Our Curriculum

We believe learning is for life: a dynamic journey of discovery that provides memorable and enjoyable learning experiences to encourage inquisitive minds.

At St Monica Primary School, we believe passionately that our curriculum should be broad, balanced, relevant and meet the needs of all children, whatever their ability, race or ethnic origin, gender, religious beliefs or disability. Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum. Whilst focussing on high standards, our curriculum has been designed to reflect the needs of our children - to be fun, interesting, creative and thought provoking - thus combining excellence with enjoyment. We aim to give all children the cultural capital (essential knowledge & skills) to be successful citizens.

Below you will find our Curriculum Intention for the children of St Monica Primary School.

Our Curriculum Intent

• The curriculum is the totality of experiences which are planned for the children as they progress through all of our schools.  

• The curriculum will have at its heart the learning behaviours that will support all children to be successful learners for life.

• We will ensure that the curriculum is literacy rich, raises aspirations, drives ambition, and maximises high rates of progress in all areas.

• Our curriculum will be broad, balanced, meaningful and relevant and build upon children’s prior knowledge

• It will be equitable, providing children with essential knowledge, skills and experiences to reduce the effect of disadvantage

• It will support all children to develop healthy attitudes to their physical and mental health and support them in their development as respectful members of the local community and society at large. 

• New Technologies will be used creatively to engage and support children in their learning

Implementation of Curriculum Intent

We use The National Curriculum to create carefully thought out Long-term plans in English, Maths and foundation subjects. We then create medium term plans in these subjects. Subject Leaders support staff to develop medium term plans to ensure progression of skills and knowledge from year R to year 6. Talk is at the heart of our curriculum and time is dedicated to developing all aspect of effective communication for all children.

Fundamental to our curriculum delivery is ongoing and accurate assessment used to inform planning and ensure effective teaching and timely feedback builds on prior knowledge, develops retrieval, and takes account of their known starting points. Our curriculum results in significant and sustained changes in our learners long term memory allowing children to make further connections between new knowledge and existing knowledge.

Intended Curriculum Impact

• All children know more and are able to retain this new knowledge

• All children grow as rounded, caring and responsive individuals with personal ambition.

• All children show positive attitudes for learning, apply essential knowledge and learn to use skills flexibly and purposefully. They are well-prepared for Secondary School education and further learning opportunities.

• All children including disadvantaged and SEND require the knowledge and cultural capital to succeed in life.

• All children, regardless of starting points, enjoy personal success and good progress.

• All children leave St Monica School with a positive attitude to learning. They are risk-takers, show resilience and become lifelong learners.

We are continuing to develop our broad and balanced curriculum that is based on units of work that are meaningful for the children that we have in school at any one given moment. This means that it is forever evolving and changing to meet the needs of our ever-changing community. This will enable our children to be the best lifelong learners that they can be.

Our Curriculum Map 

• St Monica Wider Curriculum Map - 2023-24