Curriculum
Statement of Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact
Curriculum Intent
At All Saints we seek to create and celebrate a nurturing inclusive environment in which children can achieve their unique potential and are valued for their individual skills and talents. We seek to provide the children with a model of how to develop and maintain positive, healthy and safe relationships based on mutual respect upholding our Christian school values. This is reflected in our mission statement - ‘What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God' and our biblical root ‘We are God’s Handiwork' from Ephesians Chapter 2, verse 10.
In an ever-evolving society, we aim to equip children with the attitudes and skills to thrive as successful education citizens of the future. We aim to create life-long critical thinkers who are resilient enough to solve problems and face challenges they may encounter in their future lives. We seek to evoke a deep love of learning through a progressive, broad and creative curriculum where inquisitive minds can flourish. We aim to provide the building blocks on which to further extend all pupils' long-term memory through effective pedagogical and progressive and vocabulary-rich learning, through a fully inclusive curriculum. We aim to foster an appreciation of individual creativity and innovation wherever possible through first-hand, sequenced experiences, both within and outside the classroom.
We seek to extend the cultural capital of our children through International links as well as broadening local knowledge and experiences.
Pupil Offer:
- PE twice a week
- Spanish for 7 years
- Opportunities to learn musical instruments - ocarina, glockenspiel or guitar.
- Numerous sports clubs and intra-sports opportunities
- Gifted and Talented curriculum events
- Opportunities to perform in whole school productions, singing in choirs and dancing
- Whole school themed days
- Strong church links and daily worship
- Celebrating success both in and outside school
- Strong partnerships with cluster schools
- Access to nurture groups
- School counsellor
- Residential trip to Min y Don Christian Adventure Centre
- Pupils' opportunities to lead and acquire positions of responsibility across school, for example Worship Team, School Council, Play Leaders, prefects, Humanities Ambassadors, Digital Leaders and librarians.
Curriculum Implementation
Across the curriculum we want our children to acquire and then secure knowledge and transferable skills that are progressively embedded from their early years to transitioning from Year 6 (high school ready) and beyond.
The children are provided with the following learning sequence wherever possible:
Wow moments to engage their minds and evoke critical thinking;
Real life contexts to make links with previous learning;
Rich, specific vocabulary that can be applied to the context;
Opportunities to develop their intellectual curiosity through questioning by others, by asking their own questions and investigating;
Children present, share and celebrate their learning in a variety of ways;
Children evaluate their own learning.
Assessment:
Our formative and summative assessments are as follows:
- Daily self assessment using the monster dot system
- Peer assessment - the children work together to evaluate each other's work
- Ongoing formative assessment for learning by staff
- Summative termly assessments to identify gaps, report to parents and inform teaching
- Pupil questioning and discussion - our children will know, remember and apply their learning long-term
Curriculum Impact
That our children will apply their skills and understanding in educational and real-life contexts throughout their learning journey and beyond. That our children will thrive and grow holistically.
Judgements against these areas are informed by:
- Lesson observations
- Discussions with pupils
- Monitoring the children's work
- Observing the children in different situations
- Children's progress and attainment at different points in the school year
More information about what is taught can be found on the individual subject pages and a Whole School Curriculum Overview can be found at the bottom of this page (please note Art and DT are being revised).
Pupils who are in Year 1 upwards follow the 2014 National Curriculum requirements in all curriculum areas which include English, Mathematics, Science, Information Technology, Design Technology, Art and Design, Physical Education, History, Geography, Music and PSHE. In addition to these subjects we teach R. E. which, as a Church School, we place a special emphasis on. All of our children are also taught a Modern Foreign Language as we value the importance of this subject.
Pupils within the Early Years Foundation Stage follow recommendations set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
This involves the pupils learning through three prime areas:
1. Communication and Language
2. Physical Development
3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
and four specific areas:
1. Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Understanding of the World
4. Expressive Art & Design
The children within this age range explore through play and investigation. In addition to all of the aforementioned subjects, the children are taught to respect and care for each other and their environment, and they are encouraged to take pride in themselves, their work and their School. More information about the EYFS curriculum can be found on the specific Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum page (under PARENTS INFORMATION).
Phonics Scheme
We use the 'Red Rose Phonics" to teach phonics.
KS1 Reading Scheme
Our Key Stage One reading scheme is 'The Oxford Reading Tree'.
Religious Education
Religious Education is at the heart of our school. Everyday includes a corporate Act of Worship and this coming together is a most important element in the life of the school. The major Christian festivals are recognised. Being a Church of England voluntary aided school, there are very close links with All Saints Church and the Rector makes regular visits to school.
The school follows the Religious Education Syllabus, Questful RE devised by Blackburn Diocese as well as Understanding Christianity from Church of England Education and incorporates a wide range of topics centred on Christian teaching. Lessons include many aspects of the Christian faith including increasing the knowledge of the Bible; relating religious teaching to current society and understanding the significance of main events in the church’s calendar. Some topics are revisited each year so that children may increase their understanding in line with their increasing maturity.
The Role of other Faiths and Cultures
Our school promotes the fundamental British value of respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
As part of our aim to help children fully embrace society and the wider world community, other faiths are valued and treated with respect.
Our RE syllabus, created by Blackburn Diocese, incorporates the teaching of other main world religions. As such, whilst the majority of the curriculum is centred around Christianity, some time will be spent on other major world religions.
Blackburn Diocesan board of education website: http://www.bdeducation.org.uk and Understanding Christianity website: http://www.understandingchristianity.org.uk/
All children at All Saints are encouraged to embrace the diversity of life offered within our world. We work towards this goal through education against ignorance. Wherever possible, we look to visitors to help support our aim so that learning is accurate, meaningful and enjoyable.
Music at All Saints
At All Saints we love to sing and be musical. Music affects many parts of our brains and through music we can communicate strong emotions in a different way. We can express what we feel and share musical experiences together as large groups. Music is a language and the more we learn, the more we want to say.
At All Saints, all children have weekly singing lessons by a music specialist and we can also learn a musical instrument. We take part in musical activities during the school year including Infant and Junior Nativities at Christmas, the Spring Concert (a community event held in March attended by a wide variety of musicians and choirs), the TARDiS Schools Arts Festival and linked church and school activities.
Physical Education
All Saints is a very active school and dedicates a significant proportion of time to physical activity and Physical Education. For several years, All Saints has been delighted to be awarded ‘The Sainsbury’s School Games Mark’ for recognition of our commitment to and development of competition at the very highest level – GOLD.