Our Curriculum at St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

Our Community, Growing and Learning Together with Christ

At St Mary's Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child deserves an ambitious, engaging and inclusive education that enables them to flourish academically, spiritually, socially and personally.

Our curriculum is rooted in our Catholic faith and guided by our school mission: Our Community, Growing and Learning Together with Christ.

We want our children to develop a love of learning, become curious about the world around them and grow into confident, knowledgeable and compassionate young people.

Through a carefully planned and progressive curriculum, we aim to ensure that every child leaves St Mary's with the knowledge, skills, confidence and character needed for the next stage of their education and beyond.

We believe that every child is unique, created and loved by God, and entitled to the very best educational opportunities.

To develop confident, knowledgeable, curious and compassionate learners who know more, remember more and can achieve more.

Our curriculum is designed to:

• Develop knowledge and understanding: Provide children with a broad and secure foundation of knowledge across all subjects.
• Build on previous learning: Carefully sequence learning so that children develop their knowledge and skills progressively from Nursery to Year 6.
• Develop language and communication: Place reading, vocabulary and purposeful discussion at the heart of learning.
• Inspire curiosity and ambition: Encourage children to ask questions, think critically, solve problems and discover new interests.
• Celebrate individuality: Provide an inclusive curriculum that recognises children's different starting points, strengths and needs.
• Develop the whole child: Nurture faith, wellbeing, creativity, independence, resilience and positive relationships.

Our curriculum is broad, balanced and ambitious, reflecting the National Curriculum, the Early Years Foundation Stage and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

At St Mary's, we believe that high-quality teaching enables every child to achieve their potential.

Our approach is informed by educational research and focuses on helping children know more, remember more and apply their learning with confidence.

Our teaching is built around five key principles:

• 🧠 Remember and Retrieve: Revisiting previous learning regularly to strengthen knowledge and understanding.
• 👩‍🏫 Explain and Model: Clear explanations, demonstrations and guided practice to support new learning.
• 🗣️ Question and Discuss: Developing vocabulary, encouraging purposeful talk and checking understanding.
• ✏️ Practise and Apply: Providing opportunities to build fluency, develop independence and deepen understanding.
• 🎯 Assess and Adapt: Using assessment to identify misconceptions, respond to individual needs and move learning forward.

Through these approaches, we aim to create engaging, inclusive classrooms where every child is supported, challenged and encouraged to succeed.

We recognise that secure literacy and mathematical skills open doors to learning across the entire curriculum.

Reading

Reading is at the heart of our school.

We want every child to become a confident, fluent and enthusiastic reader who can access the full curriculum and enjoy reading for pleasure.

Our early reading curriculum is delivered through Read Write Inc. Phonics, providing a systematic approach to developing children's phonics knowledge and early reading skills. Check out our Reading Page to find out more. 

As children develop their reading fluency, they explore increasingly challenging, high-quality texts through whole-class reading and reading skills lessons.

Vocabulary development, comprehension, discussion and a love of literature are promoted throughout school life.

Writing

We want our children to become confident and creative writers who can communicate effectively for different purposes and audiences.

Writing is developed through high-quality texts, explicit teaching, modelling, vocabulary development and opportunities to practise and apply writing skills.

Children are taught the importance of sentence construction, grammar, spelling, handwriting and the wider craft of writing.

Mathematics

We believe that every child can succeed in mathematics.

Our mathematics curriculum follows a mastery approach, supported by White Rose Maths and carefully selected additional resources.

We place particular importance on developing secure number knowledge, arithmetic fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Our approach includes regular retrieval and review, clear modelling, concrete and pictorial representations, independent practice and opportunities to deepen understanding.

Children are encouraged to explain their mathematical thinking, recognise patterns and apply their knowledge confidently.

Our curriculum journey begins in Nursery and Reception.

We recognise that the Early Years are fundamental in developing children's communication, relationships, confidence, independence and enthusiasm for learning.

Our Early Years curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework and provides a balance of purposeful play, exploration, adult interaction and carefully planned teaching.

We prioritise children's language and communication, personal and social development, early reading, writing and mathematical understanding.

Learning experiences encourage curiosity, creativity and a growing understanding of the world.

Our Early Years curriculum prepares children with the essential foundations for successful learning throughout their time at St. Mary's.

Our Catholic faith is at the heart of our school community and influences all aspects of school life.

Our curriculum is rooted in Gospel values, Catholic Social Teaching and our commitment to developing children who recognise the dignity and worth of every person.

Religious Education is taught through Discerning Disciples, introduced in September 2026, following the Religious Education Directory, To Know You More Clearly.

Through the principles of Know, Discern and Respond, children develop religious knowledge, explore meaningful questions and reflect upon how their faith can influence their lives and actions.

We provide opportunities for prayer, worship, reflection, charitable action and engagement with our parish community.

We also encourage children to learn about and respect different religions, cultures and beliefs.

We want our children to develop compassionate hearts, thoughtful minds and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world.

At St. Mary's, we believe that some of the most memorable learning happens beyond the classroom!

We are passionate about providing exciting experiences that bring our curriculum to life, broaden children's horizons and create lasting memories.

From exploring the Stone Age, Viking adventures and ancient civilisations, to discovering the wonders of science at Birmingham Thinktank and the National Space Centre, our children have opportunities to experience learning in exciting new ways.

Our younger children enjoy adventures to farms, museums and outdoor spaces, while older pupils experience residential opportunities, educational visits and even trips to London!

Alongside these adventures, our children enjoy faith visits, retreats, sporting competitions, musical performances, theatre experiences and special community celebrations, helping them discover new talents and grow in confidence.

At St. Mary's, we want every child to experience the joy of discovery, develop new interests and make wonderful memories that last a lifetime.

We recognise that parents and carers are our children's first and most important educators.

We are committed to helping families understand what their children are learning and how they can support their progress.

Further information about our curriculum is available through our subject pages, curriculum overviews and school policies.

Parents and carers are always welcome to speak to their child's class teacher or contact the school office if they would like more information.

Explore Our Curriculum

Curriculum Overviews
View our whole-school curriculum overview and the learning planned for each year group.

Curriculum Subjects
Explore our individual subject pages, curriculum intentions and progression of learning.

Early Years Foundation Stage
Find out more about learning in Nursery and Reception.

Religious Education
Discover our Discerning Disciples curriculum and Catholic educational mission.

SEND and Accessibility
Learn more about how we support children with additional needs and ensure access to learning.

Our Community, Growing and Learning Together with Christ.

Together, we nurture knowledge, inspire curiosity, celebrate individuality and help every child flourish.

• If you already have a child in school then please speak to your child’s class teacher for more information about our curriculum.
• If you are a prospective parent or member of the public, please contact the school office in the first instance.