St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School a Voluntary Academy

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A Knowledge Rich Curriculum

 

Long Term Plans

Click on the links below to see a copy of each year group's long term plan:

Nursery

Reception

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Religious Education

St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs’ provides an environment in which children can grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and develop their own relationship with Jesus. We want our children to understand that religion education is not just about learning, but also for living. We foster the spiritual development of our children by experiencing the love of God and leading them to a greater understanding of our faith through religious education, worship and witness. We offer our children the chance for personal reflection and spiritual development.

To complement the religious education that already takes place in the children's homes and Parish, we follow “The Way, The Truth and the Life,” religious education programme within the framework of the Leeds Diocese Programme of Study. The children's experiences are enriched through reading and reflecting upon the Old and New Testaments. We also study other world faiths in order to develop our knowledge and to help promote tolerance and understanding of the cultural and religious diversity that exists in our community.

Science

Science is taught each term with a focus on developing pupils' knowledge of the world around them as well as the skills they will need to work scientifically. First-hand practical experience is paramount; children are encouraged to be independent and collaborative scientific investigators by their involvement in exciting practical investigations.

In Science, pupils observe, explore and ask questions about living things, materials and physical processes. They evaluate evidence and consider whether tests or comparisons are fair. They use reference materials to find out more about scientific ideas. They share their ideas and communicate them using scientific language, drawings, charts and tables.

In 2019, we were successful in achieving the Primary Science Quality Mark through which our commitment to delivering high quality science education was celebrated. 

 Mathematics

The school aims to give all children a thorough understanding of number, calculation, shape, space, measurement and data handling. A strong emphasis is also placed on investigative and problem solving activities. The work is delivered through a balance of individual programmes, group work and whole class lessons. Our mathematics curriculum has the overall aim of meeting the individual needs of children of all abilities, as well as offering challenge and enjoyment.

The White Rose Scheme for mathematics is used throughout the school and is complemented with the study of mathematical topics and applied where possible in all cross curricular work. There is a strong commitment to practical activities leading to mathematical understanding as well as in mental arithmetic as a basis for the children to be able to tackle more complex mathematical operations with confidence.

The school has incorporated elements of fluency, reasoning and problem solving fully into its Mathematics curriculum. 

English

The school aims to foster confident, articulate children who are able to communicate through the written and spoken word. We use a text-based approach to develop the children’s reading, writing, speaking and listening skills and our English teaching is underpinned by our school's own Sentence Structure and Grammar scheme of work, which relates directly to the National Curriculum. 

Great importance is attached to enabling the children to become fluent readers. We use Floppy's Phonics and the Oxford Reading Tree as a core reading scheme for the younger children and Whole Class Reading lessons operate throughout the school. In addition, there is a wide range of reading material, both factual and fiction, in the school classroom and our library. We actively promote reading for pleasure and undertake many activities to encourage it such as ‘Book Week’ with visiting authors. As a school we use the Floppy’s Phonics programme throughout Foundation and Key Stage 1 to teach pupils how to decode accurately, and continue to support children through a range of phonics interventions where required in Key Stage 2. Children in Key Stage 2 use Accelerated Reader to support the development of reading and comprehension skills.

Children are taught to write in a variety of styles including prose, poetry and reporting, and to suit different purposes and audiences. As the child progresses, emphasis is placed on the correct and accurate use of spelling, grammar and punctuation.  A whole school policy for handwriting is aimed at the children progressing towards being able to write smoothly, legibly and neatly, leading to taking a pride in the presentation of all their work.

Speaking, listening and performing skills are promoted throughout the school through storytelling; discussion groups, drama lessons, and role play in history, religious education etc. Such opportunities, as well as whole school concerts, provide a valuable means of building confidence and developing the ability to listen to, and appreciate the efforts of others. 

Computing

The school is well equipped to provide the children with the access they require to a range of technologies in this increasingly important area of the curriculum. Our media suite has recently been remodelled to provide a flexible space where pupils can use the wide range of portable devices available in school: these include iPads, laptops and Chromebooks.

Subscriptions to a number of websites such as Purple Mash and Times Tables Rock Stars  allow pupils to access a wide range of learning materials wherever they may be.

Technology is used throughout the curriculum. As well as a discrete Computing lesson each week, where pupils learn skills such as coding and computer game design, pupils are introduced to the wide range of opportunities technology can present in many other aspects of the curriculum. This is based around the Bradford LA's scheme of work, developed by their Curriculum ICT team. We aim to deliver the required skills ‘at the point of learning,’ where they become relevant and meaningful. Learners are therefore empowered to make choices about the relevance of the technology and apply it effectively.

We also undertake a rigorous programme of online safety education, which involves our school's Digital Leaders as well as PCSOs from Bradford's Cyber Team.

Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education

Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education is considered to be important so that children can develop an understanding of themselves and the environment in which they live.

School has a comprehensive PSHE Scheme of Work from Nursery to Year 6 called Jigsaw. It brings together PSHE Education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development in a comprehensive scheme of learning.

SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) development opportunities are identified and brought together helping children to know and value who they are and understand how they relate to others in the world.

Parents will be notified and invited to attend The Life Caravan mobile classroom and any talks or assemblies delivered by the health service.

P.E.

We aim to develop agility, physical co-ordination, fitness, confidence and enjoyment through physical activities.

The school encourages all children to participate in sport in order to develop an appreciation of teamwork, a respect of and tolerance of the abilities of others, and an awareness of opportunities to enjoy fulfilling leisure activities.

We are fortunate to have our own swimming teacher and pool. Swimming takes place weekly at St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs’, for pupils from Reception upwards. Priority is given to increasing water confidence and ensuring that all children learn to swim. A high percentage of children develop their swimming techniques to award level.

The school’s high reputation in P.E is maintained through extra-curricular activity and children regularly participate in local competitions. Extra-curricular activities are available through a range of lunchtime and after-school sports clubs. A number of these activities are provided in partnership with fully qualified coaches who are brought in to provide expert tuition from outside agencies and other schools, such as Bradford Grammar School.

Modern Foreign Languages

Modern foreign language is a statutory part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum. We offer the children lessons in French throughout Years 3 – 6 and in previous years have taken pupils in Year 4 and 5 to France to put their language skills into action. We follow the Catherine Cheater Scheme of Work and make good use of the associated French children's stories, rhymes and games.  

Art and Design Technology

At St Cuthbert's, art forms an important part of the curriculum. We believe art education stimulates creativity and imagination whilst giving the child unique opportunities to develop intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially. Therefore, we believe that it should be taught as an individual subject as well as incorporated into other curriculum lessons. We regularly hold themed art days where children have the chance to work with an artist, and benefit from a number of highly-skilled teaching and support staff who work within weekly lessons to provide excellent modelling of key skills and support the pupils' artistic development. We have been working in partnership with the Design Technology Association and other schools within our Trust to create an enhanced Design Technology offer for our school. This has involved outside agencies such as Hepp DT coming into school to complete projects with classes and the roll-out of Project on a Page to help classes plan and deliver an exciting DT curriculum. 

History

As part of their Humanities Studies, children are encouraged to develop an interest in the past, to appreciate past achievements and major events – both national and worldwide – and to develop an understanding of their own and their family’s history and how values and attitudes may have changed.

 Pupils are taught the skills necessary for the interpretation of primary and secondary source material, artefacts, maps and visual and auditory aids, books, the countryside, ancient sites, newspapers, records and documents.

 Within the framework of a cross curricular approach, we aim to develop an understanding of the nature of cause and consequence, continuity and change, similarity and difference. Visits and visitors are used to ‘hook’ children into learning and to make it a memorable learning experience.

Geography

As with History, Geography forms part of the school’s cross curricular approach. Pupils are encouraged to develop a lively and questioning awareness of their local surroundings. Their interest and knowledge of the variety of physical and human conditions will extend from their local environment to the national and international scene. Within the study of places, children will acquire the skills necessary for the interpretation of geographical information and for geographical enquiry.

The school makes use of outdoor learning with regular visits to places such as Malham, Whitby and Nell Bank. Activities within this play a vital role in fostering an understanding of the relationship between human activity and the quality of the environment. Walks, guided visits, regular surveys and residential visits all contribute towards a growing awareness and appreciation of the child’s environment.

Music

The school has a long tradition of musical activity, offering considerable opportunities for children to develop their talents in all aspects of music including composition, singing and appreciation.

Children learn to play a stringed instrument in Years 3 and 4, in whole class lessons delivered by a specialist teacher from Bradford Music and Arts Service. In Year 5 and 6 they form the school choir, which is led by a member of staff from the Leeds Diocesan Singing Programme. The school also offers tuition in many instruments using peripatetic teachers. There are visiting peripatetic teachers for brass, strings, woodwind, guitar, keyboard and piano.  Children are encouraged to perform in concerts, radio broadcasts and parish events. There are also many opportunities for the children to perform in assemblies, school concerts and in the community.

School holds the Music Arts Mark in recognition of its high standard of Music.