Our Curriculum
Our Community
St Agnes Catholic Primary is in the heart of an area with a rich social and culturally diverse community;
The uniqueness of every child is recognised and valued. As such, we want our curriculum to embrace the community from which it exists, recognising and celebrating the diverse backgrounds and experiences from which our children originate
Community involvement is also an essential part of our curriculum as we celebrate local traditions, learning new skills to enable children to take an active role in events throughout the year.
We want our curriculum to allow children to leave St Agnes with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.
Curriculum Development
We constantly review our curriculum to ensure it further celebrates diversity and utilises the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of the community whilst supporting the pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development.
We are adapting our learning journey to meet the needs and interests of our children, continuing to offer an excellent education underpinned by a broad, culturally rich and powerful curriculum to ensure that all pupils are well equipped for the next stages in their education.
Skills and Knowledge
Subjects are taught discreetly with a strong emphasis on a clear and carefully planned progression of knowledge and skills. In this way our children gain a broad understanding of each curriculum area and know exactly which subject they are studying. However, the curriculum is being designed to embed transferable skills throughout, without weakening essential knowledge-based learning.
We are mindful also of the research surrounding effective feedback and findings from cognitive science regarding the fragility of new learning. In response to this, planning is flexible and responsive to pupils’ needs.
Creativity
Our curriculum is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values however, creativity is pivotal at St Agnes. We constantly provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning and to celebrate and develop the individual talents of our pupils, recognising everyone as unique with their own ambitions, skills and dreams. We aim to provide an environment that encourages lifelong learning.
Curriculum Overview Map
The Curriculum Overview Map outlines the content for each year group in every curriculum subject for each half term.
Download the Curriculum Overview Map here.
St Agnes Catholic Primary is in the heart of an area with a rich social and culturally diverse community;
The uniqueness of every child is recognised and valued. As such, we want our curriculum to embrace the community from which it exists, recognising and celebrating the diverse backgrounds and experiences from which our children originate
Community involvement is also an essential part of our curriculum as we celebrate local traditions, learning new skills to enable children to take an active role in events throughout the year.
We want our curriculum to allow children to leave St Agnes with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.
Curriculum Development
We constantly review our curriculum to ensure it further celebrates diversity and utilises the skills, knowledge and cultural wealth of the community whilst supporting the pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development.
We are adapting our learning journey to meet the needs and interests of our children, continuing to offer an excellent education underpinned by a broad, culturally rich and powerful curriculum to ensure that all pupils are well equipped for the next stages in their education.
Skills and Knowledge
Subjects are taught discreetly with a strong emphasis on a clear and carefully planned progression of knowledge and skills. In this way our children gain a broad understanding of each curriculum area and know exactly which subject they are studying. However, the curriculum is being designed to embed transferable skills throughout, without weakening essential knowledge-based learning.
We are mindful also of the research surrounding effective feedback and findings from cognitive science regarding the fragility of new learning. In response to this, planning is flexible and responsive to pupils’ needs.
Creativity
Our curriculum is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values however, creativity is pivotal at St Agnes. We constantly provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning and to celebrate and develop the individual talents of our pupils, recognising everyone as unique with their own ambitions, skills and dreams. We aim to provide an environment that encourages lifelong learning.
Curriculum Overview Map
The Curriculum Overview Map outlines the content for each year group in every curriculum subject for each half term.
Download the Curriculum Overview Map here.
| st_agnes_thematic_curriculum_map_spring_2023.docx.pdf |
Our Vision and Values
Our vision and values underpin all our curriculum. At St. Agnes we believe that although we are all very different we have a way of living, behaving and doing things that allow us to serve as a witness to the Catholic Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our school motto is: With Jesus Beside Us We Do Our Best to:
Believe
We are all valued in God’s family and the school family. We believe in ourselves and in our abilities.
Persevere
When things get difficult we will persevere so that we will grow stronger, realising we can turn to each other and God.
Contribute
We will contribute to the life of the school, the parish, the local community and the wider world to which we all belong.
By doing these we will:
Achieve
By being the best we can be, we will achieve in making a difference to others and living as God would want us to.
We use our learning mascots to help us.
Percy the Platypus-Perseverance
My family has been on Earth for over 110 million years. Humans have been on earth for over 6 million years. This shows that we have been here for a long time. It has been very difficult at times. We have been through many tough times, times when we wanted to stop, give up. However we know it is important to keep going, keep trying and once the hard parts are over things start to get better. I watch children in St Agnes wanting to give up and I whisper to myself “Don’t let them give up, God, give them energy to push through.” I have seen children at St Agnes fail and become shy or angry and want to run away. I whisper to God, let them know everyone fails, the most famous, successful people fail. They might feel sad, they might feel disappointed. But after that they learn from the mistakes they make and they get better. For some it is a longer harder journey than others but with me, Bella and Carlos beside you – willing you on YOU WILL GET THERE.
How will you show Perseverance today?
Carlos the Coyote- Contribute
Did you know that coyotes contribute to the welfare of the planet and if we were not around you would really miss us. We help farmers, ranchers, gardeners and homeowners keep damaging plants away from their land by eating them up. We also help to get rid of rat like animals. As a St. Agnes Mascot, I want to tell you why it is important to contribute. When we contribute we move from just thinking about ourselves and our needs and start thinking about others. This is good for our mental health. Thinking about others is a good start. Next we need to move our thoughts into actions. I have seen children in this school show real kindness to others. They smile, say thank you, offer help and friendship. The school council has been very important to us in school as representatives are showing us how we can contribute to helping the planet by looking after our environment and avoiding waste. They remind us to switch off lights, avoid littering…The adults in the school know that you are our future and if you learn from an early age to help others you will make the world a better place. You will be a nice person to be around and you will make other people want to be like you.
How will you make a contribution today?
Bella the Butterfly- Believe
Butterflies are brilliant and that is why a butterfly is one of St Agnes’ mascots. We are brilliant just like you. Did you know we start life as an egg, then we become caterpillars, we crawl on our bellies and eat and eat and eat. Then we hide in a chrysalis (a bit like a sleeping bag) for 15 days while our bodies change. We come out and we are scared, our new wings are small and wet. Then the wings get stronger. We must fly. Everyone is watching.
I remember the first time I tried. I said to God, I am afraid. He said, I created you, you are special, you can fly. The fact that God believed in me made me realise how precious I am. Now I needed to believe in me. I closed my eyes, said my prayers, listened to others cheering me on and was very brave. I WAS ABLE TO FLY. I did not limit where I went. I soared above the clouds. I was ambitious for myself. I believed, with effort, I could do everything. I believed that God was with me, guiding me. I believed it was important to make the most of my talents so that I could then help others – as Carlos told me to do. I believed my cheering and support could make a difference to others. Now watching the children at St. Agnes I want them to be strong in their belief about God, their belief in themselves as wonderful, precious creatures who can soar if they persevere – isn’t that right Percy. And yes Carlos, we can support others by contributing to their self-belief.
How will you believe today?
Percy the Platypus-Perseverance
My family has been on Earth for over 110 million years. Humans have been on earth for over 6 million years. This shows that we have been here for a long time. It has been very difficult at times. We have been through many tough times, times when we wanted to stop, give up. However we know it is important to keep going, keep trying and once the hard parts are over things start to get better. I watch children in St Agnes wanting to give up and I whisper to myself “Don’t let them give up, God, give them energy to push through.” I have seen children at St Agnes fail and become shy or angry and want to run away. I whisper to God, let them know everyone fails, the most famous, successful people fail. They might feel sad, they might feel disappointed. But after that they learn from the mistakes they make and they get better. For some it is a longer harder journey than others but with me, Bella and Carlos beside you – willing you on YOU WILL GET THERE.
How will you show Perseverance today?
- Please keep trying
- Erase unhelpful remarks from your mind
- Search for your inner warrior
- Embrace the challenge
- Vitamins in healthy food can help
- Embrace the challenge
- Resist the negative voices
- Expect it to be difficult but KEEP GOING
Carlos the Coyote- Contribute
Did you know that coyotes contribute to the welfare of the planet and if we were not around you would really miss us. We help farmers, ranchers, gardeners and homeowners keep damaging plants away from their land by eating them up. We also help to get rid of rat like animals. As a St. Agnes Mascot, I want to tell you why it is important to contribute. When we contribute we move from just thinking about ourselves and our needs and start thinking about others. This is good for our mental health. Thinking about others is a good start. Next we need to move our thoughts into actions. I have seen children in this school show real kindness to others. They smile, say thank you, offer help and friendship. The school council has been very important to us in school as representatives are showing us how we can contribute to helping the planet by looking after our environment and avoiding waste. They remind us to switch off lights, avoid littering…The adults in the school know that you are our future and if you learn from an early age to help others you will make the world a better place. You will be a nice person to be around and you will make other people want to be like you.
How will you make a contribution today?
- Come up with ways to help others
- Open your eyes to others’ needs
- Never refuse to help out
- Think less about yourself
- Realise that we all need to work as a community
- Inspire others to do better
- Be generous with your time
- Use your talents to help yourself and others
- Thank people and watch them brighten up
Bella the Butterfly- Believe
Butterflies are brilliant and that is why a butterfly is one of St Agnes’ mascots. We are brilliant just like you. Did you know we start life as an egg, then we become caterpillars, we crawl on our bellies and eat and eat and eat. Then we hide in a chrysalis (a bit like a sleeping bag) for 15 days while our bodies change. We come out and we are scared, our new wings are small and wet. Then the wings get stronger. We must fly. Everyone is watching.
I remember the first time I tried. I said to God, I am afraid. He said, I created you, you are special, you can fly. The fact that God believed in me made me realise how precious I am. Now I needed to believe in me. I closed my eyes, said my prayers, listened to others cheering me on and was very brave. I WAS ABLE TO FLY. I did not limit where I went. I soared above the clouds. I was ambitious for myself. I believed, with effort, I could do everything. I believed that God was with me, guiding me. I believed it was important to make the most of my talents so that I could then help others – as Carlos told me to do. I believed my cheering and support could make a difference to others. Now watching the children at St. Agnes I want them to be strong in their belief about God, their belief in themselves as wonderful, precious creatures who can soar if they persevere – isn’t that right Percy. And yes Carlos, we can support others by contributing to their self-belief.
How will you believe today?
- Be confident in God’s love for you
- Emerge from the darkness and show courage
- Listen to the positive voices around you
- Ignore the negative voices around you
- Elevate your horizons
- Vanish nagging doubts
- Ensure the self-worth of all you meet
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Core Subjects
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Phonics
We teach phonics in Nursery through to Year 2 using the Tower Hamlets Letters and Sounds Phonics Scheme. You can find out more on our English page here. Mathematics We teach Mathematics using the White Rose Scheme of Work, based on the National Curriculum objectives. You can find out more on our Maths page here. |
Science
Science is a core subject and children will cover the required areas for each year group as outlined in the National Curriculum. We use Switched on Science to support detailed planning. Both knowledge and skills are covered through asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways; observing closely, using simple equipment; performing simple tests; identifying and classifying; using observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions; gathering and recording data to help in answering questions. You can find out more on our Science page here. |
Foundation Subjects
You can find out more about our Foundation Subjects and other curriculum areas here.
