"What we nurture today, 
flourishes tomorrow"

St Mary's C of E Primary School

Fownhope

The Curriculum at St. Mary’s

The school curriculum is the vehicle by which we deliver our vision of nurturing each individual. It is creative, rigorous and balanced and develops aptitude in all subjects and in generic skills, such as independent reading. Underpinning academic study is a “Can Do” philosophy. In essence we teach the National Curriculum programmes of Study for English/Literacy; Mathematics/Numeracy; Science; RE; History; Geography; Art; Design Technology; PE; Music; Personal, Social and Health Education and a Modern Language.

Much work is integrated in a cross-curricular way to make ensure depth and breadth of learning. For example, when studying the Second World War children will read a novel like “Goodnight Mr. Tom” in English and Learn about Anne Frank in RE.

We are working towards the goal that all children take part in a creative and a physical activity each day. To this end we timetable curriculum Enrichment sessions every other Friday afternoon. Children are taught in smaller, mixed age groups and spend 3 sessions in each activity. The might be Sport, Cooking, Music, Computers, Drama, Making Puppets, Sketching, Outdoor Sculpture.

We include a brief summary of how each subject is taught.

 English/Literacy

• Lessons follow the guidelines for the National Literacy Strategy and the Foundation stage curriculum in Reception. These give children effective skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Integral to this is a love of the creative use of language.
• Classes have a daily lesson which will include the following elements – reading, word and sentence level work, writing, shared/guided/independent work.
• Tasks are differentiated dependent on ability and age.
• From Reception we ask that children practise reading at home each evening to reinforce skills learned in lessons and to provide the model for writing.

 Maths/Numeracy

• Lessons follow the National Numeracy Strategy and the Foundation stage curriculum in Reception.
• Classes have a daily lesson which ranges from 45 minutes to an hour in Key Stage 2.
• The children are taught 5 areas: Number, Shape and Space, Data Handling, Measures and Using and Applying Mathematical knowledge. Greater emphasis is placed on Number.
• Teachers plan according to ability using a range of materials from the Abacus Scheme and Hamilton Trust website.

 Science

• Children study Life Processes and Living Things, Materials, Forces and Electricity, the Earth and Beyond.
• In the Foundation Stage this is part of “Knowledge and Understanding of the World”
• Investigative and experimental skills are developed from an early age.
•  We foster a sense of wonder at the marvel of life around us and an appreciation of how things work.
• Within Science children are taught about plant, animal and human reproduction at an appropriate age. The School Nurse assists with the latter in Class 4.

IT  

• This is taught explicitly in weekly lessons but also enhances learning across the curriculum.
• We use a small networked computer suite, interactive whiteboards in classes and some stand-alone pcs.
• Four aspects covered are: finding out information, developing ideas and making things happen, presenting and sharing information, reviewing and modifying work as it progresses.
• We use secure websites and make children aware of the need to use the internet responsibly.

PE

• St. Mary’s actively promotes being fit for life and fit for learning.
• Lessons develop skills, tactics, stamina and perseverance.
• Children receive 2-3 lessons each week, with the majority taking part for more than 2 hours of exercise each week. We aim to extend this in line with National health priorities. We believe our good practice allows children to make informed decisions about the role of exercise in their lives now and in the future.
• Children are encouraged to respond to the challenges of improving their own performance and that of the group or team.
• Children experience a range of the following PE activities, Games, including Tag Rugby, Football, Netball, Hockey, Cricket, Tennis and Rounders; Swimming; Gymnastics; Dance and Athletics.
• Some lessons and clubs are led by specialist coaches. We have Football Charter status. In recent years we have participated in Football, Girls’ Football, Netball and Cricket leagues and tournaments. In 2005 our Netball team won the Rural School ’s League.

Art  

• Art stimulates creativity and develops understanding of the major creative Elements: colour, tone, texture, line, pattern and form. It promotes understanding, concentration and observational skills necessary for all subjects.
• Children’s own ideas are explored and they are taught about major British and international artists.
• At St. Mary’s, art is proudly displayed and celebrated as a valued part of our environment. Craft club blends Art and DT as an extra-curricular activity.
• Classes often teach Art and Design Technology in alternate half-terms. Much work is linked to other areas of study and may be 2D or 3D. Special Art days or weeks have featured recently. We held an Exhibition of Work in 2005 and took part in the “Take One Picture” Competition run by the National Gallery.

Design Technology

• Children are taught how to plan, make and evaluate artefacts.
• Projects are often linked to other subjects, for example making lighthouses as part of Science on Electricity.
• Over the years, children will experience projects in textiles, food, wood and “found” or recycled materials.

History

• In all Key Stages children learn about the lives of significant people and major events from the recent and more distant past.
• History is taught in alternate terms or half-terms with Geography.
• Children are taught how to learn from a range of sources and to take account of bias in such sources.
• Much work is cross-curricular and will link with Literacy and Citizenship.
• We aim to include an educational visit or visitor coming into school eg from the Local History Society or Museum.
• British History is given prominence and we aim for children to acquire a sense of chronology and a sound general knowledge of the history of our nation.

Geography

• Geography is taught in alternate half-terms with History.
•  We intend to encourage their sense of wonder at the beauty of the world around them helping them to develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the human habitat, therefore promoting their sense of responsibility for the care of the Earth and its people.
• In the Foundation Stage geographical skills and knowledge are taught within the area of the foundation stage curriculum called “Knowledge and understanding of the world”.
•  In Key Stage 1, geography is about developing knowledge, skills and understanding relating to children's own environment and the people who live there, and developing an awareness of the wider world.
• In Key Stage 2, geography is about developing knowledge, skills and understanding relating to people, places and environments at different scales, in the United Kingdom and overseas, and an appreciation of how places relate to each other and the wider world or visiting the River Wye

R.E.

• We use the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.
• Children learn about the six main world religions; they learn about beliefs and are encouraged to show tolerance and understanding of those whose beliefs may differ from their own.
• In the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 these are Christianity and Judaism.
• In Key Stage 2 Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism are studied.
• Christianity is given more prominence and is the focus of Assemblies and Collective Worship. Our Vicar is a regular visitor to school and we are fortunate in being able to use the Parish Church for Services each term.
• Classes say or sing Grace before lunch and write their own Class Prayer to say at the end of each day.

Music

• There is a strong tradition of music at St. Mary’s, with many children taking lessons from the Herefordshire Music Pool teachers on an individual and small group basis.
• Classes have a weekly music lesson and experience Listening and Singing, Composing and Performing.
• Instruments learned include Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin and Brass.
• In recent years we have employed a specialist music teacher for Key Stage 2 and have offered Recorders and Choir.
• Singing together in Assembly is vital to our Collective Worship and we teach a range of traditional hymn, songs from around the world and more modern songs with actions.

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education including Citizenship)

• This is taught in each Class using the “Partners in Citizenship” scheme.

• How we care for ourselves and each other is fundamental to our work as a  Christian community.

•  Children explore issues such as Friendship, Caring, Tolerance, Environmental concerns and lessons are developed from Universal Values( Unity, Forgiveness, Sharing…) introduced in Assemblies.

• Classes also have Circle Times in which to discuss issues and help each other with problems.

 Modern Language
Class 4 children receive one lesson a week in German or French. This is taught by a Secondary language specialist and is very vocal, with great emphasis on oral learning!