Beaminster St Mary's Academy

What is a 'curriculum'?

"The curriculum is a framework for setting out the aims of a programme of education, including the knowledge and understanding to be gained at each stage (intent); for translating that framework over time into a structure and narrative, within an institutional context (implementation) and for evaluating what knowledge and understanding pupils have gained against expectations (impact / achievement)." Ofsted 2019

At Beaminster St Mary's, we have specifically designed our curriculum to ensure that it is enriched with engaging, purposeful and quality learning experiences which are suited to the abilities and aptitudes of each learner.

Carefully planned opportunities helps our children grow as confident, inquisitive, independent and successful learners. We want to instill positive learning behaviours which will promote a life-long love of learning. We also want to equip our children with moral values so that they make a positive contribution to society. We seek to provide each child with the skills and knowledge to equip them for life in the 21st century through an engaging, creative and challenging curriculum.

We follow the National Curriculum using a creative approach to planning and teaching enabling children to fully engage in topics, deepening and applying their knowledge from across all subject areas. Topics or themes vary in length from a week, such as Science week, to a term. Maths and English is taught explicitly daily and the skills acquired in those subjects are further applied across the curriculum.

We want our curriculum to enable every child ‘to be the best that they can be,’ creating leaders, instigators, investigators, researchers and change makers.

At Beaminster St Mary's Academy all class teachers are responsible for providing a curriculum that is suitable for all pupils in the class, including those with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) with support from the SENDCo. We have high expectations for all pupils and are committed to ensuring our curriculum complies with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. Our inclusion statement emphasises the importance of providing an inclusive learning environment for all pupils including those with SEND.

Beaminster St Mary's uses a variety of teaching approaches to create the best possible learning opportunities for all our children. Many subjects are also supported by experiences beyond the classroom - from residential and Houses of Parliament trips, theatre or museum outings, to visits to historical landmarks.

Further information about the curriculum can be found by

talking to your child's class teacher
finding out about the National Curriculum at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum
looking at the class pages to see what learning has been taking place recently

looking at the class pages for each year group for more information about the curriculum. There you will find curriculum letters for each half term of learning

Impact

At Beaminster St Mary’s Academy, we are committed to using a robust and rigorous triangulation of monitoring, throughout the year, to enable us to gauge the impact of our connected curriculum. Subject leaders, supported by our senior leadership team, effectively review all learning as well as evaluate pupil voice to provide individual feedback to move our best practice forward. At Beaminster St Mary’s Academy, we understand the difference between coverage and progress when we are assessing, we understand that all learning is measured through precise analysis of the application of skills across the curriculum; showing how possession of knowledge is enhanced significantly by expectations to evidence quality thinking and demonstrate individual understanding.

From their different starting points, all of our children will make good progress academically, emotionally, creatively, socially and physically. Knowledge, understanding and skills will be secured and embedded so that children attain and are successful and happy. Our children will have strong communication skills, and will listen respectfully and with tolerance to the views of others. Our children will be inspired to be aspirational and they will take pride in all that they do and will strive to do their best. Through our connected curriculum, our children will demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter challenge. Our children will develop a sense of self-awareness and become confident in their own abilities, they will be kind, respectful and trustworthy. Our children will have inclusive attitudes and have a sense of their role in our school community and the wider society.

Our school ethos is firmly rooted in our values with a love of learning being the foundation of everything we do, so that we really are a school where our children come first; belonging and building together.

Implementation

At Beaminster St Mary’s Academy, we have ensured that our carefully crafted connected curriculum balances the national expectations as well as incorporating a range of experiences which will allow all of our children to flourish. It is our vision for the children to see the connections in their learning and how these contribute to their aspirations for success and enjoyment.

Through clear, strategic and bespoke planning, our curriculum is aspirational, dynamic and is adapted to the individual needs of the children and the context of our school community. Our connected curriculum incorporates age related expectations which combine the acquisition of knowledge and development of skills to create a purposeful and exciting learning journey for every child.

Our connected curriculum has high expectations and ensures progression of knowledge, transferable skills and understanding which are carefully planned, reviewed and adapted regularly to ensure that children’s learning builds for success and enjoyment.

Our connected curriculum incorporates inviting learning environments which stimulate and engage high quality thinking and reasoning through holistic approaches to teaching and learning. Our children are given opportunities to discuss and reflect upon their learning through effective feedback, which will support them to progress and attain.

We ensure that all of our children receive a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum through which we support children with their specific needs. Through our curriculum, we aim to provide educational experiences which take into account the individual needs of children, appropriate to their level of ability. We have established a robust graduated response system which works in parallel with our curriculum, enabling all children to be successful, through early identification of need and effective interventions.

We are committed to ensuring that all staff are able to develop curriculum pedagogy, through high quality CPD, research and coaching opportunities.

Intent

At Beaminster St Mary’s Academy, we are proud of our local community, inspired by the wider possibilities and excited about our future. We are inspiring our pupils through an enriched, inclusive and connected curriculum, leading to memorable moments. We are passionate about creating and embedding a nurturing Christian ethos where children come first, belonging and building together. Every child in our care is incredibly important; we take our responsibilities to them and their future seriously.

Curriculum Drivers:

Curiosity

We aspire for pupils to embrace challenge with a growth mindset and show curiosity, independence and resilience in all that they do.

Admiration

We aspire for pupils to become wise, respectful learners.

Communication

We aspire for pupils to become emotionally mature with a depth of language that enables them to share ideas effectively.

Worldly

We aspire for pupils to become emotionally literate, tolerant, and appreciative of an ever-changing global environment.

If you require further information on the new Primary curriculum that we follow, please click on the folders.