests of all the children and teach these curriculum areas through a series of lessons based on the topic chosen.

Computing: Computers are an integral part of the modern world and it is important that children grow up understanding the benefits of technology and how it helps us. Computing is used in all areas of the curriculum and, as well as a computer suite, all classes are equipped with computers and internet access.The children have a discrete lesson each week as well as having it incorporated into other areas of the curriculum. We have trolleys of laptops and ipads which are moved between the classes. Each classroom has an interactive whiteboard and there are also visualisers in the classrooms. The teaching of online safety underpins al our teaching of computing.

Religious Education: As a Church School, we are wholeheartedly committed to the teaching of R.E. It is delivered as a separate lesson each week. Although we provide a broadly Christian based approach, we include the richness of our culturally diverse society and learn about the world’s major religions. Children will take part in an act of Worship every day. Parents who wish to withdraw their children from either RE or Worship need to discuss this with the headteacher.

Physical Education: P.E. is taught within two sessions each week and will be a mix of indoor and outdoor activities through the year. Children in Y5 have the opportunity to go swimming each week as one of their PE lessons. This is at no cost to parents. PE is taught by the class teachers and by external sports coaches. We hold enrichment days at least three times a year. This is to enable children to experience sports not usually taught within the main curriculum, such as fencing and archery.

Music: We follow the ‘Music Express’ scheme within school. Children are taught the skills of listening, singing, composing and playing through a range of topics. We have a singing session each week where children enjoy learning contemporary songs as well as songs with a Christian theme. Children have the opportunity to learn instruments through the external teachers who come into school each week. We work with the Music Partnership to enable all children to learn to play a musical instrument

Modern Foreign Language: At St George's, children learn French as this prepares them for further study at local secondary schools. As well as speaking, reading and writing in French, children learn about French culture.

Religious Education: We follow the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus, which is a multi-faith syllabus agreed by local faith leaders. We use the Understanding Christianity resource as the basis for the teaching of Christianity. We believe that it is through learning about culture and religion that children are best equipped for life in multi-cultural Britain. Children begin to recognise that people who have a faith and those who have no faith have common values to ensure that we live together in a peaceful society.

Personal, Social & Health Education: PSHE helps equip children with the skills to work with others, to form good relationships and to understand their role as a future member of society. We teach children the importance of democracy, fairness and of rights and responsibilities as part of citizenship, as well as sustainability and how our choices impact on the World's resources. Sex and relationship education is taught as part of PHSE and science although parents may withdraw their child from non-science aspects.

Progress and Reports:

Your child’s progress is monitored continuously and a written report is issued annually at the end of the Summer term. We hold parents’ evenings in the Autumn and Spring terms. At any time, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s attainment and/or progress, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us.

Assessments:

Our children are assessed continuously and their work is tailored to their individual needs. Children are formally assessed at the end of Y2 and Y6. Results of these tests form part of your child’s report.