Christ Church C of E Primary School
Curriculum Statement
Christ Church is in the heart of an area with a rich social and culturally diverse community; we use this as a basis for our curriculum which celebrates diversity and utilises the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of the community, whilst supporting pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development, ensuring that children are well prepared for life with an understanding of core Christian values in modern Britain.
Curriculum Intent
The Curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all children. It provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful learners, with high aspirations, who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society. The uniqueness of every child is recognised and valued. As such, our curriculum embraces the community from which it exists, recognising and celebrating the diverse backgrounds and experiences from which our children originate. We constantly adapt our learning journey to meet the needs and interests of our children, offering an excellent education underpinned by a broad, culturally rich and powerful curriculum to ensure that all pupils are well equipped for the next stages in their education.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the teaching of knowledge, basic skills, concepts and values however, creativity is pivotal at Christ Church. We constantly provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning and to celebrate and develop the individual talents of our pupils, recognising everyone as unique with their own ambitions, skills and dreams. We aim to provide an environment that encourages lifelong learning.
Community involvement and working with our parish is also an essential part of our curriculum. We celebrate traditions, learn new skills to enable children to take an active role in events throughout the year. Children leave Christ Church with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community, where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.
Curriculum Implementation
Knowledge and skills are taught discreetly in subject areas so that our children gain a broad understanding of each subject and know exactly which subject they are studying. However, the curriculum is designed to embed transferable skills throughout, without weakening essential knowledge and skills based learning. The quality of our classroom environments serves to stimulate and engage higher order thinking. At Christ Church, we also recognise the importance of feedback, both adult and peer, as an integral part of the teaching and learning cycle, and aim to maximise the effectiveness of its use in practice. We are mindful also of the research surrounding effective feedback and research from cognitive science regarding the fragility of new learning. In response to this, planning is flexible and responsive to pupils’ needs.
Curriculum Impact
We plan our lessons with clear learning objectives, based upon the teacher’s detailed knowledge of each child, striving to ensure that all tasks set are appropriate to each child’s level of ability. Our lesson plans make clear the expected outcomes for each lesson. We make a note of those individual children who do not achieve at the expected level for the lesson, and we use this information when planning for the next lesson in the teacher’s assessment books. We also keep this information as a record of the progress made by the class.
Day‐to‐day, on-going assessment is a crucial method of assessment which provides instant feedback to the teacher and ensures progress within every lesson. Strategies such as assessment for learning are used in all lessons. These provide a clear picture of a child’s level of understanding and, ensure that teachers can quickly assess when a child does not understand and needs greater support. Lessons should be flexible enough to allow teachers to adapt to the needs of the child. All forms of assessment are also used to inform planning for subsequent lessons.
Pupil progress is assessed regularly. At the end of each term, assessment data is gathered and progress meetings take place with senior leaders, subject coordinators and class teachers. Children are expected to make good or better progress from their starting points in all subjects and their individual progress is tracked closely. In cases where children are identified as making ‘slower progress’ in English or Maths, rapid interventions are put in place to address gaps in learning.
The child is at the centre of everything we do at Christ Church and will be provided with an opportunity to develop the school’s 3 C’s values (Confident, Committed & Caring). To be Confident and Committed to everything they do whilst being caring for others; appreciating the diversity and uniqueness of one another.
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Please click on the relevant subject to look at the subject in more detail
The teaching of English at Christ Church is designed to instil in children a love of reading, writing and speaking & listening, that will last them a lifetime. Giving pupils the key skills in English enables them to access material in all curriculum areas, and provides a foundation for their learning throughout their school life. To achieve this, teachers are focused on making English interesting and exciting, engaging the pupils with the joy and wonder of books and stir their imagination and creativity. At Christ Church we view the teaching of English as a fundamental part of the holistic development of the pupil, fostering positive behaviours and attitudes toward learning, and providing key knowledge and skills, to benefit pupils throughout their education and beyond.
Here at Christ Church it is of paramount importance to ensure that our children have the best possible grounding in mathematics during their time with us. With this in mind, we aim to spark a curiosity and excitement for maths learning, while instilling confidence and knowledge through repetition of key skills and building on prior learning, as children embark on their journey to mastering the maths curriculum. From joining us in reception to leaving us in year six the children are encouraged to use a range of concrete resources to support their understanding in maths. This gives every child the opportunity to explore maths practically and experience maths in real life contexts. We use a range of resources across school with children in reception using interactive resources such as Ten Town and years One to six using resources from White Rose, Nrich, and NCETM. This ensures our children are able to experience a range of mastery resources allows them to follow. All of our resources follow an exciting growth mind set and problem-solving approach. All children are encouraged to believe in their ability to master maths and are empowered to succeed through curiosity and persistence, while tackling the same concepts at the same time and progressing together as a whole class.
Here at Christ Church we encourage children to explore their curiosities and theories relating to Science. We try to ensure that children are excited and intrigued by the topics, through varied and exciting activities and investigations. We strive to incorporate Science across the curriculum, linking themes from other topics or organised days, events and trips to the subject. Our curriculum aims to broaden the children's scientific view of, and respect for the world around them, whilst promoting a love for enquiry and a desire for exploring new things.
We are always eager to work with professionals within the STEM industries to promote a positive attitude towards the exciting and fascinating world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. With this is mind we have developed links with SEERIH at Manchester University, PSQM, STEM ambassadors and we are participating in the "Facetime a farmer" initiative through LeafUK. It is important for the children to understand the various routes and diverse career opportunities within the STEM industries and for the children to see that scientists are men, women, students and anyone with a curiosity about the natural world.
At Christ Church we value the contribution that ICT can make for the benefit of all pupils, staff, parents, governors and the wider community. Our aim is to provide an ICT rich environment which allows pupils to gain the confidence and ability to prepare them for the challenge of a rapidly developing and changing technological world. As a school we use ICT where appropriate to motivate and inspire pupils and raise standards across the curriculum.
We develop pupils computing skills, knowledge, understanding and capability through taught computing lessons and provide varied opportunities for pupils to apply and consolidate their computing capability across all curriculum contexts.
We have 4 aims that underpin our vision:
- To develop confidence in coding for a variety of practical and inventive purposes, including the application of ideas within our subjects
- To have the ability to connect with others safely and respectfully, understanding the need to act within the law and with moral and ethical integrity.
- To have the ability to communicate ideas well by using applications and devices throughout the curriculum.
- To have the ability to collect, organise and manipulate data effectively.
At Christ Church we believe that children should gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain's past and that of the wider world which helps to stimulate children's curiosity to know more about the past. Children should learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Our History curriculum ensures that children will have a chronological understanding of British history from Stone Age to present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this is the need to look at world history such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Mayans and Egyptians.
The units are enriched by cross curriculum work when appropriate. Children learn through enquiry based learning opportunities to gain a greater understanding of Britain and the World’s history.
At Christ Church, we believe that Geography helps to provoke and answer questions about the natural and human worlds, encouraging children to develop a greater understanding of their world and their place in it. It helps to develop a range of investigation and problem-solving skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas, which can be used to promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Geography is, by nature an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives; to promote children’s interest and understanding about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
At Christ Church, we believe that PE plays an important role across the curriculum. Not only can it teach children about developing important skills and keeping themselves healthy, but also about problem solving, self-assessment (identifying their strengths), communication, team work and competitiveness which can be carried across all the different subjects in the curriculum. Building vital skills, whether in football, gymnastics or dance are extremely important and every child will constantly and consistently develop their own personal PE skills from Reception up to Year 6. At school, we provide many opportunities for children to access sport, through School sports games, after school clubs, and community links with other Oldham schools. Ensuring our children are active allows them to develop and improve across the whole curriculum and we encourage children to take part in the ‘daily mile’ initiative, which contributes to their overall personal health and well-being. Sports leaders and playground buddies are also an integral part of school in developing childrens responsibilities and supporting others.
At Christ Church we believe that the arts offer opportunities for our children to explore, express and communicate their feelings creatively whilst learning about the world around them.
Through experiencing the arts, children develop their creativity, self-esteem and confidence. Our creative arts programme, including music, drama and art significantly impacts their cognitive development, increases self-esteem, and actively engages everyone in learning.
Our artist in residence works with children to practise a range of skills and techniques to produce individual artwork aswell as collaborative pieces. We also promote partnership work with Oldham art Gallery, utilising their valuable resources of artworks and artifacts from gallery collections for inspiration.
We work in partnership with both Oldham Music Centre and individual music specialists, offering our children, flute, violin, piano and a school choir. For music lessons we also use a world leading music teaching and learning platform ‘Cheranga’ to provide children with a range of musical experiences.
Drama has always been promoted at Christ Church, and evidence of its success can be seen through the confidence our children display when taking part in school productions and musical concerts.
As a Church of England Primary School, Religious Education has a special place in our curriculum.
The aims of Religious Education in Church schools are:
- To enable children to know and understand Christianity as a living faith that influences the lives of people worldwide and as a religion that has most shaped British culture and heritage.
- To enable pupils to know and understand about other major world religions and worldwide views, their impact on society, culture and the wider world, enabling pupils to express ideas and insights.
- To contribute to the development of pupils’ own spiritual/philosophical convictions, exploring and enriching their own beliefs and values.
(The Church of England Education Office Statement of Entitlement 2016)
Our teaching of R.E not only covers the teaching and stories of Christianity, but also investigates other World religions. We believe that R.E plays an important part in developing our children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural growth. R.E enables pupils to appreciate their own and others’ beliefs and cultures, helping them to develop a clear understanding of the significance of religion in their own area as well as in the world today.
The teaching of RE intends to promote religious understanding and respect, and to challenge prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping.
R.E supports the promotion of each child’s self-worth, enabling them to reflect on their uniqueness as human beings, to share their feelings and emotions with others and to appreciate the importance of forming and maintaining positive relationships.
R.E. offers our children the means by which to understand how other people choose to live and to understand why they choose to live in that way. This helps children to develop respect and tolerance towards their peers, staff and the community as a whole. As well as developing factual knowledge of a variety of religions, R.E. also encourages students to ask questions about life, develop self-reflection and promotes attitudes of confidence and thoughtfulness about themselves. We aspire to help children to develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues which is an essential skill in our 21stcentury multi-cultural society.
Design and Technology
Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Design and Technology encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. At Christ Church, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in a process of designing and making.~
When designing and making, the children are taught to:
Design
· use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
· generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
Make
· select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing) accurately
· select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
Evaluate
· investigate and analyse a range of existing products
· evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
· understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
Technical knowledge
· apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
· understand and use mechanical systems in their products
· understand and use electrical systems in their products
· apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
Cooking and nutrition
· understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook
· use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
· understand where food comes from and seasonality
With this in mind at Christ Church, children gain the ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop sound knowledge and understanding. Where children learn how to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.
