Curriculum overview
At St John Vianney, we strive to make our curriculum an exciting, engaging and enriching place for our children and pride ourselves on providing a broad, innovative and balanced approach to learning.
The curriculum is designed around the statutory National Curriculum 2014. The links below provide parents and carers with concise and useful information about the curriculum, which can be used to support children in their work at home.
Religious Education
'A class-by-class guide to what is being taught and learned in your child's class this half term.
The National Curriculum (2014)
An excellent introduction to the Curriculum, summarised by year group, detailing the skills and knowledge taught for each class, along with some good ideas for parents to help their children at home:
Primary School Curriculum – a Parents’ Guide
Curriculum Overview
'At a glance' view of the subjects and skills required for each year group. A very clear overview for parents.
Overview of the National Curriculum for years 1 to 6
Subject Guides for Parents
Excellent resources for parents to help them to understand the subjects and topics taught on their child's class. It also contains supporting videos and ideas for activities at home.
Maths, Reading, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Science, History, Geography
Maths No Problem:
Our Maths Mastery scheme, based on research-led principles from the teaching of maths in Singapore, ensures that our mathematicians develop a deep and secure understanding through the use of ‘concrete’, ‘pictorial’ then ‘abstract’ ideas.
CLICK HERE to find out more about our Maths No Problem Singapore Maths programme
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Curriculum
CLICK HERE to learn more about the wider enrichment opportunities enjoyed by the children at SJV
Our Key Curriculum support schemes
Cornerstones Creative Curriculum provides teachers and learners with an exciting topic-based learning environment, ensuring that literacy is taught in a cross-curricular fashion.
Maths No Problem – a Maths Mastery scheme, based on research-led principles from the teaching of maths in Singapore, ensures that our mathematicians develop a deep and secure understanding through the use of ‘concrete’, ‘pictorial’ then ‘abstract’ ideas.
See below for more information on these exciting developments!
Reading:
Reading is THE essential skill; the gateway to the vast majority of learning. At St. John Vianney, we are always seeking to ensure that reading is a pleasure, never a burden.
In KS2, we have introduced exciting reading experiences for the children: Project X Origins and Project X Code.
Project X Origins provides an engaging array of reading material, to suite all tastes, allowing for structured yet enjoyable development of reading skills.
Project X Code is an intervention scheme aimed at older children who are finding difficulty with reading – it gives age appropriate support and engagement to help break down barriers.
Phonics: In EYFS and KS1, we use the Ruth Miskin programme for teaching Phonics. Click http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/resources/parent-tutorial-1-understanding-read-write-inc-phonics/ to get an introduction to this scheme.
Literacy & Foundation
We strive to make our curriculum appealing to all of our children and pride ourselves on a broad and balanced approach to learning.
In order to maximise motivation, excitement and learning, we have adopted the Cornerstones Creative Curriculum.
Cornerstones is a holistic approach to learning. It ensures that children learn creatively and become immersed in their academic development. This thematic approach is based on the four "Cornerstones" of learning: Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express.
Engage
- At the ‘Engage’ stage, children:
- Enjoy a ‘memorable experience’, such as going on a visit or inviting a special visitor into school
- get an exciting introduction to a topic or theme
- begin researching and setting enquiry questions
- get lots of opportunities to make observations
- develop spoken language skills
- take part in sensory activities
- have lots of fun to fully 'engage' with their new topic.
Develop
At the ‘Develop’ stage, children:
- improve their knowledge and understanding of the topic
- develop and practice their new skills
- compose, make, do, build, investigate, explore, write for different purposes and read across the curriculum
- research their own questions and those set by others
- follow new pathways of enquiry based on their interests
- complete homework activities that support their learning.
Innovate
At the ‘Innovate’ stage, children:
- apply skills, knowledge and understanding in real-life contexts
- solve real or imagined problems using everything they’ve learnt
- get inspired by imaginative and creative opportunities
- revisit anything not fully grasped at the ‘Develop’ stage.
Express
At the ‘Express’ stage, children:
- become the performers, experts and informers
- share their achievements with parents, classmates and the community
- evaluate finished products and processes
- link what they have learnt to where they started
- celebrate their achievements
Cornerstones is delivered through a range of inspirational yet rigorous Interactive Learning Projects (ILPs). These are based on themes and content from the National Curriculum, but bring learning together in new and exciting ways.
Each project combines different strands of learning so that children engage more holistically and start to challenge themselves through problem solving and first-hand experience.
Maths
Based on Singapore Maths principles, ‘Maths No Problem’ is designed and organised to ensure that children fully master key maths concepts in a visual and practical manner.
Pupils will explore concepts using concrete materials, before progressing to pictorial and, finally, abstract (the CPA approach).
Children work collaboratively, in mixed ability groups, to support each other in mastering key concepts. Higher attaining pupils can quickly move onto ‘mastering’, while others have the opportunity to really grasp the learning.
An extract from the Maths No Problem website summarises its principles and benefits:
* The first to introduce Singapore teaching methods to the UK
* We first introduced the UK to the concept of teaching maths mastery using methods from Singapore over 7 years ago. Since then we have trained thousands of teachers and helped hundreds of institutions, from small village schools to influential academy groups.
* Chosen by pioneering schools
* We partnered the Ark network to introduce the Singapore teaching principles which now underpin their pioneering Maths Mastery programme.
* First to publish a 2014 National Curriculum maths series
* Chosen by the NCETM and DfE for use in the maths hub programme