Curriculum Statement

St Augustine’s Curriculum Statement 2025-26

We offer all our children the opportunity to experience a rich, full, broad and balanced curriculum throughout their time in school, from Early Years to Year Six, ensuring all children are taught the requirements of the national curriculum from Year One onwards whilst developing their academic, creative, sporting, moral, spiritual and social skills. It is our aim that the curriculum is taught in a way that considers the needs of all individuals and is delivered in an exciting manner, inspiring a love of learning which develops enquiring minds and confident children.

Intent – What are we aiming for?

Our mission statement is ‘The purpose of our school is to educate each child to develop and achieve their potential within a caring, Catholic community, governed by Gospel values’

Our Mission at St. Augustine's School is to provide an education which has at its centre the values and ideals of the teachings of Jesus Christ according to the traditions and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.

Effective teaching and learning are the core purposes of our school.  We believe that the quality of teaching is fundamental to the quality of education provided by the school and the main way in which pupils will learn and make progress.  It is also the means through which we offer a curriculum that will meet all pupils’ needs. 

Our curriculum fulfils all the requirements of the National Curriculum. It will endeavour to prepare pupils for the experience, opportunities and responsibilities of adult life by giving the highest priority to numeracy, literacy and computing, together with the social, emotional and physical skills which will give them the confidence to value their contribution to society. It will promote a positive attitude towards learning, so that children enjoy coming to school, and acquire a solid basis for lifelong learning.

It is our intent that all pupils:-

• are given the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of experiences which they may not otherwise have access to and which will enrich their learning, general knowledge and skills development 

• are challenged to meet or exceed their potential in all areas of learning and attain age related expectations in core and foundation subjects

• are given the opportunities to develop their talents in oracy, creative arts, investigative and sporting skills 

• have high aspirations for their future lives

• leave our school as happy, caring, respectful, well-grounded children who recognise their strengths and abilities, as well as responsibilities, so that they can achieve their full potential to thrive in our constantly changing society.

We aim to prepare children for the future by:-

• ensuring that through a variety of learning experiences they acquire knowledge and skills relevant to life
• promoting respect and tolerance of all individuals and their beliefs
• developing lively and enquiring minds
• developing the ability to question and debate rationally
• developing the ability to apply themselves to tasks in hand with sustained resilience
• helping them to be independent so that they take responsibility for and understand the consequences of their actions, use their initiative and make informed choices and generalisations.

Implementation

Everything we do within our curriculum is grounded in our Catholic beliefs. Each child is unique and has a fundamental right to equal opportunities and the same aspirational levels from all staff, who will work with each child’s strengths and personality to bring out the best in each pupil.

A key focus for our school is oracy. Our children need to improve speaking and listening skills as a precursor to reading and writing in all academic subjects and being both confident and resilient in all that they do. Being articulate is a key skill in succeeding as an adult. Developing good oracy skills and rich language development will be threaded through everything we do. We have adopted ‘Talk Matters’ principles and signs throughout school to enhance oracy.

Statutory expectations across Early Years Foundation Stage – Prime and specific areas

In Reception, children's learning is based around project themes and their own interests. The four themes of the EYFS identified in Development Matters (A Unique Child, Enabling Environments, Positive Relationships and Learning and Development) are addressed in provision areas and focus activities throughout the year depending on the theme. Learning and developing in the Early Years is also underpinned by the Characteristics of Effective Learning. We currently follow Little Wandle for our phonics teaching.

Statutory expectations across Key Stages 1 and 2 – Children are taught all subjects within the National Curriculum.

Religious Education 

As a Catholic School, RE is a core subject and our faith and respect for other faiths is central to all that we do. We follow the Diocesan schemes - Early Years and Key Stage 1 are following ‘Lighting the Path’ Key Stage 2 are currently following ‘The Way, The Truth and The Life’ before we make the gradual transition towards all years following the new scheme ‘Lighting the Path’ and Virtues To Live By is lived throughout the school. The children are given opportunities for worship within class, key stages and the whole school as well as attending Masses at Church and in school. 

English 

 Handwriting, spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure are all taught weekly, both discretely and integrated into general literacy teaching. Content and skill levels are differentiated according to individual needs.

Phonics is taught throughout Early Years and Key Stage 1 and revisited and taught in Key Stage 2 if required to match individual needs

Reading is developed through sharing whole class texts, weekly guided reading sessions, individual reading, storytime and class sessions in our school library. Vocabulary acquisition is taught and developed through oral discussion and the use of word studies in all curriculum areas.

Writing skills are taught through learning activities linked to core texts within year groups, cross-curricular themes and whole school tasks. We use Talk for Writing principles and strategies within our lessons across school. This incorporates oracy, reading and writing skills.

Mathematics

 We teach a Mastery Curriculum following the White Rose Maths Hub schemes of learning across both Key Stages. This fulfils the three aims of the National Curriculum – fluency, reasoning and problem solving with a strong emphasis on arithmetic and understanding of mathematical language. 

Science

 Science is taught as both a discrete subject and as part of cross-curricular termly themes within year groups where applicable. The ‘working scientifically strand’ is embedded throughout the subject all year.

Foundation Subjects

History, Geography, Art, DT

These subjects are often taught through cross-curricular themes, developing key knowledge and skills in different subject areas.

History

The National Curriculum is used as the basis of long-term curriculum planning for history, with links made to other areas of the curriculum where and when applicable.

Lessons and topics are planned so that they build upon prior learning and knowledge. We ensure that there are opportunities for children of all abilities to develop both their skills and knowledge in each topic.

Geography

In Foundation Stage, Geography is taught through topic where activities are planned by building on children’s natural curiosity.  The children’s interests play a large role in determining the activities and enquiry that is to take place. 

In both KS1 and KS2, the core curriculum is based on the National Curriculum, which may be taught through topics enabling students to make cross-curricular links.  

Art

At St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School we value art because Art and design contributes to the development of the whole child emotionally, aesthetically, spiritually, intellectually and socially. It creates in the child a sense of enjoyment, a sense of purpose and creativity. Teachers provide learning opportunities that are matched to the children following the Kapow scheme of work which meets the requirements of The National Curriculum objectives and progression of skills. This includes support for children with learning difficulties and further opportunities to investigate for gifted and talented and more able pupils.

Design Technology

Design and Technology is about creating an interest and enthusiasm for designing and making which includes children of all abilities. By providing a range of activities we can develop the children's confidence and skills to select and use tools to design and make products using their own ideas. This will begin to give then a greater understanding of the technological society in which we live.

Pupils will be able to develop their creative thinking, evaluative skills, technical skills and communication skills in a way that is challenging, motivating, enjoyable and interesting.

Computing

 Computing skills are taught discretely using the Purple Mash scheme to follow the age related expectations of the National Curriculum and are applied through cross-curricular activities. Children have access to a range of hardware and software to support their learning.

Music

At St. Augustine's School we make music an enjoyable learning experience. We incorporate the 2014 National Curriculum, led by the Artforms peripatetic teacher and specialist music teachers providing National Curriculum teaching and Choral teaching. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children. Our teaching focuses on developing the children's ability to sing in tune and with other people through hymn practice and the Leeds Diocese Choral Singing Programme. This provision is supported in Year 1-6 through weekly 30 minute vocal instruction and additionally by a specialist music teacher who delivers 30 minute lessons in KS1 and SEND; Y3 Choral teaching; Y4 and 5- teacher-led Kapow Curriculum; Y6 Melodica, each week; and, FS teachers through a creative curriculum.  Parents also have the opportunity to sign their children up for instrumental peripatetic tuition for flute, guitars, keyboard and violin.

PE

Physical activity, both engagement and enjoyment, has a high profile in our school. Pupils ideally have two sessions each week, one indoor and one outdoor (weather permitting). We use the ‘Beyond the Physical’ programme which delivers all aspects of the National Curriculum. We also have Beyond the Physical Coaches to support the teachers in delivery of PE. Swimming lessons are available for Year 4 for the whole year to ensure curriculum coverage. We also encourage daily physical activity, such as the ‘Daily Mile’ walk/run across school and active break and lunchtimes.  There is a wide range of extra-curricular sports on offer each term. Pupils are taught by our own staff and external coaches.

PSHE/RHE

PSHE is taught regularly in each class across school through the schemes, Life to The Full, Pol Ed and the You Me, PSHE. It is also delivered through SEAL and circle time as and when class teachers feel the need to cover any issues that arise during the academic year. Any children that need extra support in any areas of PSHE are catered for in ways that suit their needs, i.e outside agencies, extra sessions, the use of Thrive materials and strategies, 1:1 support/ Learning Mentor support and Nurture group activities. 

RHE is an important part of PSHE education. We as a Catholic school take advice from the Diocese and follow the scheme of work Ten:Ten which is delivered in the summer term.

MFL 

French is taught discretely across Key Stage 2 with children having a weekly half an hour lesson. Years 3 – 6 learn French, following the Language Angels scheme, which uses Teaching Units in stages - Early Language for Year 3, Intermediate units for Years 4-5 and Progressive and Creative units for Year 6. The delivery and development of cultural awareness will be supported by activities in other subjects and special occasions (e.g One World Week, Festivals, Celebrations of Religious Festivals).

Delivery

Children are in mixed ability cohorts and the lessons are delivered within these cohorts. Year 6 has a third group for English and Maths for targeted delivery to meet the needs of all abilities in preparation for their move towards high school.

Celebration

Curriculum success is celebrated each week in the whole school celebration assembly. Children receive certificates, awards and recognition of achievements, both within the curriculum and for extra-curricular success.

Writing is a focus within school and we have ‘Starwriter’ awards on a fortnightly basis, alternating with Star Reader awards, with writing displayed at the front entrance in recognition of their achievement and published on the school website.  

Enhancement Opportunities 

As well as the teaching of the National Curriculum subjects, our curriculum offers a diverse range of other activities and experiences for the children as they progress through school. See the attached Enhancement Curriculum Offer.

Impact – How do we know our Curriculum works?

We evaluate the impact of the curriculum on our pupils through various means:-

• ongoing Assessment For Learning on a day-to-day basis
• summative and formative assessments at the end of each term, year and Key Stage
• a vigorous monitoring and evaluation calendar
• celebration through awards
• pupil voice and parental questionnaires

Ongoing evaluation shows that for our pupils:-

• the attainment and progress of the majority of children is at least good or better academically from entry to exit
• good behaviour and attitudes to learning are clearly visible and recognised as such by Ofsted
• attendance is good
• the children are well-grounded in their moral, social and spiritual learning and are ready to play an active, positive role in society
• an increasing number of children are making healthy lifestyle choices, recognising the benefits of healthy eating and regular physical activity 
• the uptake of extra-curricular sports is high
• a number of our children are selected for the Leeds Cathedral choir each year
• children leave primary school well-prepared for high school

Reviewed by staff in Sept 2025

Approved by the Academy Council on 30.9.25

Reviewed annually