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Curriculum Overview
At St Mary's Priory Junior School, we aim to provide a broad and well-balanced curriculum that will inspire our pupils and motivate them to learn.
At St Mary's Priory Schools, we believe that every child is wonderfully made, deeply loved by God and filled with unique potential. Our curriculum is designed to enable every child to flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually as they grow through our schools. Our vision is simple:
Growing in Love • Growing Together
Inspired by the words of 1 Corinthians 16:14, "Let all that you do be done in love," we want children to leave our schools not only with the knowledge and skills they need for future success, but compassionate, reflective and responsible, showing care for others and seek to make a positive difference in the world.
Our curriculum is rooted in five curriculum anchors which reflect the knowledge, experiences, attitudes and values that we believe all children should develop during their time with us. These anchors ensure that children are equipped to grow in confidence, curiosity and character while fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Through our curriculum, we intend that children will:
- Know more and do more, developing a secure foundation of knowledge and skills that enables them to think critically, solve problems and succeed in the next stage of their education.
- Develop a love of language, reading and communication, enabling them to express themselves with confidence, understand others and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
- Be inspired by memorable experiences, nurturing curiosity, creativity and a sense of wonder about the world and their place within it.
- Understand the importance of community and belonging, valuing diversity, showing respect and learning how to contribute positively to local and global communities.
- Grow in character, wellbeing and spirituality, developing resilience, hope, wisdom and compassion through reflection, relationships and opportunities to explore life's big questions.
Through meaningful learning experiences, strong relationships and opportunities for reflection, we encourage children to grow in their understanding of:
Self
Developing confidence, self-awareness, resilience and an understanding of their unique gifts and talents.
Others
Building positive relationships, demonstrating kindness, respect and forgiveness, and recognising their responsibility towards others.
The World
Developing curiosity about people, places and cultures, caring for creation and understanding how they can make a positive contribution to society.
God
Exploring faith, meaning and purpose, reflecting on life's big questions and developing an understanding of God's love for all.
Our curriculum is designed to nurture children who know they are loved, learn to love others and are inspired to put that love into action. We aspire for every child to leave our schools with the knowledge, skills and character to flourish, and with the confidence to make a positive difference wherever life takes them.
Growing in Love • Growing Together.
Curriculum Anchors
We believe that secure knowledge underpins the application of skills. Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that children build knowledge and skills progressively over time, enabling them to know more, remember more and do more.
We encourage children to recognise their strengths, persevere through challenge and develop confidence in their abilities. Through high-quality learning experiences, children grow academically and personally, becoming independent learners who are prepared for the next stage of their education.
Reading, writing, speaking and listening are at the heart of our curriculum. We want every child to become a confident communicator who can express themselves creatively, thoughtfully and respectfully.
Through a rich language environment and a love of reading, children develop the skills to understand others, share ideas and engage meaningfully with the world around them. We believe that finding our voice empowers us to build relationships and contribute positively to our communities.
We believe that memorable experiences inspire deep learning and lifelong curiosity. Our curriculum provides first-hand opportunities that encourage children to ask questions, explore new ideas and develop a sense of awe and wonder.
Through educational visits, enrichment opportunities, creative learning and meaningful encounters, children broaden their horizons and develop a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it.
We want every child to know that they belong and that they matter. Our curriculum teaches children to value diversity, celebrate uniqueness and recognise the importance of kindness, respect and inclusion.
Children develop an understanding of their responsibilities as local and global citizens and learn how their actions can positively impact others. Through service, collaboration and shared experiences, they discover what it means to live well together and put love into action.
We believe education should nurture both hearts and minds. Through our values, collective worship, reflection opportunities and personal development curriculum, children learn how to care for themselves and others.
We encourage children to reflect on life's big questions, explore faith and beliefs, and develop resilience, hope and wisdom. Children learn that love is shown through courage, forgiveness, thankfulness, compassion and service.
Our aim is that every child leaves our schools with a strong sense of identity, a commitment to making positive choices and an understanding that they can make a difference in the lives of others.
Further Information
Further information about our curriculum can be provided on request to the school at old.admin@stcmat.org
The school follows the National Curriculum. Further information can be found here.
We use Read Write Inc Phonics. A parent guide can be found here.
Our school uses White Rose Maths. Parent information can be found here.