Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing;

together shining a light.

The St Mary’s Journey

Aspiring, nurturing and flourishing are at the heart of our curriculum at St Mary’s. Academic excellence is achieved through engaging teaching and a well planned, knowledge rich curriculum. This is carefully sequenced, with a clear focus on building knowledge, skills and vocabulary over time. All pupils, including those with SEND or from disadvantaged backgrounds, are supported to access high-quality learning and make strong progress. We support and nurture every child by building strong relationships and developing confidence as they journey through our school. We believe equipping children with a relevant, inspiring and creative curriculum will empower them to connect to their community, the wider world, shape their future and shine a light. 

Oracy skills are embedded throughout the curriculum, supporting pupils to articulate their thinking, deepen their understanding and develop confidence in their spoken language. From rich discussions in the classroom to structured opportunities to present, debate and perform, children are empowered to express themselves clearly and with purpose across all subject areas.

Reading at the Heart of our Curriculum

Reading is prioritised throughout the school. We follow the Unlocking Letters and Sounds phonics scheme with fidelity, ensuring consistency and success from the start. Our ‘keep-up, not catch-up’ approach means that any emerging gaps are addressed swiftly through timely, effective intervention.

Our whole-school focus on ‘Reading to Learn’ supports fluency and comprehension across subjects alongside developing a passion for reading that will last a lifetime.

Rooted in the Local Area, Enriched by Experience

Our curriculum reflects our local context. Pupils engage with key local landmarks such as the Aquadrome, Grand Union Canal, town centre and parish church. Real-world connections, alongside carefully planned trips and visitors, bring learning to life and develop cultural capital.

We also shine a light on significant figures across all subjects, both historical and contemporary, who reflect diversity, inspire ambition and develop an understanding of British Values.

Careful Sequencing and Clear Progression

From Key Stage 1 all subject are taught discreetly, so pupils clearly understand the skills and knowledge specific to each discipline. Learning is carefully sequenced using our half-termly Learning Journeys, which consolidate and build on prior knowledge. As pupils progress, their understanding deepens, and they confidently make connections across subjects.

Curiosity through Knowledge

We believe that knowledge breeds curiosity. Our curriculum reflects this belief, empowering pupils to ask questions, explore ideas, and develop a genuine love of learning. Involving children in their own learning through hands on experiences ensures deeper understanding and long-term retention. It provides the strong foundations they need to flourish at St Mary’s, in secondary school and beyond.

Supporting Pupils with SEND Across the Curriculum at St Mary’s

At St Mary’s, our curriculum is underpinned by the EEF’s 'five-a-day' strategy, which provides strong evidence of impact for pupils with SEND. These approaches reflect our school vision—aspiring, nurturing, flourishing; together shining a light—ensuring that all children are supported to achieve and flourish in every subject area.

1. Explicit Instruction

We use clear teacher modelling, guided practice, and opportunities for independent application. Worked examples, visual aids, and real-life contexts help make abstract concepts concrete, enabling all learners to access and apply their understanding across the curriculum.

2. Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies

We support pupils in developing how they think and reflect on their learning. Techniques such as task chunking, step-by-step instructions, prompt sheets, and tools like word banks and working wheels help reinforce key concepts, vocabulary, and independent learning skills.

3. Scaffolding

Targeted, temporary support enables pupils to successfully complete tasks that might otherwise be out of reach. Strategies include sentence stems, visual cues, modelling, discussion prompts, and key vocabulary strips. Engaging resources used to promote curiosity and introduce new learning themes.

4. Flexible Grouping

We use adaptable groupings to support collaboration and targeted instruction. Pupils may work in pairs, mixed-ability groups, or smaller focus groups depending on the learning goal. Pre-teaching key vocabulary and concepts in small groups helps build confidence and prepares pupils for whole-class learning.

5. Use of Technology

Technology is used to support accessibility, modelling, and engagement. Visualisers, video demonstrations, and online resources enhance understanding and support different learning styles. Pupils may use technology to record ideas, present work, or explore topics in more accessible ways.

We regularly review and enhance our curriculum using a range of external schemes, local organisations and individual specialists, ensuring that it remains engaging, aspirational and responsive to our pupils’ needs.

Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum; the link can be found below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-primary-curriculum

Key Questions

At St Mary’s, we recognise the importance of personal development. To foster this, we have incorporated overarching questions in each year group, designed to support children's development and understanding of self, guiding them on a journey to shape their own futures. These thoughtful questions serve as a compass point each term to encourage reflective thinking, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. 

How can I find out more about the curriculum at St. Mary's?

If you have any questions about the curriculum we follow at St. Mary's, please look at the school prospectus or class pages first or contact the school who will direct you to the relevant subject leader who will be able to answer your query.