St. John’s C of E Primary School

Curriculum Overview 2026 2027

To Belong, To Imagine, To Achieve

At St John’s Church of England Primary School, we believe that every child deserves an ambitious, inspiring and inclusive curriculum that nurtures curiosity, develops confidence and enables them to flourish.

As a small, welcoming village school, we recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of every child. Our curriculum is rooted in our Christian ethos and guided by our school vision: To Belong, To Imagine, To Achieve.

We want every child to feel valued and included, to develop the confidence to explore possibilities and to recognise that, with the right support, encouragement and opportunities, they can achieve great things.

Our curriculum is designed to provide strong foundations in knowledge and skills, while creating memorable experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning. We make the most of our beautiful rural surroundings, our local community and the wider world to bring learning to life.

We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, connected and inspired. Through high expectations, excellent teaching and a nurturing environment, we aim to ensure that every child is supported, challenged and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Intent

Our curriculum is shaped by three aspirations that sit at the heart of everything we do.

To Belong- We want every child to feel safe, valued, respected and included. Our curriculum celebrates individuality, promotes positive relationships and helps children understand their place within our school, local community and wider world. We nurture a strong sense of belonging where differences are celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

To Imagine- We want children to be curious, creative and confident thinkers who ask questions, explore ideas and see possibilities beyond what they already know. Our curriculum encourages imagination, discovery, problem-solving and a willingness to take risks in learning. We want children to dream big and believe in what they can become.

To Achieve- We want every child to experience success, develop resilience and take pride in their achievements. Through ambitious expectations, high-quality teaching and appropriate support and challenge, we ensure children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed academically, socially and personally.

Our curriculum is designed to:

• Establish secure foundations in reading, writing, mathematics and communication, ensuring children have the essential knowledge and skills to access the wider curriculum.
• Build a rich body of knowledge and vocabulary, enabling children to make meaningful connections within and across subjects.
• Inspire curiosity, creativity and imagination through exciting learning opportunities that encourage children to question, investigate, explore and think critically.
• Maintain high expectations and appropriate challenge for every child, ensuring that learning is ambitious, inclusive and adapted to meet individual needs.
• Develop independence, perseverance and resilience, helping children recognise that mistakes, reflection and effort are important parts of learning.
• Promote a love of reading and language, recognising their importance in unlocking learning, imagination and future opportunities.
• Nurture the whole child, supporting personal, social, emotional, spiritual and physical development alongside academic achievement.
• Celebrate diversity and encourage respect, compassion and understanding, preparing children to contribute positively to their communities.
• Make meaningful use of our rural environment, local heritage, church and community to enrich learning and develop an appreciation of the world around us.
• Prepare children for the next stage of education and life, equipping them with the confidence, knowledge, skills and positive attitudes needed to flourish.

Our school values of Kindness, Honesty, Perseverance, Respect and Responsibility are woven throughout our curriculum and daily school life. Rooted in our Christian ethos, these values guide how we learn, treat one another and contribute to our community.

We believe that belonging provides the security to imagine, imagination creates the possibilities to explore, and high-quality teaching and determination enable every child to achieve.

Implementation

At St John’s, our curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced to ensure that children build progressively on their existing knowledge, understanding and skills.

As a small school with mixed-age classes, we recognise the importance of a coherent, well-structured curriculum that ensures all children experience the full breadth of the National Curriculum without unnecessary repetition or gaps in learning.

Our carefully designed rolling programmes enable children to develop knowledge and skills progressively, while teachers plan learning that responds to the different ages, stages and needs within each class.

We place a strong emphasis on high-quality teaching, secure foundational knowledge and inclusive practice, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to succeed.

Our approach to teaching and learning includes:

• Explicit teaching and modelling: Teachers clearly explain and demonstrate new knowledge and skills, using an I do, we do, you do approach to build confidence and independence.
• Building on prior knowledge: Learning is carefully sequenced, with regular opportunities to revisit, retrieve and strengthen important knowledge.
• Developing vocabulary and oracy: Children are explicitly taught subject-specific vocabulary and encouraged to explain, discuss, reason and communicate their thinking.
• Purposeful questioning and assessment: Teachers check understanding regularly, identify misconceptions and adapt teaching to ensure children make progress.
• Practice and application: Children have opportunities to practise new learning, consolidate their understanding and apply knowledge in different contexts.
• Appropriate challenge: Learning is ambitious for all, with carefully planned support, scaffolding and extension to enable every child to achieve.
• Adaptive teaching: Teachers respond to the needs of pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and other vulnerable learners, removing barriers while maintaining high expectations.
• Creativity and exploration: Children are encouraged to investigate, problem-solve, express themselves and approach learning with curiosity and imagination.
• Collaboration and independence: Children learn to work together, listen to others, take responsibility and develop the confidence to work independently.
• Feedback and reflection: Assessment and feedback help children recognise their successes, understand their next steps and take increasing ownership of their learning.

Strong foundations from the very beginning

In the Early Years, we provide a nurturing, stimulating environment where children develop the knowledge, language, confidence and independence that underpin future learning.

Through a balance of high-quality adult-led teaching, purposeful play and carefully planned continuous provision, children are encouraged to explore, investigate, communicate and develop their understanding of the world.

As children move through Key Stage 1 and beyond, these foundations are strengthened through systematic teaching, opportunities for practice and an increasing expectation of independence.

Reading, writing, phonics, mathematics and oracy remain central priorities throughout the school, recognising that secure foundational skills enable children to access, enjoy and succeed across the wider curriculum.

Learning beyond the classroom

We believe that a rich curriculum extends far beyond the classroom walls.

Our beautiful school grounds, Forest School opportunities, outdoor spaces and surrounding countryside provide valuable opportunities for exploration, discovery and practical learning.

We enrich our curriculum through educational visits, visitors, community partnerships, church connections, sporting opportunities, music, art, performance and special events.

These experiences broaden children's horizons, deepen their understanding and help them connect their learning to real life.

As a Church of England school, we also provide opportunities for children to explore faith, reflect on important questions, develop spirituality and understand different beliefs and perspectives.

We want children to appreciate the world they belong to, imagine the difference they could make and develop the confidence to do so.

Assessment and responsive teaching

Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning at St John’s. Teachers use ongoing assessment, questioning, observation, pupil discussion and more formal assessments to understand what children know, remember and can do. This information is used to identify gaps, address misconceptions, provide additional support and plan appropriate next steps.

Through regular monitoring, moderation, professional development and collaboration, we continually reflect on and refine our curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of all our learners.

Impact

The success of our curriculum is reflected not only in what children achieve academically, but also in the confident, compassionate and curious individuals they become.

We want children to leave St John’s having developed a strong sense of belonging, a love of learning and the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to embrace future opportunities.

Children who Belong

• Feel safe, happy, included and valued as members of our school community.
• Develop positive relationships and demonstrate kindness, honesty, respect and responsibility.
• Celebrate differences and show understanding and compassion towards others.
• Have a strong sense of identity, self-worth and confidence.
• Understand their responsibilities within their community and the wider world.
• Develop emotional awareness, resilience and positive attitudes towards themselves and others.

Children who Imagine

• Demonstrate curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for learning.
• Ask thoughtful questions, explore ideas and think critically.
• Make connections between different areas of knowledge and understanding.
• Communicate confidently, using a rich and increasingly sophisticated vocabulary.
• Approach challenges with imagination, flexibility and determination.
• Develop a love of reading, discovery and lifelong learning.
• Recognise opportunities, explore possibilities and have aspirations for their futures.

Children who Achieve

• Develop secure foundational knowledge and skills in reading, writing, mathematics and across the wider curriculum.
• Remember, understand and apply important knowledge over time.
• Read fluently, write confidently and use mathematical reasoning to solve problems.
• Demonstrate independence, perseverance and a willingness to improve.
• Reflect on their learning, respond positively to feedback and recognise their own progress.
• Experience success and take pride in their achievements, both academic and personal.
• Are well prepared academically, socially and emotionally for the next stage of their education.

How we know our curriculum is successful

We evaluate the impact of our curriculum through a range of approaches, including assessment information, pupil progress, pupil voice, work scrutiny, lesson visits, curriculum monitoring, moderation and discussions with staff, children and families.

We consider not only what children can demonstrate at a particular moment, but also what they have remembered, understood and can apply over time.

We use this information to celebrate success, identify areas for improvement and ensure that our curriculum continues to meet the needs of our school community.

Our commitment to continuous improvement ensures that our curriculum remains ambitious, inclusive, relevant and responsive.

Our Curriculum Promise

At St John’s Church of England Primary School, we believe that every child has something unique to offer and deserves every opportunity to flourish.

We want our children to leave us with happy memories, strong friendships, secure knowledge, a sense of achievement and the confidence to embrace whatever comes next.

We want them to know that they are valued, that their ideas matter and that their potential is not limited by their starting points.

To Belong: Every child knows they have a place, a voice and a community that values them.

To Imagine: Every child is inspired to be curious, creative and ambitious about what is possible.

To Achieve: Every child is supported and challenged to grow, succeed and take pride in who they are becoming.

To Belong, To Imagine, To Achieve.

Our vision. Our curriculum. Our promise to every child.

Please see link to the National Curriculum.

National curriculum in England: primary curriculum - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)