As a school within Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, we teach a range of subjects following a scheme of work designed by a transition team of our primary school staff working with subject specialists from our secondary schools. This means our curriculum has been designed to ensure clear progression, in the acquisition of knowledge and key skills, building on pupils’ prior learning. The curriculum units of work have clearly identified minimum knowledge ‘end points,’ and have been sequenced to ensure that pupils know more and remember more as they move through primary school and transfer into KS3. Our curriculum covers the National Curriculum and is underpinned by subject-specific building blocks (Threshold Concepts) which are emphasised and reinforced across our schools from KS1 to KS5.
Each unit of work has a clear rationale, key topic vocabulary, builds on pupils’ prior learning and defines the minimum knowledge and skills (end points) that pupils will learn. Assessment strands in topics give pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and the knowledge companions that we call ‘Learn it! Link It!’ help pupils to remember the key elements of the topic. This helps pupil organise their learning into relevant areas and make links to other areas and subjects. Conceptual (golden) threads for each subject are woven through our curriculum to ensure consistency, add focus and promote purposeful learning.