Curriculum Intent at St Thomas More

Our Vision & Ethos

At St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, our vision is that we will ‘Positively affect the life and future of every child.’ We want our children to leave our environment as children who are happy with who they are, confident in their abilities, resilient in the face of challenge and respectful and welcoming of diversity. We want children to be compassionate and empathetic, ambitious for the next steps on their life journey, which they will approach with high aspirations, have strong moral values centred on our faith, and above all, be a living embodiment of Gospel values.

Through our curriculum, we intend to promote British Values, (Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs) framed within the Catholic faith, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as a UK citizen for when they leave St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.

Faith In Our Curriculum

As a thriving outstanding, Catholic school, the fundamentals of Catholic education remain at our core. This includes the pursuit of excellence and preparing our children as world citizens of the 21st century so that they have the knowledge and necessary skills beyond the curriculum itself. In order for this to be achieved, our children need high levels of competency in English and Mathematics. We recognise Religious Education as a core subject and also recognise that parents and carers are the primary educators of the faith.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is linked to the Primary National Curriculum and aims to provide a highly inclusive environment where learners enjoy their education. It is designed to give all learners, including the disadvantaged and SEND the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. We are fully committed to providing a relevant, broad, balanced and continuous curriculum to develop inquisitive thinkers and learners who have respect for themselves and others.

Our school is fortunate to have an abundance of outdoor space for children to learn and play. Embedded within our curriculum is Forest School, enabling the children to learn new skills outside of the classroom.

As a school we have recently enrolled in the OPAL (outdoor play and learning) programme. Our intent is to develop core skills that are best accrued by children through play and learning outside. These skills include co-operation; to develop a rich language that is used in context; to problem solve and negotiate; to be creative and support mental and physical well-being. Ultimately, our curriculum aims to support our children to be independent and well-adjusted citizens who are equipped and prepared for the world beyond school.