Our Curriculum

Intent  

At St. John’s we understand that building secure relationships with children and their families at the early stage is key to understanding how we can maximise learning opportunities for each and every child in our setting. We provide an inclusive learning environment that educates all the children in knowledge, skills and understanding, to be effective, inquisitive, curious, independent learners and influence their wider thinking across all areas of the curriculum. The curriculum in Early Years is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all pupils. It facilitates them to gain the skills, knowledge and understanding, as they start out on their educational journey, supporting them to progress from their individual starting points and preparing them for their life-long learning journey.

The curriculum celebrates diversity and supports the pupils’ intellectual, creative, emotional, physical and spiritual development. Our school values alongside the fundamental British values are at the heart of our curriculum and everything we do.  We endeavour to give the children the Cultural Capital they need for future success, giving each child the best start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their full potential and achieve future success. We are passionate about creating opportunities for children to communicate more easily through developing language and communication skills and specifically teaching vocabulary.  Through our shared vision of mutual trust and respect we provide a secure and happy working environment in which all pupils are able to succeed and achieve their full potential.

Implementation  

We believe learning through play is vital, we use the environment to ensure the children’s needs are met through continuous provision, enhanced provision and by following their interests.  Our indoor and outdoor area has been carefully planned to provide a range of open ended learning opportunities, promoting independence, motivation and perseverance, whatever our children’s starting points.

Our curriculum is designed to recognise their prior learning by providing first-hand learning experiences and allowing the children to develop interpersonal skills, build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers to enable them to challenge themselves.  We ensure the content of the curriculum is differentiated to meet the needs of all learners and is taught in a logical progression so that children build on prior learning. We plan through a topic-based approach, which can readily be adapted to meet the ever growing and changing needs and interests of all our children. Our topics are often based around core texts, which have been carefully chosen for their level of challenge and quality language, but also with a view to promote reading for pleasure.

Our curriculum covers all seven areas of learning and is fundamentally underpinned by the characteristics of effective learning, including enrichment opportunities. This curriculum is delivered through provision, child initiated activities, adult initiated activities and focused activities.  Staff also provide opportunities alongside these for the children to develop their knowledge of letters and sounds, mathematics, music, religion, and stories at focused carpet time.

Pupil’s experiences are recorded in a Learning Journal on ‘Evidence Me’ and shared with parents. We also record children’s photographs and comments in a large black floor book, ‘Our Talking Book’, promoting their speaking and listening skills.

Regular ‘Stay and Play’ sessions for Early Years, allow parents to join in learning activities alongside their children and share the Early Years’ experience. Parents are invited in to look at the children’s learning in our ‘Talking Book’s’ and leave positive comments.

We understand to maintain high standards of teaching we have to invest in our staff by providing high quality Continued Professional Development (CPD) to match the current needs of the staff and also to match the needs of our children.  Staff create an environment to match the needs and skill levels of our children and use their own teacher assessments and gap analysis to inform their planning and the quality provision.

We recognise that language and communication are vital in all areas of a child’s development. We welcome children from culturally diverse backgrounds and some of our children are at an early stage of learning English as an additional language (EAL). Communication and language development are therefore a consistent focus. We support children’s development by providing a rich language environment, where conversations, singing and sharing stories become a regular part of the children’s day.

Although EYFS has a separate curriculum we are keen to make sure our children are prepared for the next chapter in their school life.

Impact  

The broad and balanced curriculum design ensures that the needs of all individual children can be met within the environment of high quality teaching, and supported by targeted interventions where appropriate.  In this way it can be seen to be impacting in a very positive way on pupil outcomes. We endeavour for pupils to be prepared for the next phase at primary school.

The impact of our curriculum is measured by assessment procedures which allow us to measure outcomes against all schools nationally. We measure the percentage of pupils achieving age related expectations by the end of Early Years. The impact of our curriculum will also, in fact, be measured by how effectively it helps our pupils develop into well rounded individuals who embody our values and carry with them the knowledge, skills and attitudes which will make them lifelong learners and valuable future citizens.

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, we hold our English curriculum at the forefront of everything we seek to do.  Language, whether spoken, written or reading, is the foundation of our lives in the 21st century.  It helps our children to understand their own learning and their own place in society – being able to communicate effectively with adults and their peers – preparing them for their future lives.

Intent 

At St. John’s we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion.  We aim to inspire an appreciation of our rich and varied literary heritage and a habit of reading widely and often.  We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts whilst applying the skills taught in our spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) curriculum.

It is our desire to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and who can use discussion to communicate and further their learning.  We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum.  It is vital that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high quality education which will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.  The 2014 National Curriculum states: ‘Reading also feeds pupils’ imagination and opens up a treasure-house of wonder and joy for curious young minds.’  At St. John’s, we believe this to be true.

Implementation 

These aims are embedded across our English lessons and the wider curriculum.  We have a rigorous and well organised English curriculum that provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing, SPaG, speaking and listening.  Teachers often plan curricular links with concurrent topic work which are woven into the programme of study.  Our curriculum closely follows the aims of the National Curriculum for English 2014.  The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

In addition to daily English lessons, children develop in early reading through the use of the Bug Club Phonic Programme from Reception to Year 2 and continue to develop a range of reading skills, as well as a love of reading through the Accelerated Reading online programme.  We use a wide variety of quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our children.

Impact 

As a result, at St. John’s we have a community of enthusiastic readers and writers who enjoy showcasing their developing English knowledge and skills.  Our children are confident to take risks in their reading and writing, and love to discuss and share their ideas.

Subject Plans

You can view or download the subject plans by clicking the link below.

Reading Subject Plan
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Subject Plan
Writing Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, it is our aim to provide children with the skills and knowledge they need to become confident mathematicians and creative problem solvers.

The 2014 National Curriculum for Maths aims to ensure that all children:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of Mathematics
• Are able to reason mathematically
• Can solve problems by applying their Mathematics.

At St. John’s, these skills are embedded within Maths lessons and developed consistently over time.  We are committed to ensuring that children are able to recognise the importance of Maths in the wider world and that they are also able to use their mathematical skills and knowledge confidently in their lives in a range of different contexts.  We want all children to enjoy Mathematics and to experience success in the subject, with the ability to reason mathematically.  We are committed to developing children’s curiosity about the subject, as well as an appreciation of the beauty and power of Mathematics.

This year our ‘mastery journey’ is beginning at St. John’s. We have reviewed the DFE guidance and will be using resources and teaching material from White Rose Maths to ensure core concepts are embedded. We have reviewed our curriculum and are implementing larger teaching blocks over the year. These teaching blocks will be broken down into smaller steps to reinforce and embed skills. Following the White Rose schemes for learning will ensure all staff are using mastery approaches across the school offering the children continuity. The progression will also be evident. We will also be adopting the CPA approach across the school so children are gaining access to all methods of learning.  We will also be using a variety of other sources to ensure we are giving our learners the best possible opportunity to embed learning.  Sources such as NCETM, NRICH and Classroom Secrets are just a few of the reliable sources that we use.

When planning for objective cover age and progression, teachers are expected to take the following mastery strategies into account:

• Small steps
• Implementing the Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA) approach to introducing, exploring and applying mathematical concepts
• Applying/using many approaches as strategies to approach calculation/problems including the Bar Model and Part Whole Model
• Considering key questions and mathematical vocabulary when planning
• Provide opportunities for verbal and written/drawn reasoning (explaining and using mathematical vocabulary to explain methods or reasoning)
• Inclusion of relevant problem-solving opportunities
• Modelling of all skills and approaches
• Modelling and sharing of efficient and accurate application of methods
• Opportunities to explore maths concepts/objectives at ‘greater depth’
• Include all learners, providing relevant support for those with additional needs

Teaching and learning in Mathematics is interactive and engaging, with content made relevant to children’s real-world experiences and contextualised thus to support consolidation and retention of knowledge and skill.  Children approach mathematics with confidence and enthusiasm, encouraged to have a thirst for tasks and challenges, including those that require problem solving and reasoning. Teaching and support staff also see this introduction of ‘mastery’ maths as a period of implementation and as an opportunity to update and increase their knowledge of the Mathematics curriculum and up to date methods of learning.

Teachers use careful questions to draw out children’s discussions and their reasoning.  The class teacher then leads children through strategies for solving the problem, including those already discussed.  Independent work provides the means for all children to develop their fluency further, before progressing to more complex related problems. Children are taught to talk about their mental processing and written methods using appropriate language.  They secure deeper learning by explaining to other children.  We teach new mathematical language throughout each year group and encourage children to use correct language at all times, both verbally and in their work.

Mathematical topics are taught in blocks, to enable the achievement of ‘mastery’ over time.  Each lesson phase provides the means to achieve greater depth, with more able children being offered rich and sophisticated problems, as well as exploratory, investigative tasks, within the lesson as appropriate. All children have daily Maths lessons which are lively, imaginative and engaging in order to facilitate an interest in and enjoyment of the subject.  Maths lessons are meaningful with an emphasis on the application of mathematics to real life examples, as well as challenging children to use mathematical knowledge and understanding to reason confidently.

We also use a range of practical resources as well as visual images to aid understanding for all our pupils, we aim to instil a love of Mathematics linked to its real-life practical application in modern 21st century life.  Each week all children across the school have a weekly session of mental arithmetic. We believe that both mental and written methods are just as important to embed early fluency. We also believe that rapid recall of mathematical facts, including times tables, is essential.  Children are expected to know all their times tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4 and we practise this daily.

Problem solving is embedded throughout all aspects of our Maths lessons and also through weekly whole school Maths investigations.  During this time, children are able to apply Maths skills learnt to a problem, investigation or reasoning activity. Children are taught specific problem-solving skills and are able to explore problems for themselves in a practical way.  In every classroom we have a Maths display, supporting children’s learning and celebrating children’s successes. These often include an element of challenge for children in the class. We also provide a ‘Maths Challenge Wall’ open to all where children can get involved at their own leisure.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Mathematics Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E (Aided) Primary School, we are proud to be a Church of England school.  As such we seek to follow the Church of England’s Statement of entitlement for Religious Education, which states:

• To enable pupils to know about and understand Christianity as a living faith that influences the lives of people worldwide and as the religion that has most shaped British culture and heritage.
• To enable pupils to know and understand about other major world religions and worldviews, their impact on society, culture and the wider world, enabling pupils to express ideas and insights.
• To contribute to the development of pupils’ own spiritual/philosophical convictions, exploring and enriching their own beliefs and values.

In addition, we want to prepare them for the diverse landscape of modern Britain; welcoming those children and families of all faiths and none.  As they progress through the school, children receive a rich diet of teaching, visitor experiences, music and worship to inspire and uplift them.

In Religious Education, we aim to give children a grounded understanding of Christianity and the major world faiths.  As the children progress through the school, they will encounter different religions and worldviews.  Our curriculum is such that Religious Literacy is taught and developed, allowing all our pupils to become aware of, have a deeper understanding of and be tolerant of different faiths in our locality, our country and worldwide.

An important aim of RE is that children are encouraged to reflect on their learning and make their own decisions about what they believe.  The aim of RE is not to make children into religious believers, but to understand that religion still influences and sustains many people in the world today, and to consider the wisdom of faith traditions, and reflect on what they might take from it.  Our teaching is rooted in the Church of England, but we provide a space for all children to express their home religion, or for those of no faith.

Our curriculum follows the Understanding Christianity resources for our teaching of Christianity plus additional units from the Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education (2018).  RE lessons have three key elements: making sense of beliefs; understanding the Impact; making connections.

Our approach to RE is engaging and creative – the children are taught through a range of mediums such as art, drama, storytelling and investigating artefacts.  By the end of their school lives at St. John’s, children will have learned about the major world religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism and non-religious views, such as Humanism.  See our RE curriculum overview and our RE skills progression for more details.

We also invite a wide range of visitors into school and off-site visits to encourage children to share experiences of a specific faith or implement workshops for children to have an interactive experience of religion in the real world.  For example, children visit a Synagogue in Newcastle, are visited by the Muslim Chaplain to Durham University (Dr Mahshid Turner) and receive dedicated Year 4 Eucharist preparation sessions before receiving Communion in St. John’s Church.  We have strong clergy links with our own church and other local ministers in our community.

Many of our RE lessons are not merely isolated learning opportunities, but our children take those principles and teaching and put them into practice.  Over the past years, our children have regularly taken part in fundraising events for national charities, as well as child-initiated fundraising for special local causes.  A generosity of spirit pervades all we seek to accomplish at St. John’s.

Above all, we believe that the values underpinning our Religious Education will enable our children to become confident, reflective, spiritual and morally aware people who will play be a positive role in shaping modern Britain.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Religious Education (RE) Subject Plan

At St. John’s CofE Primary School, our intention is to provide an Art Curriculum which allows children to explore their imagination, generate ideas, acquire skills, apply judgements and rejoice in their learning. Children will be given the opportunity to recognize and be inspired by the awe and wonder of God’s creation through studying work of artists.

We want our children to develop as critical and creative thinkers and enrich, extend and consolidate learning in a variety of contexts. Through systematic and progressive planning, we intend to encourage the children to express, explore and celebrate ideas, feelings, attitudes and values. We aim to foster originality and creativity using Art as a means of communication. Innovation and sensitivity to personal feelings and attitudes will permeate the school environment.

Throughout the curriculum children will be given opportunities:

• To develop knowledge, understanding and skills
• To learn about materials and techniques used by artists
• To learn about the world of art, craft and design
• To recognise achievements of artists and designers from different times and cultures.

We aim to raise the standards of the pupils’ abilities in specific Art and Design skills such as:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpting
• Cutting and joining
• Effective use of sketchbooks throughout KS1 and KS2
• Evaluating.

We aim to increase opportunities for the children to experience:

• Art from different cultures
• Visits to art galleries and exhibitions
• Using different materials and techniques
• Art in our local area.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Art and Design Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, we inspire our children to have a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people.  The Geography topics we cover build a knowledge of diverse places, people and resources and allows the children to have a greater knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live, and the Earth’s physical and human processes.

Our Geography curriculum helps our children develop a range of investigation skills to help them find out information for tasks and begin to understand the impact humans have on the world.

We are committed to providing children with opportunities to learn about the local area, County Durham and the surrounding localities of the North East.  We desire to develop a real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special.  We are also developing the children’s ability to apply geographical skills to enable them to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences.

In Early Years we aim to develop an awareness of their local environment and slowly move away in other key stages to look at places further afield.  We use various maps, atlases and online resources to help the children locate where our country is in relation to others and helps them get an understanding of how big our world is.

In Key Stage 2, we have daily class discussions and watch Newsround, enabling the children to explore and challenge what is happening in our world.

We are developing our links with other agencies to extend and enrich learning.  We are members of The Geographical Association and are currently planning work with The Wear Rivers Trust.  We have also joined with Historic England, English Heritage and The Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway in order to be involved in ongoing local Geography projects.  Through these links, our children now have access to previously unseen high quality maps to further develop their geographical enquiry.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Geography Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary, we want all children to gain a sound knowledge and understanding of historical events.  We strive to develop children’s experiences and understanding of History and the methods used to study.  The aim is to help them make sense of the world in which they live and appreciate how past events and actions have influenced and formed their present lives.

In History lessons children ask questions, think critically, consider evidence and make judgements.  Teachers plan exciting educational visits that link closely with the work studied in class and help to develop and extend children’s historical knowledge and enquiry.  This opportunity engages children more fully in the topics they are studying and really brings their learning to life.

In Early Years, children are by nature curious; it is our aim to develop this curiosity about the past, concepts of time, place, awareness of their own environment and family developing the idea about their own history.
In Key Stage 1, children learn about the lives of significant individuals, events beyond living memory and history in their own locality.  We use a variety of sources of evidence such as visits, visitors, artefacts, books and the internet as starting points for history.

In Key Stage 2, children learn about key periods of British and World History. Throughout school there is a focus on the sense of chronology and using what they have already learned in previous years.  We aim to compare the past with themselves and how their lives differ to really embed how much things have changed.
At St. John’s, bringing History alive is one of our key aims!  In addition to off-site educational visits, we have joined with Historic England, English Heritage and The Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway to be involved in ongoing local history projects.  Our town of Shildon has very important links with the birth of the railways, so these projects will enable our children to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the importance of their own locality.  This will happen through accessing high quality maps, unique historical documents and specialists in the history of our locality.  We are so proud our school has been chosen to be part of such pioneering, exciting and international historical projects!

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

History Subject Plan

Bonjour!  Bienvenue en français à l’école primaire de St. John’s!

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, we believe that learning a modern foreign language provides a valuable social and cultural experience for all our children.  Our high-quality bespoke language curriculum enables our children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language, understanding and responding to speakers verbally and in writing.  In addition to these, we also recognise that learning another language gives children a new perspective on the world by learning about and respecting other cultures and how they differ from our own.

In Early Years and KS1, children are informally exposed to foreign language speaking and listening through simple songs and daily greetings, for example during registration time.
In line with staff experience and skills, in Key Stage 2, we teach a discrete weekly French lesson based on Durham County plans.  Lessons are fun, engaging, interactive and fully inclusive, allowing all children, regardless of ability, to succeed and make progress.  We use online games, interactive whiteboards, iPads, songs and games plus other resources to enhance our pupils’ learning experience.

We believe that learning a foreign language at primary school should be an exciting and vibrant experience of sharing together.  We try to do just that in all our French lessons!  Just like when learning to read our first language, we teach individual sounds, words and phrases first.  As children become more confident, developing their written and spoken language, pupils learn how to speak and write in sentences and short paragraphs.

Our aim is not primarily to produce fluent French linguists by the end of Year 6.   Rather, we do desire that all our children experience the excitement of speaking, hearing and writing a new language, as well as learning about the culture of French-speaking countries.  Broadening our children’s knowledge and understanding of the wider world is vital in helping to develop respectful and tolerant citizens of the future!

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, we give every child the opportunity to explore their musical creative ability and appreciate the creations of others.  We use inspirational music ranging from contemporary artists to classical composers and local musicians to create a rich and diverse Music curriculum.

Music is undoubtedly one of the most imaginative and creative subjects in the whole National Curriculum, playing an integral part of our school.  All children participate in daily acts of Collective Worship as well as a whole school weekly praise and worship sessions.  This is led by our two accomplished deputy headteachers – one playing piano and one leading the singing.  All children participate enthusiastically in whole school singing sessions.  It is agreed by all staff and children in school, that these times of making music together are some of the most inspiring of the week!

Our Music curriculum is taught across school (including Nursery) in discrete lessons and carefully follows the Charanga Online Music Scheme following the Durham Music Service progression plan (Reception to Year 6).  Through these lessons, children and staff can access the Charanga and Sing-Up music websites which support a wide range of teaching and learning from singing to instrumental tuition.  Our aim is to develop children’s skills in the building blocks of pulse, rhythm and melody.  Across school children deepen their musical literacy through the four strands of learning: active listening, composing and improvising, performing and singing.

School staff teach Music in EYFS and KS2, supported by our Music specialist Deputy Headteacher, who also teaches Music in Year 4.  KS1 lessons are taught by a peripatetic Music teacher from the Durham Music Service.  In Key Stage 2, children are taught to play descant recorder, including understanding traditional music notation and technical terms, with an expectation that by the end of Year 6, children can confidently play eight notes on the recorder.

To further enhance pupils’ cultural capital, at various times throughout their school lives, children have the opportunities to visit local music venues such as The Sage in Gateshead as well as live music performances from professional musicians in school.

Our children also regularly perform in Christmas and end-of-year shows, parents’ concerts and in assemblies.  These enrich our local community by bringing us together to share the children’s musical abilities and the positive impact music has on children, parents and staff.

Music at St. John’s can be summed up in these words: ‘Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion.  When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless. Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child’s world of possibility.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Music Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, good relationships are fundamental to our ethos.  Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is lifelong learning about relationships, emotions, looking after ourselves, different families, sex, sexuality and sexual health.  It involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes.  RSE has a key part to play in the personal, social, moral and spiritual development of young people.

All schools have a statutory duty to teach this curriculum from September 2020.  We strongly believe that the introduction of age-appropriate elements of RSE contributes to the safeguarding and well-being of our children and young people.  With this in mind, we have already enhanced elements of our current curriculum with immediate effect from September 2019.

At St. John’s, our focus is on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships with particular reference to friendships, family relationships and relationships with other peers and adults.  Through these subjects we want to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe.  We purpose to equip them for adult life and to be able to make a positive contribution to society.

The aims of relationship and sex education (RSE) at our school are to:

• Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place
• Teach children the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
• Develop confidence in talking about feelings and relationships
• Help children develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
• Have the confidence and self-esteem to value themselves and others
• Prepare children for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene
• Create a positive culture around issues of relationships and sexuality
• Understand about the diverse range of different relationships, and families, and their importance for the care and support of children
• Behave responsibly within relationships
• Be able to recognise unsafe situations and be able to protect themselves and ask for help and support
• Understand the role of the media in forming attitudes
• Understand that offence can be caused by the use of sexual terms as an insult

RSE lessons take place across all year groups in school in conjunction with PSHE lessons.  We use age-appropriate resources and deal with sensitive topics in an thoughtful and apt way.

The 2014 National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all children:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics;
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;
• are equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills-based focus, and that the knowledge can be taught through this.

At St. John’s C of E Primary, we encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at school and beyond.  Our Science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity and a love of learning for our budding scientists who love asking questions about the world around them, about our universe and how we promote a respect for the living and non-living.

We believe Science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes.  Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group, as well as the application of scientific skills.  We ensure that the skills of ‘working scientifically’ are taught and built on, developing through children’s time at the school.  This is so they can apply their knowledge of Science when using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently and continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.

We teach the Science National Curriculum through exploration, investigations and discovery.  We also teach children the scientific skills they need to help them become scientists; helping them to understand the importance of fair testing, recording results and interpreting their findings.

Teachers create a positive attitude to Science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in the subject.  Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Science involves the following:

• Science will usually be taught in planned and arranged topic blocks by the class teacher, to have a focused project-based approach.  This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge.
• Through our planning, we include problem solving opportunities that allow children to find out for themselves.  Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers.  This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up.
• Science lessons will also include an introduction to a wide range of key scientists, past and present, which have made a difference to our world. Understanding their vital input to the world will inspire our pupils, and ensure they understand the important role of Science in ‘real life’.
  We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years.  As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
• Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities and enhancement; visits, trips and visitors are planned to complement and broaden the curriculum.  These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class.
• Events, such as Science Week/Days, allow all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.  These events often involve families and the wider Shildon community.

The successful approach at St. John’s results in a fun, engaging, high-quality Science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world.  Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first-hand experiences of the world around them. Frequent, continuous and progressive learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the science curriculum.  Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts and local charities, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.

From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving.  Children at St. John’s overwhelmingly enjoy Science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Science Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all children receive high quality PE lessons.  We strive to improve the skills and attitudes of PE and sport to children of all abilities and ensure that different talents and achievements are celebrated.  We recognise the importance of Physical Education to ensure children are inspired to lead healthy lifestyles and have a positive attitude towards sport and exercise.  Therefore, we are committed to providing a fun, challenging and inspiring curriculum which supports all pupils.

At St. John’s, we fully adhere to the aims of the national curriculum for Physical Education to ensure that all children:

• develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities
• are physically active for sustained periods of time
• engage in competitive sports and activities
• lead healthy, active lives.

PE is taught as an area of learning in its own right as well as integrated where possible with other curriculum areas.  Each child receives two lessons of high-quality PE each week.  PE lessons are taught so that children:

• have fun and experience success in sport
• have the opportunity to participate in PE at their own level of development
• secure and build on a range of skills
• develop good sporting attitudes
• understand basic rules
• experience positive competition
• learn in a safe environment
• have a foundation for lifelong physical activity, leaving primary school as physically active.

Children receive lessons across the key areas of physical education and have opportunities to enhance their skills in gymnastics, games (including competitive team games) dance, athletics, outdoor and adventurous activities and swimming.

PE is taught as a basis for lifelong learning, where the children have access to a wide range of activities in the belief that if taught well and the children are allowed to succeed, then they will continue to have a physically active life.  A high-quality Physical Education curriculum inspires all children to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities.  Where possible, children are invited to attend a range of competitions within the local area where they can compete against other schools.  Children across all key stages have had the opportunity to attend different festivals, leagues and competitions.

Our Sports week is always a huge success and is a firm favourite on our school calendar.  During this week, children are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of new sports which opens them up to a wide variety of new opportunities and sports challenges.

We are part of the Active 30 campaign, which is designed to ensure children are getting 30 minutes of activity per day.  Staff have not only been delivering their usual PE lessons, but have been trying to make other areas of the curriculum and school as active as possible.  We use activities such as brain breaks, Wake-up Shake-up and work-out sessions at break and lunchtimes.

As well as providing two high quality PE sessions a week and being enrolled onto the Active 30 campaign. We currently have a service level agreement with Go Well. Go Well provide numerous opportunities for children in all year groups to have PE lessons taught by sport and exercise specific coaches in activities and sports such as Yoga, Rugby, a range of disability sports and many more. As well as high quality specific coaching in curriculum lessons, Go Well provide full, whole school coaching days on a range of different sports and exercises such as Skipping, Hoopstarz and Interactive Speed Cones. A number of these curriculum coaching sessions are also provided after school for children as extra-curricular activities.

We truly believe in the power of Physical Education and sport at St. John’s and are fully committed to ensuring the best for all our pupils.

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

PE Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary, we believe a high-quality computing curriculum equips our children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. 

Computing is a subject of constant discovery which has deep links with Mathematics, Science and Design and Technology, providing insights into both natural and artificial systems.  The core of our computing teaching is computer science, in which our pupils are taught the key ideas of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to use this knowledge through programming.   

Computing lessons are taught discretely as well as through cross curricular links.  We support and nurture digital literacy across the whole school curriculum – our children being able to use, and express themselves using digital technology and information and communication technology – preparing our children with the necessary skills for the future as active participants in a digital world. 

Across all year groups, children learn about the importance of being safe online.  Our children use a variety of high quality devices to enhance their learning experience in computing and the whole curriculum: 30 laptops, 30 iPads, digital cameras, SMART boards in every classroom.  On a daily basis, our children use online games and interactive programs to inspire creativity and reinforce learning across the whole curriculum.   

In short, our computing curriculum is successfully interwoven throughout every subject across the whole school.  

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Computing Subject Plan

At St. John’s C of E Primary School, our children are given the opportunity to develop Design and Technology abilities early on and then continue to develop them as they move through school.  

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject.  The subject encourages children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team.  At St. John's, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.  We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other areas such as Mathematics, Science, Computing and Art.  Pupils are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers.  

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making.  When designing and making, our children are taught to design, make and evaluate using technological knowledge and skills.  These key skills and key knowledge for DT have been mapped across the school to ensure progression between year groups.  This also ensures there is a context for the children’s work in Design and Technology; that they learn about real life structures and the purpose of specific examples, as well as developing their skills throughout the programme of study.  DT lessons are usually blocked (taught in a day or subsequent days) so that children’s learning is focused throughout each unit of work. 

At St. John’s, we ensure our children:  

• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently;  
• build and apply a bank of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design, make, test and evaluate products in a wide range of contexts; 
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook a variety of basic meals. 

We work closely in partnership with our local secondary schools, as well other organisations such as the Locomotion Railway Museum in Shildon and other external practitioners. 

Our desire is that our children at St. John’s learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens, understanding the impact technology has on daily life and the wider world.   

Subject Plan

You can view or download the subject plan by clicking the link below.

Design and Technology Subject Plan