Children are inspired to achieve the remarkable at St. Paul’s.

It is partly a question of expectation. We consider every child to be a musician, scientist, mathematician, artist, performer and athlete. We provide children with opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills across the full breadth of the curriculum and encourage them to be the very best they can be.

Our curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum for England and the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework. We use high-quality published schemes and resources where these support effective curriculum delivery, adapting learning appropriately to meet the needs and experiences of our children.

Our curriculum is carefully planned so that children's knowledge and skills develop progressively over time. Teachers build on prior learning, revisit important knowledge and make meaningful connections between different areas of the curriculum. Our long-term planning ensures that children experience the full breadth of the curriculum while developing increasingly secure knowledge and understanding as they move through the school.

We also help children to understand themselves as learners, develop positive learning behaviours and appreciate the diversity of the world around them, all within the distinctive Christian ethos of St. Paul’s.

Reading and Phonics

We believe that reading is fundamental to children's success across the curriculum.

In Key Stage 1, we use Read Write Inc. as our systematic synthetic phonics programme to teach phonics and early reading.

Children in Key Stage 1 also learn through play and continuous provision. They are given carefully planned learning challenges throughout the week, with skilled adults supporting, questioning and extending their learning.

Power of Reading is used across the school to support high-quality teaching of reading and writing. Children encounter carefully chosen, high-quality texts that help develop their reading, vocabulary, comprehension, writing and enjoyment of literature.

Reading is taught through a range of approaches appropriate to children's age and stage. Children have regular opportunities to read and discuss texts, develop their reading skills and enjoy books together.

Parents and carers are encouraged to support reading at home, helping us to develop children who read confidently and, importantly, love reading.

An ambitious and inclusive curriculum

Our curriculum is ambitious for every child.

We strive to provide a broad and balanced education in a happy, caring and stimulating environment in which children can develop confidence, independence and a strong sense of self-worth.

Teachers use adaptive teaching, appropriate resources and reasonable adjustments to enable pupils, including those with SEND, to access and participate successfully in the full curriculum.

Further information about our approach to supporting children with SEND can be found on our Inclusion & SEND page.

Our Curriculum Aims

By learning together, we aim to:

• develop a love of learning and a desire to continue building knowledge and skills throughout life;
• teach children to think for themselves, ask questions and develop enquiring minds;
• provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment in which children can flourish;
• support children's emotional, social, spiritual and moral development;
• encourage mutual respect and help children learn to live successfully alongside others;
• develop responsible, confident and independent young people;
• prepare children for life in modern Britain and the wider world;
• widen children's experiences and raise aspirations;
• celebrate creativity, achievement and individuality; and
• work in partnership with parents and carers to support children's learning and development.

Preparing children for life in modern Britain

At St. Paul’s, we take seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain.

The fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs are promoted through our curriculum, Christian ethos and wider school life.

Subjects including Religious Education and PSHE, together with collective worship and opportunities across the wider curriculum, enable children to explore these values and understand how they apply to their own lives.

We want children to develop the knowledge, confidence and understanding they need to participate positively in their communities and to respect and value people whose experiences, backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives may be different from their own.

Religious Education

Religious Education is an important part of our curriculum and reflects the distinctive Christian character of St. Paul’s.

Through RE, children develop their knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other religions and worldviews. They are encouraged to consider important questions about faith, belief, meaning and how people live, while developing respect for the beliefs and perspectives of others.

Parents and carers have a statutory right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education.

We encourage any parent or carer considering withdrawal to speak to the Head of School so that the curriculum and implications of withdrawal can be discussed.

Learning beyond the classroom

We believe that children's education should extend beyond individual lessons and the classroom.

We provide opportunities for children to broaden their experiences through educational visits, visitors, music, art, sport, performances, outdoor learning and other enrichment opportunities.

These experiences help children to make connections with their learning, encounter opportunities beyond their immediate community and develop their interests and talents.

Our aim is to raise aspirations and enable children to discover things they enjoy, things they are good at and possibilities for their future.

What does my child learn?

Our Long Term Plans set out the curriculum content taught across the school and show how learning is organised throughout the academic year.

They provide information about the learning children encounter across English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education and the wider curriculum, including History, Geography, Art, Design & Technology, Computing, Music, PE, Languages and PSHE.

For example, our Year 3/4 rolling programme identifies specific learning in each subject across the year, including units in Science, RE, History, Geography, Computing, Art, DT, Music, PE, French and PSHE. The second cycle ensures children encounter different content, including Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxons and Scots, Vikings, rivers, migration and natural resources.

Please select the relevant Long Term Plan below to see what children will learn.

Our mixed-age curriculum operates on a rolling programme. This ensures that children experience the full breadth of the curriculum during their time within each mixed-age phase without unnecessarily repeating the same curriculum content.

Further information about children's current learning and ways parents and carers can support learning at home can be found on our individual class pages.

If you would like further information about the curriculum taught at St. Paul’s, please contact the school office.