Subject Overviews
For more information regarding our curriculum, please click on the subject headings below.
Mathematics
At St. Joseph’s, we strive to empower children with the mathematical tools and authority to effectively describe and interpret the empirical world around them. We acknowledge that Mathematics is fundamental to the intellectual, personal, and social development of our pupils and that a secure understanding of mathematics is an essential factor in creating an equitable society. We seek to inspire in all of our children a love of mathematics and an appreciation of the beauty and majesty of mathematics as a subject.
All pupils, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, culture, class, or disability are given equal opportunity to acquire the appropriate skills, Mathematical concepts and knowledge required by the National Curriculum. All children will be guided to achieve their full potential in mathematics.
We follow The National Curriculum Mathematics programmes of study. The programmes of study are organised into distinct domains, within each year group. There are clear sets of objectives for Years 1 to 6. This programme provides teachers with the flexibility to make connections between mathematical ideas and to embed the teaching of mathematics within a range of other subjects in order to provide meaningful contexts for mathematical learning. Children are taught fluency in number, mental calculation strategies, reasoning and problem solving skills.
English
At St Joseph’s we aim to equip pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of reading, by providing children with rich and varied learning experiences. We believe that a high-quality education in English enables pupils to speak and write fluently so they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others accurately and expressively.
Spoken Language
Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing. The quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak is vital for developing their vocabulary, grammar and their understanding of reading and writing.
At St Joseph’s we believe the best way to teach children about the correct conventions for spoken language is to immerse them in it. In all subjects children have opportunities to orally explain their ideas, make formal presentations and participate in drama activities and debates.
Reading
Children are taught a range of phonic strategies, using the Letters and Sounds programme, to enable them to decode new words so they can read fluently and with confidence. Through high quality discussion of a range of texts, including fiction, non-fiction and poetry, children develop their comprehension skills, a range of reading strategies as well as an appreciation and love of reading.
Guided reading is a daily occurrence throughout the school. During these sessions, children have the opportunity to explore progressively challenging books and to engage with high quality texts from different genres. Children work in small groups with the teacher and are taught key reading strategies to support the development of their comprehension and apply them through a range of exciting activities, such as drama and extended writing opportunities.
Our home reading programme, which provides children with books to read at home, plays an important role in developing our positive reading culture. In Reception and KS1, children begin by following the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme to support them in developing their phonic skills, stamina and comprehension. As children become more fluent, confident readers, they are encouraged to read a wider range of books of their own choice and write reflections about what they have read in their reading journals in order to develop their critical thinking skills. Our annual ‘Book Week’ celebrations, and events such as author’s visits and book fairs, book corners and teaching of reading through both guided reading and whole class English lessons create a culture of reading for pleasure, which we hope will stay with children throughout their lives.
Writing
At St Joseph’s, we understand that being an effective writer requires many skills, such as; a sound knowledge of spelling rules and patterns, an understanding of proper grammatical conventions and sentence structures, a wide vocabulary to express ideas, and fluent, legible handwriting to write them down.
We ensure that all of our children are explicitly taught these skills through a mixture of discrete lessons, thoughtful discussion and analysis of quality writing.
Through careful choices of exciting class texts, ranging from myths and legends to newspaper reports, pupils are given starting points for their writing, as well as opportunities to expand their vocabulary. In shared and guided writing activities, pupils work with their teacher to learn how to plan, revise and evaluate their own written work, enabling them to become more independent, successful writers.
Grammar and spelling lessons are often linked to class texts to provide children with a context for their learning and they are taught through a mixture of games, quizzes and short written experiences.
In handwriting lessons, pupils are taught to form and join their letters correctly – using the Nelson Handwriting Programme – to develop a legible, cursive style which allows them to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.
Science
At St Joseph’s, we recognise the fundamental role that a high quality scientific education plays in pupils’ understanding and interpretation of the world around them. Science has, and will continue to change the world therefore it is essential that we equip our children with a thorough understanding of key scientific knowledge and understanding, methods and processes. Through our science curriculum, we strive to inspire a sense of awe, excitement and curiosity in the natural world and natural phenomena within all of our pupils. We aspire to provide all of our pupils with the skills required to explain what they observe around them, predict the future and to analyse cause and effect in the natural world. We encourage all of our pupils to evaluate their scientific learning in light of the school’s core Catholic values and to recognise their roles as stewards of God’s world.
Computing
At St Joseph’s, we recognise the integral role that computing plays in day to day life in an ever evolving digital landscape in education, at home and in the workplace. We strive to equip our children with the knowledge and skills to become digitally literate and to be able to be active and responsible participants in a digital world. We recognise the deep links that computer science has with mathematics, science and design technology and how it can be utilised to support children with learning, expressing themselves and developing their ideas across the curriculum. Due to the ever changing nature of computing, we aspire to foster a growth mind-set within all our pupils which encourages children to recognise challenge as an essential component of their learning, that teamwork and communication are vital to effective problem solving and to embrace the evolution of new technologies.
History
At St Joseph’s we follow the National Curriculum programmes of study for history. We aspire to stimulate the children’s interest, curiosity and understanding about the past through our history curriculum. Through history, our pupils see the complexity and diversity of human experience, and understand more about themselves as individuals and members of society. A high quality historical education is an integral part of preparing our children to live and work in the contemporary world, what they learn from history will influence their decisions, personal choices, attitudes and values. History gives us a sense of identity, and a social, political, cultural and economic perspective upon the world in which we live. At St Joseph’s we strive to educate our pupils in fundamental historical knowledge and skills through a range of contexts and time periods from Ancient Egypt to Bermondsey in the 21st Century and everything in between. We encourage all of our pupils to evaluate historical events, changes and consequences in light of the school’s core Catholic values.
Geography
At St Joseph’s we follow the National Curriculum Programmes of Study for geography. Through our geography curriculum, we strive to inspire our pupils’ curiosity, fascination and sense of wonder about the world and the people within it. We educate our children in fundamental geographical knowledge and skills through a range of contexts from the South Pole to Bermondsey and everything in between and beyond.
We aspire to instil an understanding of, and sensitivity towards, the geographical issues affecting people around the world and in our local area within all of our pupils. We encourage our students to evaluate the geographical issues that face mankind in the current era in light of the school’s core Catholic values and to recognise their role in an ever-developing world.
Modern Foreign Languages
Modern Foreign Languages aids the development of children’s linguistic competence. At St Joseph’s, we believe that learning a language enriches the curriculum, providing excitement, enjoyment and challenge for children and teachers, helping to create enthusiastic learners and to develop positive attitudes to language learning throughout life.
The natural links between languages and other areas of the curriculum can enhance the overall teaching and learning experience. The skills, knowledge and understanding gained make a major contribution to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture/s and those of others.
Language also lies at the heart of ideas about individual identity and community, and learning another language can do a great deal to shape children’s ideas in this critical area as well as giving them a new perspective on their own language.
As the UK is becoming an increasingly multicultural society, we have a duty to provide our children with an understanding of other cultures and languages. At St Joseph’s, we teach children in Key Stage Two French.
Speaking and Listening
- Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding
- Explore the patterns and sound of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of the words
- Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; respond to those of others; seek clarification and help
- Speak in sentences using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
- Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences
- Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
Reading and Writing
- Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when you they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
- Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
- Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words introduced into familiar written material, including using a dictionary
- Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing
- Write words from memory and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly
Grammar
- Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied
- Use their knowledge about the way language works and apply their knowledge when learning a new language
Organisation of Teaching
The planning developed for KS2 will target objectives taken from the National Curriculum 2014. Each phase group in KS2 will have its own programme of study, each building on learning from the previous year and each contributing to a secure development of the National Curriculum objectives. We follow closely the Euro Stars Scheme of Work specifically designed for primary school children, introducing learners to the language and everyday life of France. The emphasis is on oracy, encouraging children to listen and speak the foreign language. Children develop an inter-cultural understanding of the language and the countries where French is spoken. A specialist MFL teacher from St Michael’s Secondary School teaches French to children in Key Stage 2 during autumn and spring terms.
Learning another language presents opportunities for the reinforcement of knowledge, skills and understanding in other curriculum areas. An understanding of the structure of a new language enhances the children’s understanding of their own language and so links closely to the Literacy curriculum. There are also opportunities to link to the PSHE and citizenship, geography and RE curricula in terms of the development of positive attitudes towards, and knowledge of, other cultures and countries. We make more links to many other subjects when celebrating Bastille Day and Le Tour de France.
Music
We believe that, by connecting young children to music, we can enhance not only their enjoyment, skills, understanding and appreciation of the subject itself, but also learning in other areas, including: thinking and listening skills, the ability to concentrate, creative, aesthetic sensitivity, perseverance, self-confidence, and sensitive to others.
Each class (including the nursery) has a weekly music lesson with the specialist teacher. Children are taught the knowledge, skills and understanding of music in accordance with the programme of study contained in the national curriculum.
We have a range of pitched and unpitched musical instrument for children use, including electronic keyboards and instruments from non-European cultures. Songs from a wide range of cultures, traditions and genres are learned, as well as practising songs for our assemblies and school productions.
Class teachers plan together with the subject leader to exploit cross-curriculum links between music and other subjects wherever practicable. The subject leader assists in providing good quality, well-performed music for assemblies and especially for the celebrations of the liturgy.
Design Technology
Design Technology at St Joseph’s gives our children an opportunity to explore and understand their world before using their creative and practical talents to design and construct a product from their own perspective.
The children look at existing products and investigate how their design has been tailored to a specific audience before considering how they might alter this for an alternative design brief. They are then taught subject specific skills in a controlled environment before applying those skills on their own design. At all times children are encouraged to consider and plan for any risk that may be present when using a specific skill, ensuring a classroom that is aware and confident.
The children’s learning will also reflect the prioritising of Nutrition in the New Curriculum, developing their skills and understanding in the kitchen environment from planing a balanced meal to learning how to safely prepare ingredients in a creative way for a set design brief. They will be encouraged to try new things and investigate flavours and ingredients from around the globe, all while understanding the vital importance of balanced meals, exercise and safe preparation on their health and well-being throughout their lives.
Religious Education
St Joseph’s is a Catholic school which aims to embed a relationship of love between our children, God and our community. We support our pupils in learning about the life and mission of Jesus in a loving, caring and supportive environment that reflects the gospel values. Through focused RE lessons, daily prayer, collective Acts of Worship and Celebrations of Liturgy, children learn about the life and work of Jesus; the traditions of the church; the importance of the sacraments and develop their understanding of the Mass. They also learn about other world faiths and the need to respect the beliefs and traditions of others.
At St Joseph’s we recognise that children should not just learn about the Gospel values but live them. We believe it is our duty to create an environment that is reflective of this; where children feel respected, loved and cared for in every aspect of their education and able to reach their full potential, not just academically but emotionally, socially and personally. We feel it is important that our children learn how to co-operate with others, respect others and forgive others through understanding the Gospel Values and living our lives through Christ.
Our aim is to guide the children to become religiously literate and spiritually developed young people who have the knowledge, understanding and skills –appropriate to their age and capacity – to think spiritually, ethically and theologically, and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life.
St. Joseph’s follows uses the framework of the Come and See Scheme of work, following the liturgical year.
Physical Education
At St Joseph’s School, we fundamentally believe that physical education is integral to a child’s physical, social, emotional and personal development. We strive to inspire a love of physical activity and sport in all of our pupils by giving them opportunities to succeed and excel in competitive and physically demanding activities.
We recognise the essential role that exercise plays in supporting a child’s health and fitness and that sport provides opportunities to build children’s personal qualities and values such as resilience, perseverance, fairness and respect.
PSHE
PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)
At St. Joseph’s, we are committed to providing fun, meaningful and appropriately challenging learning opportunities that help children develop holistically. We wish children to develop physically, linguistically, intellectually, personally and socially. Therefore, PSHE is a very important area of learning which helps to ‘prepare pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.’ (NC, p4, 2014).
Within the new National Curriculum, we have the flexibility to tailor the PSHE programme of study to our children. This is fundamental given the ever changing and developing world in which we live. As a global community advancing daily in technology we find ourselves facing new challenges concerning online safety, security and privacy. Our responsibility to look after our planet means we are constantly improving our awareness and practices to ensure we recycle and preserve energy. We are never without news reports relating to human rights and the importance of respectful relations both local and international.
Therefore, we aim to address issues with our children in the following themes, ensuring our children are informed, prepared and ready for life’s challenges:
Core Theme 1: Health and Wellbeing
- what is meant by a healthy lifestyle
- how to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing
- how to manage risks to physical and emotional health and wellbeing
- ways of keeping physically and emotionally safe
- about managing change, such as puberty, transition and loss
- how to make informed choices about health and wellbeing and to recognise sources of help with this
- how to respond in an emergency
- to identify different influences on health and wellbeing
Core Theme 2: Relationships
- how to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships, within a range of social/cultural contexts
- how to recognise and manage emotions within a range of relationships
- how to recognise risky or negative relationships including all forms of bullying and abuse
- how to respond to risky or negative relationships and ask for help
- how to respect equality and diversity in relationships
Core Theme 3: Living in the wider world – Economic wellbeing and being a responsible citizen
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- about respect for self and others and the importance of responsible behaviours and actions
- about rights and responsibilities as members of families, other groups and ultimately as citizens
- about different groups and communities
- to respect equality and to be a productive member of a diverse community
- about the importance of respecting and protecting the environment
- about where money comes from, keeping it safe and the importance of managing it effectively
- how money plays an important part in people’s lives
- a basic understanding of enterprise
Special Educational Needs
At St Joseph’s School we recognise that some children may experience learning difficulties during their time at our school. We realise that these needs will varied and will be specific to each child. Similarly we acknowledge the fact that children’s needs may change according to experience and circumstance.
As such we aim to:
- create an environment within our school that meets the needs of those children with Special Educational Needs.
- ensure that the Special Educational Needs of each child are identified, assessed and provided for.
- enable all children to have access to all elements of the National Curriculum
For our SEN Information Report, CLICK HERE
For more information on our curriculum please refer to half-termly class curriculum letters or speak to the class teacher.