Curriculum Subjects

Our Curriculum

At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, our curriculum is designed to help every child thrive academically, spiritually, socially and morally. Guided by our mission statement, “Belonging, Caring, Sharing, Safe in the Arms of God’s Love,” we provide a nurturing environment where every child is valued and encouraged to achieve their best.

We deliver a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum based on the National Curriculum and Catholic values. Our learning is centred around a book-based curriculum, with carefully chosen high-quality texts linked to topics and subjects. This helps to immerse children in their learning, develop a love of reading, enrich vocabulary, and provide meaningful opportunities for writing, discussion and deeper understanding.

Through engaging lessons and enriching experiences, we aim to:

Inspire a love of learning and reading.
Develop knowledge, skills and understanding across all subjects.
Build confidence, resilience and independence.
Encourage children to be curious, creative and reflective learners.
Promote respect, kindness and an understanding of British Values.
Prepare children for the next stage of their education and future life.

Learning is enhanced through educational visits, sports, music, chaplaincy activities, charity work and a wide range of clubs and enrichment opportunities.

By the time our pupils leave St Patrick’s, we want them to be confident, compassionate and knowledgeable young people who are ready to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world.

Information about our curriculum is available below. Also please visit our class pages for even more information include long-term plans.

English

Curriculum

St Patrick’s English Curriculum Intent

Phonics

At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in Nursery/Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

As a result, all our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words as they read. At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, we also model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

Little Wandle For Parents

Reading

At St Patrick’s RC Primary School we see Reading as an essential life skill and are committed to enabling our children to become lifelong readers. Our aims in teaching Reading include the following:
• To foster a positive attitude to literacy as an interesting and exciting part of the curriculum.
• To raise the standard of literacy across the school, for children of all abilities.
• To enable pupils to express and communicate meaning in spoken language, listening to and
interpreting what others say and matching style and response to audience, context and purpose.
• To provide pupils with a range of relevant and purposeful opportunities to develop their ability
to read, understand and engage with various types of text for enjoyment and learning.
• Apply their knowledge and understanding of phonics, spelling patterns and rules, grammar and
punctuation to reading and writing opportunities across the curriculum.
• To enable children to write effectively, using a cursive, joined handwriting style and showing a
development in fluency; making and shaping different texts appropriately, according to context,
purpose, reader or audience.
• Develop a technical vocabulary with understanding of grammatical terminology.
• Learn how to apply grammatical terminology in their own writing.

How To Help Your Child To Read

Years 1 Reading Objectives

Year 2 Reading Objectives

Years 3 & 4 Reading Objectives

Years 5 & 6 Reading Objectives

Writing

EYFS Writing Targets

Year 1 Writing Targets

Year 2 Objectives

Year 3 Writing Targets

Year 4 Writing Targets

Year 5 Writing Targets

Year 6 Objectives

Year 1 Writing Toolkit

Year 2 Writing Toolkit

Year 3 Writing Toolkit

Year 4 Writing Toolkit

Year 5 Writing Toolkit

Year 6 Writing Toolkit

SPAG

Spelling Shed Whole School Overview

Year 1 & 2 Common Exception Words

Year 3 & 4 Common Exception Words

Year 5 & 6 Common Exception Words

Useful Websites

SPAG.com

Spelling Frame

Maths

At St Patrick’s RC Primary School we have adopted a mastery approach for the teaching of mathematics, following the White rose maths scheme of work. Underpinning this pedagogy is the belief that all children can achieve in maths. We believe in promoting sustained and deepened understanding by employing a variety of mastery strategies, with teaching for conceptual understanding at the heart of everything we
do. We aim to create independent mathematicians who are well equipped to apply their learning to the wider world.
Teaching for Mastery aims to provide all children with full access to the curriculum, enabling them to achieve confidence and competence – ‘mastery’ – in mathematics, rather than many failing to develop the maths skills they need for the future.

Key features of our Maths Mastery curriculum:
 High expectations for every child
 Fewer topics, greater depth
 Number sense and place value come first
 Research -based curriculum
 Objects and pictures always before numbers and letters
 Problem solving is central
 Calculate with confidence– understand why it works

Mathematics Mastery places emphasis on the cumulative mastery of essential knowledge and skills in mathematics. It embeds a deeper understanding of maths by utilising a concrete, pictorial, abstract approach so that pupils understand what they are doing rather than just learning to repeat routines without grasping what is happening. St Patrick’s mastery curriculum is taught using the ‘White rose Maths’
scheme of learning.

Maths Policy

NEW NC RTP 2024

Progression

National Curriculum Progression Primary Maths

Maths Curriculum

Reception overview

Year 1 Overview

Year 2 overview

Year 3 Overview

Year 4 Oveview

Year 5 Overview

Year 6 overview

Useful Documents

KS1 Workshop

KS2 Workshop

White Rose Support for children and parents

Maths support for parents

Helping Children with Mathematics Year 5 Year 6

Fractions

Learning About Shapes

Using A Protractor

KS2 Maths Knowledge Organiser For Sats

Arithmetic Knowledge Organiser KS2

T2 M 254675 Year 6 Properties Of Shapes Maths Knowledge Organiser English Ver 2

T2 M 254702 Year 6 Maths Statistics Knowledge Organiser

T M 30758 Year 6 Percentages Maths Knowledge Organiser Ver 9

T2 M 254741 Year 5 Converting Units Maths Knowledge Organiser Ver 1

T2 M 254819 Year 6 Number And Place Value Maths Knowledge Organiser English Ver 3

T M 3728 Year 6 Four Operations Maths Knowledge Organiser Ver 5

T M 3835 Year 5 Perimeter And Area Maths Knowledge Organiser Ver 5

T M 30677 Year 6 Decimals Knowledge Organiser Ver 6

RSHE

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

At our school, Relationships and Health Education forms an important part of our curriculum. It helps pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to build positive relationships, make informed choices, respect themselves and others, and keep themselves safe and healthy.

Our RSHE curriculum is carefully planned to be age-appropriate, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of our pupils, in line with the statutory requirements for primary schools in England. Parents and carers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with our RSHE curriculum and approach.

For further information, please see the Government’s statutory guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education.

At St Patrick’s we use the ten: ten resources to support our teaching of RSHE:

LTTF P PROGRAMMEOVERVIEW 2026

Please see our RSHE Policy for further details:

Science

The National Curriculum states that:
A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world
through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed
our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught
essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through
building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be
encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of
excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to
understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will
behave, and analyse causes.

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:
To develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific
disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics

To develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through
different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about
the world around them

That they are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and
implications of science, today and for the future.

Please see our attached Science Policy and how Science is taught at St Patrick’s:

We follow the White Rose Science Programme to support with the teaching of Science:

Please see our curriculum intent:

Curriculum Intent 2026

and our Science Policy:

Computing

Scheme of Work

Computing at St Patrick’s Primary School

Our Computing curriculum gives children the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to become creative, capable and responsible users of technology. Across each year group, pupils develop their understanding of computing through a wide range of practical and engaging activities, using the Purple Mash Computing curriculum.

Children build their skills progressively as they move through the school. They learn how technology works, how to use digital tools creatively, how to solve problems through coding and how to use technology safely and responsibly.

What do children learn?

EYFS and Key Stage 1

In the early years of computing, children develop their confidence with technology and begin to understand how digital devices can be used to create, communicate and explore. In Years 1 and 2, children develop skills in:

Creating pictures, music and animations
Giving and following instructions
Beginning to understand coding and algorithms
Exploring data and spreadsheets
Presenting ideas
Understanding how the internet works
Using technology safely

Lower Key Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4

Children develop greater independence and begin to use technology in increasingly sophisticated ways. They learn about:

Touch typing and effective use of a keyboard
Email and digital communication
Spreadsheets and databases
Coding and programming
Creating presentations, animations and sound stories
Effective online searching
Computer hardware and software
Digital creativity, including composing music and making animations
An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Year 4 pupils also explore how hardware and software work together and develop their understanding of emerging technologies through an introduction to AI.

Upper Key Stage 2 – Years 5 and 6

As children progress towards secondary school, they develop more advanced computing skills and apply their knowledge creatively and independently. They learn about:

Databases and spreadsheets
Coding and programming
Creating computer games
Word processing and digital publishing
Concept maps and presenting information
Computer networks
Blogging and digital communication
Data handling and graphing
3D modelling
Binary and how computers represent information
Python programming

Children also have opportunities to explore technologies helping them understand how computing can interact with the physical world.

Online Safety

Online safety is taught throughout every year of the computing curriculum. Children learn how to make safe, responsible and positive choices when using digital technology and the internet.

Online safety is also reinforced through wider school life, helping children understand how to protect themselves and others when communicating and working online.

Developing future-ready skills

Our Computing curriculum aims to prepare children for a rapidly changing digital world. Alongside technical skills, pupils develop important transferable skills such as problem-solving, creativity, logical thinking, communication, collaboration and resilience.

Through coding, digital creativity, data handling, robotics and emerging technologies such as AI, children are encouraged not simply to use technology, but to understand, create and innovate with it.

Most importantly, we want our children to become confident, safe, responsible and thoughtful digital citizens who can make positive use of technology both in school and beyond.

Purple Mash Computing Termly Overview 2026

Physical Education

Nursery and Reception have outdoor opportunities on a daily basis. In addition to this Reception have a taught PE lesson once per week. All other classes have two taught PE lesson of an hour per week (children bring their PE kits to school and get changed).

The areas of physical activity (games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, swimming and outdoor activities) are set out in the Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum 2014. The PE curriculum at St Patrick’s is based on these requirements and is detailed on the long term year planner. St Patrick’s have adopted PE Resources from ‘Get set for PE’. Each year group will learn PE in accordance with the long term planning. This will ensure continuity and progression through school in order to continue to improve standards in PE.

PE Overview 2026

Art and Design

The National Curriculum states that:

“Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.”

Art is a valued part of life at our school. We are passionate about raising the profile of art as a subject and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to develop as an artist, while building a deep understanding of the world around them.

Through our curriculum, children are exposed to a diverse range of artists, designers and creative practitioners, exploring different cultures, time periods, styles, techniques and perspectives. We believe that encountering a rich variety of artistic influences helps children to broaden their horizons, develop their own ideas and understand the important role art plays in society.

Our approach balances substantive knowledge – what children know about artists, art movements, materials, techniques and the wider context of art – with disciplinary knowledge, enabling children to think and work like artists. Children learn how to observe, experiment, refine, evaluate and communicate their ideas, developing both confidence and increasing independence as they progress through the school.

We encourage children to have creative freedom and to develop their own artistic voice. While artists and the world around them provide inspiration, children are encouraged to respond in individual and imaginative ways. Our art is influenced by the society we live in today, encouraging children to notice, question and respond to the people, places, cultures and issues that surround them.

Above all, we want children to see themselves as artists. We celebrate creativity, curiosity and individuality, giving children the knowledge, skills and confidence to express themselves and appreciate the creative work of others. Through art, children learn not only how to create, but how to look, think, question and see the world differently

Key features of our Art and Design curriculum:

At St Patrick’s RC Primary School our curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their
experiences
Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and
design
Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand
the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Please see how the children progress in their skills:

Progression Of Skills And Knowledge

Art Coverage

Design Technology

Design and Technology gives children the opportunity to become creative problem-solvers, designers, makers and innovators. At our school, we want children to understand how the things we use, wear, eat and interact with are designed and made, and to give them the skills and confidence to create solutions of their own.

Our curriculum introduces children to a broad range of designers, engineers, architects, chefs and inventors, helping them to recognise the impact that design and technology has had – and continues to have – on our lives. Children explore how design responds to people’s needs, the environment and the changing world around us, making meaningful connections between their learning and real-life applications.

Alongside developing practical skills, we place strong emphasis on substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Children build their understanding of materials, mechanisms, structures, electrical systems, textiles, food and nutrition, while also learning to approach design challenges systematically. They learn how to research, generate and communicate ideas, select appropriate materials and tools, make purposeful decisions, test and refine their work, and evaluate the effectiveness of their final product.

We want children to see that there is rarely one right answer in design. They are given opportunities to experiment, take risks, make mistakes and improve, with increasing independence as they move through the school. Creativity is encouraged, but it is underpinned by a secure understanding of materials, processes and the principles of good design.

Most importantly, Design and Technology enables children to see themselves as capable creators and innovators. By drawing inspiration from the world around them and considering the needs of others, children develop the knowledge, practical expertise and creative thinking needed to design with purpose and make a positive contribution to the world they live in.

Please see our attached DT overview:

DT Overview

Our DT curriculum intent:

DT Curriculum Intent

Please see our Art and DT Policy:

Geography

At St Patrick’s Catholic School our curriculum for geography aims to ensure that all pupils are taught locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and the skills and fieldwork to apply this knowledge.
The progression framework shows the key knowledge and skills which the children will be proficient in by the end of each year group. These are taught through topics which allow the children to apply their skills by answering an enquiry question.

The National Curriculum states that:
“A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.”

Useful Websites

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/teacher-category/geography/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2f3cdm

https://www.geography.org.uk/teaching-resources/early-years-and-primary-resources

www.geography-map-games.com/

https://www.scoilnet.ie/primary/theme-pages/geography/

History

At St Patrick’s Catholic School our curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils in key stage 1 are taught history which is within living memory, beyond living memory, lives of significant people and local history. Pupils in key stage 2 pupils are taught: British history chronologically from the Stone age to 1066; History in Britain beyond 1066; Local history; Ancient History not British between the stone age and 1066; Civilizations from 1000 years ago and Ancient Greece.
The progression framework shows the key knowledge and skills which the children will be proficient in by the end of each year group. These are taught through topics which allow the children to apply their skills by answering an enquiry question.

The National Curriculum states that:
“A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the
process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.”