We follow an exciting and ambitious curriculum from Reception to Year 6. Each topic has a question to focus the learning, which then has a set of steps towards a goal. The children's learning is also celebrated with specific outcomes at the end of each topic. For example, we might create exhibitions, perform plays or showcase work completed. Teachers plan for cross curricular opportunities in English and Maths wherever possible. The year is peppered with special days. These days provide pupils with an opportunity to examine a specific area in more detail, providing independent thinking and challenge.

Our Subject Leads work in teams so that they can share ideas and prepare and plan together for different subjects. Below is information for each group of subjects. For each of the subjects, we have developed our intent, implementation and impact statements to align with National Curriculum aims and with our school vision and aims.  In that way, the curriculum on offer to our Saint John's pupils is specific and relevant to each of them, ensuring that we grow their learning from their diverse roots, challenging them to reach up and reach out and preparing them for their lives in our community and beyond.

Computing

National Curriculum Aims

The National Curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology                                                                                                                                                              

Intent

While studying computing at Saint John’s we aim to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible, caring and safe way in order to flourish.

We want our pupils to be able to operate in the 21st century workplace and we want them to know the career opportunities that will be open to them if they study computing.  We want children to become confident, independent users of computing technologies, gaining enjoyment from their activities. We want the use of technology to support learning across the entire curriculum and to ensure that our curriculum challenges every child.  Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent end-users of technology but through our computer science lessons we want them to develop creativity, resilience and problem-solving and critical thinking skills. We want our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital citizens.

Implementation

At Saint John’s, computing is taught in discreet computing lessons. The computing curriculum is delivered through the iCompute scheme of work:

• Three units to be taught in Computing throughout the year in line with a two-week timetable
• Some flexibility regarding which units are taught, as long as over the course of the year, each of the computing areas of learning will be visited – Information Technology, Computer Science and Digital Literacy
• eSafety is a theme which runs through every unit as well as highlighted on national events – e.g. Safer Internet Day

The iCompute scheme has been closely referenced against the 2014 National Curriculum attainment targets in order to ensure progression and coverage.  Having discreet lessons means that the children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their computing units. Where appropriate, meaningful links will be made between the computing curriculum and the wider curriculum. In computing lessons, children will use either iPads or laptops in order to access a range of apps and software. Discreet computing lessons will focus on the curriculum skills of information technology, digital literacy and computer science.

Computing Plan

Key Stage 1: Reception: Small units of work that can be used as part of continuous provision iCan activities iMake activities iSafe activities Year 1:  iAlgorithm – unplugged activities to support understanding of algorithms iSafe – eSafety iDraw – exploring digital art iModel – introduction of modelling iProgram – programming physical and virtual toys iWrite – creating, manipulating and storing digital text iData – introduction to data representation Year 2: iProgram (1) – Creating simple animations iPub – creating interactive eBooks iBlog – writing and responding using blogs iSearch – Using the web to find things out iAnimate – Introduction to animation iDo Mail – Introduction to email iProgram(2) – Programming with ScratchJr iSafe - eSaftey

Lower Key Stage 2 Year 3: iProgram (1) – games and animation development iProgram (2) – Robotics with WeDo LEGO iSafe – eSafety iConnect – internet and World Wide Web incl. searching iPodcast – Audio editing with Podcasts iSimulate – Exploring computer simulations iData – Introducing databases iNetwork – Introducing networks Year 4: iProgram (1) – Making shapes and navigating mazes iProgram (2) – Robotics with LEGO WeDo iProgram (3) – Programming puzzles and LightBot iProgram (4) – Programming with Scratch iAlgorithm – unplugged activities developing computational thinking iSafe – Being safe, responsible digital citizens iAnimate – Introduction to animation iMail – Communicating and collaborating via email iData – Introduction to data representation

Upper Key Stage 2 Year 5: iProgram (1) – Designing and developing computer games iWeb – Remixing and creating web content using HTML iProgram (2) – Designing and developing multi-level X-Box games iSafe – Becoming safe and responsible digital citizens iDraw – Graphical drawing iCrypto – Data and cryptography iModel – 3D graphical modelling Year 6: iProgram (1) – Designing and developing computer games iProgram (2) – Designing and developing 3D animations iApp (1 & 2) – Designing and developing Apps iSafe – Staying safe in a digital world iData – Introducing spreadsheets iModel – 3D graphical modelling iNetwork – Networks, data and creating web content

Impact

The intended impact is that Saint John's pupils leave with confidence to use devices for research, planning and creative activities, whilst also understanding how computing can be used to support many other areas of learning. With so much of our world revolving around computers and technology, our children need to be excited about the potential uses whilst mindful of the potential dangers and challenges.  We want our children to be in control of their "gadget usage", rather than feeling controlled by it, but we want them to feel able to move into secondary school inspired by the amazing possibilities which computing knowledge and understanding provides.
 

Music

National Curriculum Aims

The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and

musicians

• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.                                         

Intent

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Plato

At Saint John’s, we intend that every child shall enjoy their opportunities to learn about music in all its forms – to enjoy the opportunity to make music, listen to and appreciate it and understand the specialist aspects of it – its language, its patterns and its notation. We want our children to enjoy performing together as a community, and to see the links between music and performance across the Arts. We intend, through teaching of the National Curriculum for music to ensure that all pupils are challenged to perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.  They should learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence. They will learn to understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Implementation

Our curriculum is centred around ‘Charanga’, a music based scheme, in which the children learn to sing and play instruments. The scheme of work covers the National Curriculum and we follow their structure to ensure full coverage. Children will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of pulse, rhythm and notation. The programme incorporates the use of technologies such as ‘Garage Band’, enabling the children to compose their own pieces. The curriculum is delivered by class teachers using a clearly planned and rich syllabus. This is further enhanced through additional musical study and appreciation during performance and concerts, and with visiting musicians. Each unit follows a sequence of learning: listen and appraise, interrelated dimensions of music, singing, playing Instruments, improvisation, composition, perform and share. This approach ensures the children get a rich learning experience covering all aspects of music. Music is taught throughout the school, establishing cross curricular links where possible – in English, Early Years, Maths, RE, Physical and Creative development. Choirs and Music groups are formed to meet the school needs e.g. for school and the community seasonal events.

Impact

As a result of our curriculum, children at Saint John’s will:

• have opportunities to listen to, engage with and develop an appreciation for music

• learn to play tuned and un-tuned instruments and have opportunities to further interests through extra-curricular music activities

• develop an understanding of a wide range of musical genres through engagement

• have opportunities to listen to live music through our specialist teachers and other experiences such as workshops and concerts.

Children learn musically, both independently and as part of a group, ensuring skills of resilience and teamwork are promoted in this subject. Children are enthused and engaged in a wide variety of music activities. Opportunities to perform outside of school and within our local environment ensure our children understand the significance and place of music within the wider world.

 

Modern Foreign Language

National Curriculum Aims

The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

• understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
• can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
• discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied                                                                                                                                                                                   

Intent

At Saint John’s, we aim to provide a high quality curriculum in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) which develops children’s love of learning about other languages, cultures and Communities and helps provide them with an understanding of the world. It has been decided that all children will learn French throughout KS2.   Our curriculum provides challenging opportunities for them to communicate with each other and with the teacher on a regular basis.  Our aim is for pupils to feel confident engaging in spoken French, develop skills in reading, listening and writing, and know how important languages will be in their future as they develop into caring citizens of the world. We hope that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and curiosity about languages, finding them enjoyable and exciting and show a desire to continue their language learning past KS2. 

Implementation

At Saint John’s, MFL is taught in discreet lessons weekly. The MFL curriculum is delivered through the Language Angels scheme of work:

• Six units to be taught in MFL throughout the year
• Some flexibility regarding which units are taught, as long as over the course of the year all units are covered

The Language Angels scheme has been closely referenced against the 2014 National Curriculum attainment targets in order to ensure progression and coverage.  Having discreet lessons means that the children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their units. Where appropriate, meaningful links will be made between the MFL curriculum and the wider curriculum. Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes - building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language.

Modern Foreign Language Plan

LKS2 Year 3: I’m Learning French Salutations Colours and Numbers Seasons Shapes Under the Sea Year 4: I can… Animals Transport Fruits Vegetables In the Jungle

UKS2 Year 5: Seasons Minibeasts At the Café Pets Family The Date Year 6: Presenting Myself In the Classroom My Home Habitats Clothes Weather

If you are interested in seeing the detailed planning and knowledge organisers for each area of learning, please do contact the class teacher.

Impact

Through the high quality first teaching of French taking place, we will see the impact of the subject in the following ways:

• Children will be able to communicate with each other in French.
• Children will become aware that a language has a structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another.
• Children will develop their language through development of the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
• Children will learn how language skills can be applied to a range of languages.
• Children will transfer to KS3 effectively and successfully and will be well prepared to continue and develop their language skills.
• Children will become aware that the world is a small place and that language skills can be very useful for travelling and conducting business across a global market.