SCHOOL CURRICULUM
The main curriculum areas are :
Religious education
Mathematics
English
Science
Geography
History
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Design and Technology
Art
Physical Education (PE)
Music
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
Teaching is based on guidelines provided through the National Curriculum and/or Schemes of work approved by the Westminster Diocese Education Service (WDES). The School has developed an overview for each curriculum area to ensure it's effective delivery and uses target-setting and the monitoring and tracking of pupil progress as an integral part of its drive to raise standards of attainment.
For each year group there is a Curriculum Map outlining the areas that will be taught during the school year. This ensures continuity and progression of education as well as encouraging parents/carers to work together with the School in order to ensure that each child receives a high standard of education.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND ACTS OF COLLECTIVE WORSHIP
Religious Education
Religious education in St Scholastica's School is in accordance with the rites, practices and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Nature of Religious Education
Religious Education helps the children to respond intellectually and through reflection on how the Catholic teaching can relate to the fundamental questions of life. In this way Religious Education contributes to the children's spiritual development.
Religious Education helps to promote values and attitudes necessary for citizenship in a democratic, multi-faith and multi-racial society.
Religious Education develops skills of enquiry and response in analysis, reflection, respect, expression, evaluation and application.
The School's Religious Education Programme
The School follows the Diocesan scheme for Religious Education called Here I Am. This explores the religious dimension of question about life, dignity and purpose within the Catholic tradition. Children reflect on personal experiences and links are made with faith traditions.
The programme is based upon individual themes: the Community of Faith, Church, Celebration in Ritual, the Sacraments, ways of life and Christian living. Each theme is explored through four topics divided into seven elemets: Recognise, Reflect, Respect, Relate, Rejoice, Remember and Renew.
As the first educators, parents/carers are seen as partners in the education process and are encouraged to participate in Religious Education through attednance at School Masses, assemblies, helping with homework and working as volunteers within the School Community.
It is the right of all parents/carers to ask for their children not to participate in Religious Education. We believe, however, that Religious Education is central to the life of the School and its community and is important in ensuring that all children receive an inclusive education.
Acts of Worships
Schools are required to hold collective acts of worship.
At St Scholastica's we have a daily act of worship, which can include class, key stage or whole school groups.
It is the right of all parents/carers to ask for their children not to participate in Acts of Worship. We believe, however, that Worship is central to the life of the School and its community and is important in ensuring that all children receive an inclusive education.
Assemblies
There are whole School assemblies for the Infant and Junior children on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week during term-time.
On Monday we have a merit assembly between 3.15 and 3.30pm .
The Wednesday and Friday assemblies are held between 9.00 and 9.15am .
We also hold Infant and Junior assemblies in which children celebrate topics studied in Religious Education through drama, dance, music and presentations of work and prayer.
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MATHEMATICS
The national curriculum requires the School to focus on the following areas of Mathematics:
- Using and applying Mathematics;
- Numbers;
- Shape, Space and Measures; and
- Handling Data.
The syllabus for Mathematics is based upon The Numeracy Strategy so that all areas above are taught at the appropriate level is every year group.
Mathematics is taught using a variety of methods, including Formal, Practical and Investigational. The Numeracy Strategy is supported by Unit plans and published Schemes or Work including: Abacus Maths Schemes; Rigby Scheme; and Beam Maths.
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ENGLISH
The National Curriculum requires the School to focus on the following areas of English:
- Speaking and listening
- Reading
- Writing
The School has developed a syllabus based upon The National Literacy Strategy that ensures progression and continuity. It also allows a wide range of areas to be covered so that every child receives a broad and balanced English Curriculum.
Writing
Writing in one area of English Language teaching. Children learn to compose, plan, draft, punctuate, use appropriate language structure, spell and produce good handwriting.
A number of published Schemes of Work are used by the School to support the syllabus. These include: Rigby Star; Focus in English; Violet Brand Spelling; and Nelson Handwriting.
Speaking and Listening
The School seeks to develop pupils' speaking and listening abilities through participation in Drama, Debating and oral presentation of work.
Reading
The School and class libraries are continually being updated and replenished. New resources are purchased in order to develop pupils' reading abilities. Pupils take books home and read each night, thereby enabling parents/carers to take an active part in developing their children's reading skills.
The school holds regular sales at which children together with their parents/carers can buy books including key stage 1 and 2 SATs booklets designed to help prepare pulils for the tests.
The School organises events aimed at raising the profile of reading adn writing. These include participation in World Book Day which includes competitions, book prizes and an assembly, all of which are greatly enjoyed by the children. We also have visit from storytellers that help stimulate children's learning and provide them with examples of good practice.
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SCIENCE
Science is one of the core areas of the National Curriculum. Pupils are taught to develop a knowledge and understanding of the physical and biological aspects of the world through observation, exploration and investigation. They are also encouraged to use a wide range of resources and scientific equipment for experimentation and to record their work in a variety of ways.
The following areas are covered by the children during Science lessons:
- Scientific Enquiry;
- Physical Processes;
- Materials and their Properties; and
- Life and Living Processes.
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GEOGRAPHY
The Geography Scheme of work is based upon the following areas:
Geographical skills, including
• being able to investigate the features of our physical and human surroundings;
• Using maps and plans at a variety of scales;
• Using secondary sources, such as pictures, aerial photographs and books.
These skills are used to improve
• Geographical enquiry and skills
• Knowledge and understanding of places
• Knowledge and understanding of patterns and processes; and
• Knowledge and understanding of environmental change and sustainable development.
Children also go on a number of field trips aimed at reinforcing their skills and knowledge in Geography. In addition to the trips in the local areas the pupils visit the LEA and Thames rivers and the Learning's Trust residential centre at Kench Hill in Kent.
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HISTORY
The History Scheme of Work is based on the following areas:
• Chronological understanding
• Knowledge and understanding of events, people, and changes in the past;
• Historical interpretation;
• Historical enquiry; and
• Organisation and communication of information.
History teaching focuses on important episodes and developments in Britain 's past, from the Romans to the present day, as well as enabling children to learn about ancient civilisations and the history of other parts of the World.
Pupils are given the opportunity to use a variety of primary and secondary resources, including artefacts, reference books and visits to historical sites in order to help them reinforce their knowledge and skills. They are also able to use these resources as a source of evidence to find out about a particular period in time.
Topics covered within the History Scheme of Work include
• Romans in Britain
• Life in Tudor times
• The Victorians
• Ancient Greece
• Ancient Egypt
• Local History
• How are our toys different from the past ?
• The Great Fire of London
• Remembrance Day
• Why do we remember Florence Nightingale
• What were seaside holidays like in the past ?
• What were homes like a long time ago ?
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INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
The School follows the National Curriculum by building upon children's knowledge, skills and understanding of the following activities:
• Finding things out;
• Developing ideas and making things happen
• Exchanging and sharing information
• Reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as it progresses
The School ICT resources are based around the use of a computer suite. All the computers are linked to the internet and the school has a number of additional resources to support the teaching of ICT including scanners; digital camera; SMART boards; tape/CD recorders; and video recorders.
The Governing Body is committed to improve the quality and usage of ICT within the school and had approved significant expenditure that will enable St Scholastica's to become of the best equipped Primary Schools in Inner London. In doing so, the School will not only be able to improve the teaching of ICT but will be able to use it as a resource to improve standards of learning across the entire range of curriculum areas.
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DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
The School follows a Scheme of Work based upon the National curriculum that focuses on the following areas:
• Developing, planning and communication ideas;
• Working with tools, equipment, materials and components to make quality products;
• Evaluating processes and products; and
• Knowledge and understanding of materials and components.
Pupils are taught to develop their design and technology skills through practical tasks, in which they design, make and evaluate products. Children are also encouraged to develop their skills through the investigation and evaluation of simple products and use of a variety of tools and construction kits.
DT is not taught each week during term-time. Instead the School organises a DT week during each term during which children are able to produce and evaluate a piece of work. We welcome the participation of parents/carers during DT weeks.
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MUSIC
The School uses the Leicestershire Music Scheme, based upon the National Curriculum, that focuses on the following areas:
• Controlling sounds through singing and playing – performing skills
• Creating and developing musical ideas – composing skills
• Responding and reviewing – appraising skills
• Listening and applying knowledge and understanding
Children's understanding and enjoyment is developed through activities that bring together performance, composition, listening to and appraising a wide variety of music. They are able to use a variety of resources to carry out tasks set for them in lessons and to hear performances from visiting musicians.
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ART
The School follows a Scheme based upon the National Curriculum that focuses on the following areas
• Exploring and developing ideas
• Investigating and making art, craft and design
• Evaluating and developing work
• Knowledge and understanding
Children are taught to understand and enjoy Art through a variety of activities including:
• Observational work;
• The use of different resources and materials;
• Explorations of two and three dimensional work on a variety of scales; and
• Reviewing and evaluating work.
The children are also given the opportunity to study and develop an understanding of the work of other artists and to apply this to their own work and evaluate the work of others within the local area and a variety of cultures both past and present.
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The School follows a scheme based upon the National Curriculum that focuses on the following areas:
• Acquiring and developing skills
• Selecting and applying skill, tactics and compositional ideas
• Evaluating and improvising performance
• Knowledge and understanding of fitness and health
Games, Gymnastics, Dance and Athletics are taught in all year groups. Year 4 and 5 pupils attend the local swimming baths.
The School utilises support from professional sportsmen including players from Leyton Orient Football Club and Middlesex County Cricket Club.
Together with the Learning Trust the School wishes to develop the range of after-school sporting clubs available to pupils.
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