Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact

The curriculum at St Thomas More fully supports the mission of the school. The broad range of subjects offered across all key stages ensures that each child’s unique talents and gifts are encouraged and celebrated. Through high-quality teaching we aim to foster the intellectual, social, creative, physical, moral and spiritual development of all our pupils so that they grow into compassionate informed, articulate and empowered individuals. 

Curriculum Intent

Our ambitious and progressive curriculum is designed to:

• excite and inspire every pupil, so they can thrive in all aspects of their lives - spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally and physically in line with our Mission Statement.

• offer carefully sequenced lessons in each curriculum subject so that small steps of progress are achieved on a daily basis. Over time, this will lead to deeper understanding and a secure knowledge base that can be applied to future learning.

• support our pupils to become resourceful, reflective, respectful, resilient learners who are able to relate well to other people.

• develop pupils’ understanding of their role as active, ethical and educated members of society by promoting pupils’ knowledge of and respect for the wider world.

• foster a lifelong love of learning as pupils grow to become increasingly compassionate, informed, articulate and empowered.

Curriculum Implementation

The curriculum at St Thomas More is a coherent, subject based one. It is designed to be a knowledge-rich curriculum as we recognise knowledge as an entitlement for every child. The curriculum is research- based and carefully sequenced to build knowledge over time so that progression can be tracked across the school. Within each subject area content is arranged in line with age-related progression and there is a clear expectation in terms of the knowledge pupils are expected to have gained within each subject at key points in their education.

Key points include:

• Catholic values and teachings provide the foundation for all aspects of learning throughout the curriculum.

• A broad and balanced curriculum whereby subjects are taught in discrete areas. Opportunities to apply reading and writing skills are woven throughout the curriculum and links are made across curriculum areas where this supports wider understanding.

• Online safety is addressed through specific lessons as well as being embedded across the curriculum.

• Subject-specific language is taught at the beginning of topics and pupils are encouraged to use and apply new vocabulary.

• Knowledge planners in some subjects outline the key knowledge and vocabulary for teachers - they also contain an overview of where the topic sits within the subject.

• Knowledge organisers in some subjects outline the key knowledge and vocabulary for pupils and are used as reference point during topics.

• Key learning behaviours are taught and promoted alongside knowledge and skills.

• Pupil voice is used to monitor children's understanding and engagement in the curriculum.

• Learning is enriched by carefully selected resources and planned opportunities for first-hand experiences (educational visits, experience days, visitors etc)

Curriculum Impact

Our engaging and empowering curriculum supports every child to thrive and live life to the fullest (John 10:10) by supporting, encouraging and enabling pupils to: