Curriculum at St Joseph’s
At St Joseph’s School we have worked collaboratively to design our curriculum rationale, which is underpinned by our Catholic Character Education and Virtues whilst encompassing our Vision, Values and Aims for our school community. This helps us to create a positive, nurturing ethos in which we can all learn together. Our curriculum has been designed to encompass knowledge and understanding of the world in which we live as well as the events that have shaped it in the past, making it what it is today.
We have organised our curriculum experiences under the 4 contexts for learning:
Ethos and Catholic Life of the school
Personal development
Learning and Teaching/Curriculum areas and subjects
Inter Disciplinary Learning (IDL)
Catholic Life of the School
Catholic Education provides the foundation for all aspects of learning throughout the curriculum. All of our teaching is underpinned by our Catholic virtues embedded in the gospel teachings. The school’s Mission Statement, ‘As a family with God in our hearts, we love, laugh and learn’, is lived out in the daily life of the school. We prepare the children for their personal faith journey through the sacraments and teach self-reflection and reverence as part of their religious education. Serving and thinking of others is an integral part of the Catholic Life of the School and pupils participate in various charitable fundraising projects in support of those in need. During the course of the liturgical year pupils take part in leading masses, praying the Rosary and organise the Station of the Cross, Corpus Christi and May Processions. At the heart of all we do, we want the children to develop educationally, socially and spiritually to be the very best they can be.
Personal Development
The curriculum provides broader development for all children, enabling them to develop and discover their interests and talents. PHSE, Character Education, Catholic Virtues support the children to develop their character – including their resilience, confidence and independence – and help them know how to keep physically fit with a broad range of sporting activities. The curriculum prepares the children for life in modern Britain by equipping them to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society, as well as developing their understanding of fundamental British values and appreciation of a diverse and multicultural society.
Learning and Teaching/Curriculum areas and subjects
We deliver the curriculum through a blend of discrete subject learning, cross curricular themes or topics. The curriculum is taught with the consideration of the needs of all our learners; it is exciting and inspires children to nurture a passion for learning in an inclusive environment. We have a clear progression across the experiences and expectations. This includes incorporating opportunities for the children to learn about their locality, both past and present, as well as welcoming, celebrating and valuing differences that contribute to our society. Enrichment opportunities are taken to enliven the curriculum using the rich, local environment, educational visits, experience days and visitors, thus developing connections in their learning and aiding long-term retention. Wherever possible, learning experiences are made relevant for children by delivering them through real life contexts. At St Joseph’s we track children’s progress to ensure a breadth of learning is taking place and that assessment takes children’s individual needs and targets into account.
Interdisciplinary Learning (Cross Curricular)
We aim to take advantage of those naturally occurring ‘big questions’ which children will often ask to engage in Interdisciplinary learning. Interdisciplinary Learning adds depth, challenge and enjoyment to children’s learning by allowing them to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned in a child led and stimulating context underpinned by creativity. IDL, which is planned with the children, takes account of children’s needs and interests adding personalisation and choice to our curriculum. At St Joseph’s we will aim for all children to be involved in an Interdisciplinary Study at least once a term.