St John's Redhill

Our Curriculum

The curriculum is the vehicle through which we ensure that all our children receive broad, balanced and exciting learning opportunities. We provide a stimulating and challenging environment where children are encouraged to develop lively, enquiring minds, together with qualities such as imagination and creativity.  We wish to foster, within children, a desire to learn, the motivation to apply themselves to tasks and the self-discipline necessary to complete them successfully.

As defined by the National Curriculum 2014, we teach the Core subjects: English, Maths, Science and Foundation subjects: Computing, Languages, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Art & Design, Physical Education and Music as well as Religious Education and Personal, Social and Health Education. Most subjects are taught in thematic topics and learnt in a ‘cross curricular’ way to make learning more relevant to our children.

To meet our aims and pursue our vision, the St John’s curriculum goes above and beyond the National Curriculum. To make it personalised to St John’s, we have established four ‘drivers’ which appear in every topic in every year group. This ensures there is always a focus on these four areas

St John’s Primary School

Curriculum Drivers

Outdoor

Community

Challenge and Risk Taking

Spiritual and Cultural

Using our environment to support and inspire learning we will:

Maximise opportunities for activities concerned with living, moving and learning in the outdoors.  

 

Develop our sense of adventure and our respect for the natural environment.

As contributing members of a community we will:

Gain an understanding of, and encourage respect for, democracy, public institutions and services in England.

 

Understand our role within, and how we can make a difference and contribute positively to, the school and wider community;

Local    National   Global.

As learners ready to take risks and be challenged, we will:

Be confident and show perseverance when applying different strategies to problem solving tasks.

 

Understand and assess risk in order to make better decisions

 

Experience setbacks in a safe environment to develop resilience.

To develop our sense of who we are and how we respond to others, we will;

Experience awe and wonder and develop qualities and attitudes to make us feel good 

Distinguish right from wrong, taking responsibility for our own behaviour and respecting the civil and criminal law of England. 

Encourage tolerance and harmony by appreciating and respecting our own and other cultures.

 

Topics and themes are taught in phases– Reception, Years 1 and 2 (Key Stage 1), Years 3 and 4 (Lower Key Stage 2), and Years 5 and 6 (Upper Key Stage 2). This allows teachers to work collaboratively and provide the children with opportunities to work alongside others where appropriate, as part of the learning process.

 The beginning of each topic involves a ‘hook’, which is an activity that is planned to excite the children and engage them .Throughout the topic the children will be provided with activities that build on the hook. At the end of the topic the children will be involved in a high quality outcome, which involves them using their new knowledge, skills and understanding. We also arrange numerous special events which stimulate the interests of the children. Visits from storytellers, musicians, themed weeks such as book week, creativity week and class outings are all encouraged and carefully planned.

We provide a wide range of learning situations i.e. individual, paired, supported, independent, groups and class work so that differing needs can be met, ensuring access to the full curriculum for every child. The children are active learners and, through our Growth Mindset approach, develop into resilient learners who learn through their mistakes and think I can’t do it…yet. Our learning and teaching cycle supports their understanding of the learning process and engages them at every stage.

 

The Foundation Stage

Children in the Reception class follow the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ curriculum,2020 Framework. This details the characteristics of learning, and prime and specific areas that support all children to learn new skills, acquire knowledge and demonstrate their understanding. Learning is planned through meaningful contexts inside and outside the classroom enabling the children to develop in these areas. The three prime areas in the EYFS Framework are:

  1. Communication and Language

  2. Physical Development

  3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

These prime areas work together and support development in all the other areas. The four specific areas are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. These include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society. Within the first six weeks of starting school the children work one to one with an adult, to complete the statutory Early Years Baseline Assessment. 

English:

Intent

Children speak with confidence and are able to articulate ideas, accessing and utilising a broad range of vocabulary. They are immersed in a range of high quality texts as a stimulus for their own creativity and innovation. Children read for pleasure across different genres, and as such develop fluency and understanding using a range of skills. They are stimulated and engaged to create purposeful writing across the curriculum, with a clear understanding of the power of editing and refinement to develop their skills.

Implementation

Developing a good use of English is a fundamental part of primary learning. By providing a language rich environment, children are encouraged to develop good communication skills and express their ideas both orally and in written form. Reading is given a high priority, not just as a vital skill to be acquired but as a pleasurable activity to be valued for its own sake. In the early stages of reading the phonics taught are matched to a phonics based reading scheme, Big Cat Books. St John's uses the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds phonics scheme to ensure that children can decode texts fluently, transferring these skills into their written work. For secure readers other schemes are used, grouped in developmental and progressive stages using the Book Band system. Parents are encouraged to share reading books with their children from the earliest stages. Writing is taught through 4 distinct stages:

Immersion

Imitation

Invention

Independence 

High quality writing is encouraged across all curriculum areas showing the development of children’s punctuation and grammar to a high level within different genres. handwriting is taught using the Pen Pals scheme allowing children to develop well formed and fluent, joined handwriting.

Mathematics:

Intent

Children can solve a range of problems by applying and recalling learnt facts and using prior knowledge. This allows them to make connections and move fluently amongst different mathematical concepts. Their curiosity and resolve instils a determination to explore and challenge an understanding of the world around them and reason their findings to others.

Implementation

At St John’s we teach children the fundamentals of mathematics within meaningful real-life contexts, so that children develop a good mathematical understanding as well as the ability to recall and apply their knowledge to different situations, investigations and problem solving activities. Our core scheme of work uses White Rose maths which is supported by our calculation policy. The children are encouraged to use mathematical vocabulary to support their work while testing their ideas. They learn to solve increasingly complex problems and to persevere in finding solutions. Children have the opportunity to develop and apply their maths skills while working both indoors and outdoors, and through playing different maths games. Cross curricular maths work enables children to see the relevance of maths and provides frequent opportunities for application.

 

Science:

Intent

Children are excited, inspired and curious about the world around them. They are able to use their knowledge, vocabulary and enquiry skills to investigate and understand the science of today, providing them with a foundation for their future scientific learning.

Implementation

An emphasis on practical scientific activity at St John’s helps to encourage children to understand the world in which they live. Drawing on their own experiences and natural curiosity, children are encouraged to observe, study, question, plan, investigate and experiment. The scientific method of investigation is developed over the primary years and children are expected to relate their findings and draw their own conclusions from a variety of experiments. This enables them to record how things are and ways in which they may change. This is achieved by giving as much practical experience as possible.

 

Computing

Intent

Children safely use a wide range of computing skills across the curriculum. Through using a variety of software and hardware, children are inquisitive problem solvers and adapt to new technological advances.

Implementation

All children are given the opportunity to develop their computing capability through a range of curriculum activities. Our core scheme of work is Purple Mash 2Simple.We have a network of multimedia PCs, all accessible to e-mail and Internet facilities within classrooms. We also currently use laptops, iPads, digital cameras, Beebots, talkpoints, Wedo Lego and data logging equipment. Computing in school spans all curriculum subjects and is continually reviewed and developed in order to keep pace with the latest technology.

Modern Languages:

Intent

Children have a curiosity and understanding of the French language and culture. Through practical and engaging activities, they are confident to use the language to communicate with others.

Implementation

Pupils in KS2 learn French and through a variety of practical activities develop their confidence to use vocabulary in conversations and learn to read and understand key phrases.  

Design & Technology:

Intent

Through experiencing a range of Design Technology opportunities and techniques, children are interested in how things work. They apply their creativity during planning and designing by making connections to real life experiences. Using different types of apparatus and tools, their manual skills are refined through a variety of practical projects. Evaluations are used with a variety of problem solving skills to help them adapt and improve ideas.

Implementation

Design & Technology provides practical learning experiences and offers opportunities for children to develop and refine the skills associated with designing, making and evaluating different products. DT allows children to actively participate and respond to the changing technological world around them; as users, consumers, designers and inventors. The children have the opportunity to apply scientific skills, mathematical skills and information technology skills. 

History and Geography:

Intent

History

Children have a knowledge and understanding of local and national history and that of the wider world. They understand chronology and changes over time. Children are confident and inquisitive learners, who use historical sources and artefacts to make judgements and draw conclusions about the past.

Geography

Children are curious about the local environment and the world around them. They have an understanding of physical and human geography and how these are linked. They carry out field work and apply their geographical skills to better understand and protect the world they live in.

Implementation

 These subjects enable children to gain an understanding of people in society through time and place and at St John’s they are integrated into topics where possible. In addition to acquiring knowledge about other times and other places, our children develop general and investigative skills, through looking at artefacts and documents from the past. These skills are also developed in geography through activities such as interpreting plans, maps and diagrams, appreciating the chronology of time and finding information from a variety of relevant sources, including atlases and encyclopaedia as well as from other non-fiction material. The local environment is frequently used as a learning resource, with children looking at how the Redhill area has changed and some of the problems that local, national and international areas face, both at present and in the future. St John’s is committed to being environmentally friendly. We are proud to have been awarded Bronze Eco Status.

  

Art & Design:

Intent

Children have the confidence to explore their creativity, expressing and challenging themselves through a range of media and resources. They have an understanding and appreciation of the impact of artists and architects on culture throughout history and how this is reflected in the local community. They are able to evaluate, reflect on and revisit their own creations, making distinction between what is a developmental stage and what is the finished article.

Implementation

The aesthetic development of children is encouraged at St John’s through music, drama and art. Art gives children the opportunity for practical, creative activities and the means to express their ideas in a visual form. Children enjoy painting and sketching, using a variety of media, observational drawing, collage, pattern making, modelling, pottery and printing. Our children are provided with opportunities to expand their art skills using a range of ICT programs and digital equipment, as well as exploring and using the outdoors to influence their work. In addition to illustrating their own work, the children study the work of different artists and architects to support and influence their ideas.

 

 Physical Education:

Intent

Children have an interest and enthusiasm towards a range of sports, inside and out of school. They acquire a repertoire of skills and apply them confidently through practice and competitive performance. Their knowledge of sport and exercise help them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Through evaluating their own and others' performance, children challenge themselves to become more competent in sport.

Implementation

St. John’s provides a well-balanced programme of games, gymnastics, athletics, swimming and dance as well as an increasing number of competitive opportunities – both within school and inter school. Children learn to develop control and co-ordination through P.E. lessons. The development and progression of skills is planned through the Rising Stars scheme of work. They learn to cooperate with others in small-sided competitive games which develop strategies and team work. We aim to introduce children to a wide variety of sports, allowing them to know the rules and develop the skills so they have an understanding and enjoyment of each sport. The opportunity develop swimming is currently provided in Years 3 and 4. There are a variety of extra-curricular sports activities which take place after school for all ages and the school takes part in the local schools’ football and netball leagues as well as other schools’ competitions including cross country running, gymnastics and athletics.

  

Music:

Intent

Children have a love of music and enjoy singing and performing within the school and the wider community. Through a rich curriculum children experience playing, composing and appreciating a variety of music styles and instruments.

Implementation

Children are given the opportunity to explore and work with sound, as well as use an extensive range of instruments. Singing is used to introduce many aspects of music making. Children are encouraged to compose and perform, thereby providing a further means of communication. They are encouraged to listen to a variety of music and actively participate in movement and drama linked to music. Children are given a range of musical experiences from various countries around the world including African drumming, Recorders and Sea shanty songs.

Visiting peripatetic music teachers offer tuition in a wide range of musical instruments and both the Infant and Junior choirs have an active role in the school, participating in competitions and concerts throughout the year.

  

Religious Education:

Intent

Children develop a knowledge and curiosity of principal religions and are tolerant of other people’s beliefs. They understand how religious beliefs and practices shape communities in Great Britain and around the world.

Implementation

For young children, R.E. is best related to children’s own experiences. Relationships with others, exploration of the natural world, celebrations, customs and festivals are all meaningful and relevant in our children’s moral, spiritual and cultural development. St John’s follows the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

At St John’s there is a daily act of collective worship, which is Christian based but is nondenominational. We also introduce the children to special days that are important to other principal world religions. Visits to places of worship are part of the programme of study and are important aspects in teaching children to live in a multi-cultural country. During Key Stage 2 children study the development of Christianity and the life of Jesus Christ, as well as parts of the Old Testament. Comparisons and contrasts are made with the other major world religions. A programme of Religious Education based on the Surrey County Council Agreed Syllabus is followed in class lessons.

Although religious education must be taught in all maintained schools, any parent has the right to withdraw his or her child, wholly or partly from such religious education.

 

PHSE and Citizenship: (Personal/Health/Social/Emotional)

Intent

Children are confident, well balanced, rounded and resilient. They understand the importance of maintaining their mental and physical wellbeing. They have the right skills and attitudes to meet challenges in their learning and personal lives and enhance their life choices. They know and understand core British values enabling them to contribute to their local and wider community.

Implementation

There are many aspects of children’s learning which are not exclusive to a particular subject area.

Personal development, Promoting British Values, Health and Safety, caring for others and developing self-esteem are part of many of our school core subject areas. At St John’s, our PHSE curriculum is incorporated into topic work and includes a range of visits and interactive experiences with external bodies and agencies.

 We also undertake the JIGSAW programme of PHSE and Citizenship sessions with the children where various aspects of growing up and living together are covered, including relationships and sex education. Circle Time helps develop children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills. It enables them to appreciate the importance of respecting each other’s feelings and develops class support for those who may have difficulties with their feelings and emotions.