Curriculum

Curriculum Intent 

Curriculum Overview

Foundation Stage

The statutory EYFS framework forms a basis from which our broad and balanced Early Years Curriculum is developed. The seven areas of development are : 

It is mainly delivered through play and practical activities.  Well planned play, both indoors and outdoors, is a key way in which young children learn with enjoyment and challenge.  We consider that the curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage underpins all future learning and leads towards the National Curriculum which is started in Year 1 or earlier if the children have exceeded the Early Years Learning Goals.

Key Stage 1 and 2

Every pupil will follow the New National Curriculum programmes of study in the following subjects:

At the start of every new term parents will be informed of what areas of the curriculum will be studied and how best parents can help to work in partnership with the school to maximise every child’s potential.

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

RSE is firmly embedded in our Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) framework.

The school use the Ten:Ten resources as approved by the Bishops of England and Wales to deliver the RSE curriculum. The curriculum is delivered explicitly through a combination of stories, videos, discussions and activities and also through the RE, Science, PSHE and ICT curriculum.

Our programme enshrines Catholic values relating to the importance of stable relationships, marriage and family life. It also promotes those virtues which are essential in responding to the God’s call to love others with a proper respect for their dignity and the dignity of the human body. 

Our RSE curriculum is progressive and based on the following dimensions:

Education in virtue

Religious understanding of the human person

Me, my body and my health

Emotional well-being and attitudes

Life cycles and fertility

Personal relationships

Keeping safe and people who can help me


These dimensions are taught through three themes:

Created & loved by God 

Created to love others 

Created to live in community (local, national and global) 


Queen Mary's Grammar School also support us through their Change your Mind workshops. They deliver workshops to Y5 and Y6 on Transition, Digital detoxing, Healthy relationships and Health and Development. Walsall School Nursing Team run parent workshops on the same themes. 

Walsall ICT service also deliver Internet safety workshops to the whole school. Parent workshops are offered too.

 Religious Education

The Religious Education Curriculum follows the Diocesan RE Strategy and Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools.  The doctrine is taught in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Religious Education lessons account for at least 10% of curriculum time.  Respect for other faiths and cultures are also part of our mission. 

Within St. Mary’s School, the religious education provided is not wholly confined to teaching/learning situations found in RE lessons.  The message and spirit of the Gospel is actively approached and reflected upon throughout the curriculum and all areas of school life. 

Preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion takes place in Year 3 and in Year 6 for Confirmation.  It is through a strong partnership with parents that we lead children closer to God our Father through the Sacraments. 

School Masses, daily prayers and assemblies are central to our worship and deepen the children’s experience of Almighty God through regular prayer and the development of a spiritual life.  The school is an integral part of the Parish Community.  Throughout the liturgical year we come together to celebrate important feasts.  All of our parents and children are most welcome to share our various masses and services. 

Curriculum By Subject Area

The curriculum offered at St. Mary's is a wide-ranging one and aimed at educating the “whole child”.  All children, starting school, work on a common curriculum that is divided into several stages, the first three stages being applicable to St. Mary's: 

All areas of the New National Curriculum subjects are taught.  The school makes every effort to keep abreast of the changes taking place in education.  As a staff we carefully monitor and assess pupils’ achievement, devise programmes of study and then implement in the light of what we know.  Details of our long term planning can be accessed below.

Religious Education is at the heart of the curriculum and underpins everything we teach.

We are blessed with very experienced, capable and forward looking staff whose expertise and leadership is outstanding in all curriculum areas but especially the “Core” subjects of Numeracy, Literacy, RE and Science.

Peripatetic Music teachers visit the school on a regular weekly basis to give small group instruction in Woodwind, Brass and Strings work.  From these children a small orchestra is formed.  The orchestra regularly play for school events; we are very proud of their achievement.  We also maintain close contact with other Local Authority Support Services whose staff visit the school as and when the need arises.  We benefit from collaborative support from our catholic Colleagues in the Walsall Catholic Primary Schools.  This is a strength - we learn much from each other in a supportive atmosphere.  The school is fortunate in the quality of its support staff who liaise and work closely with professional colleagues for the benefit of all children.  

We also offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities ranging from football, dance, drama, guitar, Chinese, netball, boxing, as well as a wide range of PE activities.

From the moment the children begin school, their individual abilities and needs are assessed and the work matched to them.  This ensures a smooth progression for the children through the school.  Subjects are taught in a variety of ways depending upon the age and ability of the children and the nature of the subject.  As the children get older they are expected to use the knowledge and skills they have already gained to solve an increasingly complex set of tasks and problems.

Homework is set, details of which are in the Homework Policy, and on occasions children are asked to complete unfinished work at home.  Regular reading at home is encouraged by the school, indeed on a regular basis in respect of younger children.  Reading books are taken home so that parents can work in conjunction with the school to develop a child’s reading ability.

Educational opportunities in the form of visits to places of interest or by visitors to school are an important part of the curriculum, in their ability to augment and enhance what is being taught at school.  Unfortunately these often cost money and parents are usually asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of these visits.  An inability to make a contribution does not, of course, prevent a child from taking part in a visit, but without your support it may be necessary to cancel the visit.  Contributions though are only requested for activities not funded by the school budget.