CURRICULUM

At St. Michael’s CE Primary School, we are proud to offer a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that provides high-quality teaching tailored to the needs of every child. Rooted in our Christian values, our curriculum nurtures confident, curious, and compassionate learners who are fully prepared for the world beyond primary school. Through a rich and engaging enquiry-based approach, we inspire children to question, investigate and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Our Curriculum Intent:

Our aim is to deliver an inspirational and engaging curriculum, shaped by the 2014 National Curriculum, that enables all pupils to become secure, well-rounded citizens. At St. Michael’s, children experience a carefully sequenced curriculum that demonstrates clear progression in knowledge, skills and understanding, with well-defined end points across all subjects. We ensure that every child is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to access future opportunities and experiences, both in school and in later life.

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to meet the needs of all learners. We recognise and value every pupil as an individual, creating an ethos of respect, tolerance, acceptance and diversity. Guided by the Equality Act 2010, we ensure the nine protected characteristics—age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, and sexual orientation—are understood, celebrated, and woven into our teaching and learning. Discrimination has no place at St. Michael’s.

We continuously reflect on and evaluate our provision, our environment, and the opportunities we offer, ensuring that our curriculum remains strong, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our school community. We also believe that it is important to have a curriculum that actively promotes the fundamental values of the society in which we live. We are very proud of the meaningful ways in which we do this. Click here to see how:

British Values

Implementation

At St. Michael’s CE Primary School, our curriculum is delivered through high-quality teaching, carefully planned sequences of learning, and a consistent whole-school approach. Teachers design lessons that build progressively on prior learning, ensuring that knowledge and skills are securely embedded over time.

Our enquiry-based approach shapes aspects of the wider curriculum, enabling pupils to investigate key concepts and respond to thought-provoking questions. This approach fosters curiosity, critical thinking and a sense of ownership over their learning journey. For our pupils, it encourages active participation, deepens understanding, and supports pupils in making meaningful connections across subjects.

We prioritise the development of core skills in English and Mathematics, ensuring these foundations underpin learning in all curriculum areas. Subject leaders work closely with teaching staff to plan, monitor and refine their curriculum areas so that content is taught in a logical order and supports long-term retention.

We are committed to providing a fully inclusive learning environment. Lessons are adapted to meet the diverse needs of our pupils, including those with SEND, ensuring every child can access challenge, support and success. Our curriculum reflects the principles of the Equality Act 2010, and opportunities to explore the nine protected characteristics are intentionally woven into units of work across the school.

Ongoing professional development ensures that teachers are confident, skilled and reflective practitioners. We use a variety of assessment strategies to check understanding, identify misconceptions and inform next steps, enabling all pupils to make strong progress.

Feedback to pupils is highly important to us, we have worked hard to develop a feedback policy that is clear, time-efficient and effective. Feedback policy

Impact

The impact of our curriculum is evident in the way St. Michael’s pupils grow into confident, articulate and compassionate learners, prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond primary school. Through a rich and challenging curriculum, pupils develop secure knowledge, positive learning behaviours and the ability to think critically and independently.

Our enquiry-based approach equips children with curiosity, resilience and a deeper understanding of the world. Over time, pupils know more, remember more and can do more, demonstrating clear progression across all subjects.

Assessment information, pupil discussions, and work in books show that pupils achieve well and that gaps are identified and addressed quickly. By the time they leave St. Michael’s, pupils are well prepared academically, socially and emotionally, with the skills, values and attitudes to flourish in modern society.

Our commitment to equality, respect and diversity ensures that pupils understand and appreciate the differences that make each person unique. They develop a strong sense of responsibility, kindness and fairness, reflecting the Christian ethos at the heart of our school.

Our curriculum empowers every child to fulfil their potential and to step forward with confidence, curiosity and character.

Leadership and Professional Judgment

The school’s leadership team, under the direction of the headteacher and governing body, holds the responsibility for ensuring that the statutory National Curriculum is delivered in a coherent, sequenced, and high-quality manner. Decisions about the structure of the school day, allocation of teaching time, and integration of co-curricular activities are made in the best interests of all pupils, ensuring that academic entitlement is not compromised.

While the school values input from parents and carers, final decisions regarding curriculum content, delivery, and timetabling rest with the school’s professional staff. This ensures that all children receive their full educational entitlement and that statutory duties under the Education Act (2011) and Ofsted requirements are met.