Detailed structure and organisation >
- Pupils are taught in mixed ability form groups with one form (class) entry per year group.
- Throughout the school, the curriculum is generally delivered in discrete subjects because we find this enables our children to recall subject-specific knowledge with greater ease. It also enables teachers to plan sequences of learning which facilitate and enhance clear progression in skills, knowledge and understanding for all children; thus allowing any gaps in learning to be closed more readily. All children have access to many of the same subjects every year. We find that the annual over-learning of subject-specific knowledge, understanding, skills and dispositions is important for our children so as to enable them to reinforce and deepen learning previously acquired. Pupils also develop a clear understanding of the differences and uniqueness of the subject disciplines thereby providing them with an opportunity to further their particular curricular interests as they get older.
- Cross-curricular links are made to other areas of the curriculum as appropriate and English and Maths skills are applied across the curriculum. Opportunities for using and applying skills from one subject to another are planned for, so that newly acquired skills can be rehearsed in several contexts, thus becoming more firmly embedded. For some topics, a planned project-based approach is used, particularly in the primary part of the school.
- Units of work or themes are chosen and planned so as to reflect the needs and experiences of our children. The vast majority of children in our school live in the city of Liverpool, so some geography and history units reflect this. We therefore ensure we provide several opportunities each year to visit a wide range of places with cultural, historical or social importance to give opportunities for children to explore the richness within the immediate and wider environment and to wonder at creation. Our units of work will always include a Christian worldview focus which reflects the worldview of the families who attend our school. We also study other localities and cultures so that children gain an understanding of Britain as a diverse society.
- There are opportunities across the curriculum and in discrete Computing lessons for pupils to develop computational thinking and computing skills and to enhance the learning in all the subjects of the curriculum through digital resources.
- Throughout the school, we seek to create opportunities for children to experience and excel in a range of activities that enhance and extend the National Curriculum and explore their gifts and talents. Children have opportunities for learning and personal development both inside and outside the classroom, including variety of sporting events, residential trips, school trips, an annual Christmas musical production, opportunities for gifted and talented children to extend their learning both in school and outside of school at workshops and events, music lessons, theatre trips, art projects, lunchtime clubs, etc.
- Through formal lessons, collective worship, informal play/recreation, circle time (primary pupils), small groups (Upper School), we actively seek to help our children grow in showing love, respect, kindness, tolerance and compassion to all others.
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is encouraged across the curriculum - see separate policy document. We cover the following subjects through discrete PHSME lessons (weekly for all year groups), through assemblies, Science and PE lessons and Equipped to Serve (ETS) lessons.
- Health education
- Relationships and sex education
- British values
- Careers guidance.