Sir John Moore C.E. (A) Primary School
Our Curriculum
This year, we have adopted an exciting new approach to our curriculum, designed to create clearer connections between subjects, deepen pupils’ knowledge, and enhance their learning experiences. Our aim is to provide a curriculum that is engaging, meaningful, and cohesive, supporting all children to thrive academically and personally.
Key Features of Our Curriculum
- Strong Links with Writing: Writing is integrated across the curriculum, with purposeful opportunities for pupils to apply their skills in subjects such as history, geography, and science. This ensures writing outcomes are enriched by their wider learning.
- Vocabulary at the Heart: Teaching high-utility vocabulary is prioritised in every subject. By explicitly teaching and revisiting key terms, we build pupils’ language skills, helping them to articulate their ideas confidently and understand the world around them.
- Cross-Subject Connections: Our curriculum is designed to highlight links between subjects, making learning more coherent and meaningful. For example, historical studies might connect to geographical contexts or scientific advancements, allowing pupils to see the bigger picture.
- Regular Retrieval Opportunities: To ensure knowledge is retained over time, our curriculum incorporates regular retrieval practices. These help children consolidate their learning, strengthen memory, and build confidence in applying their knowledge.
- Blocked Curriculum Approach: We have moved to a blocked curriculum for some of our subjects (Science, History, Georgarphy, Art and DT), where pupils focus on one subject for an extended period before moving to the next. This approach allows children to dig deeper into topics, immerse themselves fully in their learning, develops a more comprehensive understanding and allows children to apply more of their learning when writing as they have more knoeldge sooner.
- Consistency Across the School: By aligning approaches across year groups and subjects, we have created a consistent learning journey for all pupils. This ensures every child benefits from the same high-quality education and clear progression as they move through the school.
Our new curriculum reflects our commitment to equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills, and vocabulary they need to succeed. By embedding these principles, we aim to inspire a love of learning, foster curiosity, and help pupils connect their education to the world around them.
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Curriculum Statement for Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School
At Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School, our curriculum is inspired by our commitment to "Climbing to New Heights Together," fostering a safe, welcoming, and nurturing Christian community where each child can reach their fullest potential. Rooted in the teachings of Jesus, our curriculum embodies our Christian values of Compassion, Character, and Service. Through our Head, Heart, and Hands framework, we cultivate holistic development:
Head (Knowledge and Wisdom): We empower pupils to grow in understanding and wisdom, drawing on the Parable of the Talents to encourage curiosity and excellence in learning.
Heart (Character and Compassion): Inspired by the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we nurture compassion and resilience, supporting each child to build strong character.
Hands (Service and Action): Through the Widow’s Offering, we emphasize service and acts of kindness, guiding pupils to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
We also instill the character strengths of Growth Mindset, Resilience, Independence, and Teamwork (GRIT) across all aspects of school life. Together, these values shape a rich, balanced, and engaging curriculum that prepares our pupils for future success in school and beyond.
Foundation Subjects
Foundation Subjects: Ensuring Excellence and Progression
We have adopted the Rising Stars curriculum for foundation subjects to provide a coherent and comprehensive educational experience. Introduced in the 2022-2023 academic year, this curriculum offers well-structured lessons in history, geography, computing, and other subjects. It ensures progression and depth, meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum while supporting teachers with high-quality resources. We have a three year rolling programme of study across years 3 through to 5 due to our mixed aged classes Yews (Y3/4) and Elms (Y4/5) which ensures all relevant content is taught.
Geography
Our Rising Stars Geography curriculum provides a comprehensive progression from Years 1 to 6, ensuring essential subject knowledge is delivered through resources created by experts. It includes formative and summative assessments linked to progression frameworks, enabling teachers to measure progress and identify gaps in learning. The program saves planning time with ready-to-use resources, including slides and online assessments, for engaging half-termly topics and creative outcomes. Cross-subject links with history through extended reading lists and whole-class texts support holistic learning and deepen geographical understanding.
History
The Rising Stars History curriculum covers key knowledge, skills, and concepts required by Ofsted for Key Stages 1 and 2, with all necessary resources conveniently provided for each half-term topic. Created by subject experts, it offers a clear progression from Years 1 to 6 and includes assessments to track progress and address learning gaps. Teachers benefit from engaging, time-saving resources that promote creative outcomes. It complements the Geography curriculum with cross-subject links, helping students build a more integrated understanding of history and chronology.
Science: Engaging and Investigative Learning
In science, we aim to foster a lifelong curiosity and love for the subject through hands-on investigations and systematic inquiry. Our curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to develop scientific knowledge and skills progressively, equipping them to ask and answer scientific questions about the world around them.
Computing: Rising Stars Computing Curriculum
Our computing curriculum offers a structured sequence of lessons that build from basic skills in Key Stage 1 to more advanced programming, coding, and data handling in Key Stage 2. This curriculum helps pupils develop analytical and problem-solving skills, preparing them to be responsible and creative users of technology.
Religious Education (RE)
Our RE curriculum, guided by the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Leicestershire, aims to foster respect, understanding, and empathy for diverse faiths and worldviews. It provides pupils with opportunities to explore religious beliefs, practices, and ethical issues, encouraging them to reflect on their own values and those of others. This aligns with our Christian ethos, promoting a sense of community and belonging while supporting pupils in developing a strong moral compass and an appreciation for the richness of the world's cultural and religious diversity.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Sex and Relationship Education (SRE)
We use the Cambridge Curriculum for PSHE and SRE, which provides a comprehensive framework for supporting the emotional and social development of our pupils. Through a structured program, we teach essential life skills, such as resilience, empathy, and responsible decision-making. Our SRE curriculum is designed to be age-appropriate and sensitive, helping pupils understand healthy relationships, respect for themselves and others, and the importance of consent and safety. These lessons are integral to fostering confident, well-rounded individuals who are prepared for the complexities of modern life.
Music: Leicestershire Music Hub
We deliver a comprehensive music curriculum in partnership with the Leicestershire Music Hub. This includes face-to-face training for our Music Coordinator, adaptable lesson plans, and clear progression from EYFS to Year 6. Pupils engage in high-quality music education, building their confidence and appreciation for music. Our Yews and Elms classes enjoy whole class music lessons which are led each week by a professional musician through the Music Hub.
Physical Education: Real PE and Local Partnerships
Our PE curriculum is delivered using the Real PE scheme, enhanced by a dedicated sports coach and local sports partnerships. This ensures that all pupils develop physical literacy, teamwork, and a positive attitude towards health and fitness.
Art and Design Technology
We use the KAPOW curriculum for Art and Design Technology, which provides a structured and engaging program that supports both students and teachers. This curriculum ensures a clear progression of skills from EYFS to Year 6 and includes well-sequenced lesson plans that are adaptable to mixed-year groups. By reducing planning workload and providing comprehensive resources, KAPOW enables our teachers to deliver high-quality, creative lessons even without specialist expertise. Pupils explore a variety of artistic techniques and materials, fostering creativity, independence, and confidence in their artistic expression and problem-solving abilities.
Personal Development Beyond the classroom
At Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom, and we strive to offer a rich array of enhancements that support the holistic development of our pupils. Our extensive range of extracurricular activities and community engagement opportunities reflect our commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who embody our Christian values and the G.R.I.T. (Growth, Resilience, Independence, Teamwork) attitude.
Lunchtime and After-School Clubs
We offer a diverse selection of lunchtime clubs, including board games, Pokémon, girls' football, and our SJM Collective Worship club, providing pupils with opportunities to explore their interests and develop new skills. After school, we extend these opportunities further, offering clubs that cater to a wide range of interests and abilities, fostering social connections and personal growth.
Sports and Physical Development
Our pupils participate in a variety of sports events, both during school and through our partnership with the PE Schools Partnership. This collaboration allows us to offer a broad range of sporting events across Northwest Leicestershire, ensuring all children have the opportunity to engage in physical activity. Additionally, we take part in cross-country events, held on Saturdays, promoting endurance and teamwork.
Environmental and Outdoor Learning
Through our unique beekeeping program and Forest School sessions, pupils engage in hands-on learning that promotes environmental awareness and stewardship. These activities are integral to our science curriculum, enhancing pupils' understanding of the natural world and fostering a deep connection with their environment.
Community Engagement and Acts of Service
Our Year 6 pupils exemplify our values through their involvement in the monthly community lunch event. They take on roles such as serving, looking after, and assisting in running the lunch, where local residents gather for a meal, tea, coffee, and conversation. This initiative not only strengthens community bonds but also instils a sense of responsibility and compassion in our students, encouraging them to be active and caring members of society.
Collaboration and Pupil Voice
Our school council actively collaborates with other schools in the Collaboration 360 group, working to enhance the educational offer across schools. They contribute to shaping school life, ensuring that pupil voice is heard and valued in decision-making processes.
Support for Pupil Premium and Disadvantaged Pupils
We offer targeted support and opportunities for our pupil premium and disadvantaged students, ranging from career events to specialised sports activities. These initiatives aim to close the attainment gap and provide all pupils with the experiences and skills needed to succeed. We collaborate strongly through the Collaboration 360 partnership of schools.
Broadening Horizons Through Careers and Specialist Events
We provide specialist events that expose pupils to a range of career options and aspirations, helping them to envision their futures and understand the skills needed for different professions. This is particularly beneficial for our disadvantaged pupils, ensuring they have access to the same opportunities as their peers.
