Our Curriculum
At St Mary’s, our curriculum is rooted in our Christian values of love, equality, forgiveness and hope. These values shape every aspect of school life and guide the way we design, deliver and evaluate learning. Our aim is to provide a rich, ambitious and inclusive curriculum that enables every child to flourish — academically, socially and spiritually — and to recognise their potential.
Our Vision and Intent
Our curriculum is designed to give pupils access to powerful knowledge which helps them to understand and interpret the world around them. Through a mastery approach, we enable children to think deeply, make meaningful connections, and apply their learning beyond their immediate experiences. We want our pupils to develop the confidence and curiosity to explore big ideas, to question thoughtfully, and to engage with complex concepts that have local, national and global significance.
Learning at St Mary’s is broad, balanced and carefully sequenced, ensuring that key knowledge and skills are built upon progressively from the Early Years through to Year 6. We place equal importance on the development of character, creativity and wellbeing alongside academic achievement, preparing our children for life in a diverse and ever-changing world.
Our Curriculum Aims
Our curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning, encouraging pupils to be inquisitive, reflective and independent thinkers who can challenge their own ideas and those of others respectfully. It also reflects our commitment to removing barriers to learning so that all pupils, regardless of background or need, can access the full curriculum and achieve highly.
To achieve this, our curriculum intends to:
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Promote high aspirations and inspire every child to achieve their best.
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Support positive wellbeing, nurturing both physical and emotional health through a culture of care, compassion and belonging.
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Develop and extend language skills, recognising the central role of vocabulary and oracy in learning and life.
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Build strong character through opportunities to problem-solve, take risks, show resilience and demonstrate social responsibility in an increasingly digital world.
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Broaden pupils’ life experiences, giving them access to cultural, artistic, sporting and community opportunities that expand their horizons.
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Provide an exceptional start in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), laying secure foundations for future success through purposeful, play-based and language-rich learning.
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Create a supportive Christian environment in which every child is encouraged to grow in wisdom, compassion and faith, fulfilling their potential academically, socially and spiritually.
Curriculum Implementation
Our curriculum draws upon the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and the National Curriculum, with content carefully organised to ensure coherence, progression and depth. Subject leaders work collaboratively to map key knowledge, skills and concepts, ensuring that learning is well-connected and meaningful. We use evidence-informed approaches to teaching and learning, enabling pupils to remember more, do more and understand more over time.
Learning is enriched through cultural and community experiences that bring the curriculum to life — from educational visits and visitors to faith-based celebrations, creative arts, outdoor learning and pupil leadership opportunities. Through these experiences, pupils learn to see themselves as active, compassionate participants in their communities and the wider world.
Curriculum Impact
We know our curriculum is successful when pupils demonstrate a secure understanding of key knowledge, a growing capacity for independent thought, and a confident sense of who they are. They leave St Mary’s as articulate, kind and responsible young people who live out our values of love, equality, forgiveness and hope, ready to contribute positively to society and to continue their lifelong journey of learning.
Subject Information
In the section below you will find out more about what is happening in each subject across school.
