Our 'Vow to Wow' Curriculum
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural
Our carefully planned progression of experiences complements and reinforces the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children to enable them to become respectful and responsible citizens, well equipped for the 21st Century.
At Christ the King Roman Catholic Primary School, we nurture pupils’ SMSC development through our unique and special catholic character, collective worship, Christian values and Catholic Social Teaching. It is within this framework that we teach the importance of British Values as we draw upon the example of Jesus and His welcome and inclusion of all. We provide an education that focuses on the development of the whole person, celebrating individuality and differences and working together with other communities.
Intent
The following outlines our curriculum at Christ the King Primary School. Our schemes of work set out the knowledge and understanding that we have organised for each class year group and key stages. We aim to deliver an inclusive, broad, robust and creative curriculum, which provides our children with experiences that inspire and challenge learning.
Our cross-curricular topics are planned using a ‘Mantle of the Expert’ and 'Tinkology for Learning' approach to promote a pleasure in learning. We also encourage our pupils to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities, in particular sport and dance, and are proud of our many achievements in these areas. Our carefully planned progression of experiences complements and reinforces the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of children to enable them to become respectful and responsible citizens. It not only broadens out all children’s horizons but also enriches all communities.
We believe each child is entitled to receive a relevant educational experience and the opportunity to maximise potential regardless of ability, background, gender, age or ethnicity. Learning experiences are planned, both within and outside the classroom, in a way that encourages full and active participation by all children, matched to their knowledge, understanding and previous experiences. In some cases, this may require an adapted curriculum in order to meet the additional needs of individual children. Our children have the opportunity to learn the skills, which will equip them best for the challenges they will meet in the 21st Century.
Implementation
Our curriculum details the learning objectives to be taught throughout EYFS, Key Stages 1 and 2 with a strong emphasis on English and Mathematics and Foundational Knowledge. Our curriculum fully encompasses the National Curriculum and provides for an expression of our own priorities.
When designing our curriculum, we took the decision to teach English, History, Geography, Art and Design through topic-based projects to enable the children to apply their knowledge and skills across all subject areas. The content is taught, practised and revisited to ensure the learning is durable and is transferred to different contexts. We also wanted a curriculum that fulfils our unique requirements and principles.
At Christ the King School, we believe that learning should be a rewarding and an enjoyable experience for everyone and that pupils learn best in different ways. At our school, we aim to provide a rich and varied learning experience that allows pupils to develop their skills and abilities to their full potential through a 'Mantle of the Expert' approach and a 'Tinkology for Learning' approach.
Impact
Assessing and Reviewing the Curriculum
At Christ the King, we have carefully designed a system for review that supports longer-term learning that involves all learners.Through Adaptive Teaching we assess at the moment of learning to ensure that early interventions can take place. Frequent low stake quizzes, regular writing judgement sessions, termly tests, and the use of our own assessment system give us a means of assessing pupils by recording against key knowledge. We adopt teach and test approach to ensure that key knowledge is embedded. The evidence is strong that using our assessment system to assess against age related expectations is successful as there is a very close fit between users' views and outcomes at the ends of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
Creativity
CTK’s Vision for Creative Citizens in a Creative Culture
At Christ the King, our curriculum fully embodies the rationale for curriculum review by the Department for Education (DfE), ensuring a comprehensive and impactful learning experience for all children. Our curriculum is designed to do this. Our RE curriculum and ‘Vow to Wow’ offer upholds how we value the learning experience for our children. Through our pastoral curriculum, which serves as the interface for these values, we seamlessly integrate citizenship, personal values, and social justice teaching into our pedagogy and practice, ensuring these vital elements are not part of a hidden curriculum but actively lived and taught.
Our curriculum emphasizes the importance of play, fostering creativity, curiosity, and resilience in young learners, while encouraging pride in who they are as individuals and as members of a diverse, inclusive school community. We provide abundant opportunities for children to engage with the outside world, cultivating an understanding of societal dynamics and enabling them to develop as thoughtful, empathetic, and informed citizens.
By encompassing well-being and life skills, our approach prepares young people to thrive in society as creative citizens in a creative culture. We are committed to ensuring children gain meaningful life experiences, empowering them to make a positive impact in the world. At Christ the King, we believe that through this holistic and forward-thinking approach, our children are equipped to lead fulfilling lives and contribute actively to a just and equitable society.