Sacred Heart curriculum rationale

Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum which can be found by clicking the link below. We have developed our curriculum over recent years to ensure we not only meet but exceed the requirements of the national curriculum in providing our pupils with a knowledge-rich education to ensure their success as they move into KS3.

National Curriculum(opens in new tab)

At Sacred Heart, we offer a broad, balanced and academically rigorous curriculum for all our learners. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught using the EYFS framework with an emphasis on developing key skills, knowledge and understanding through direct teaching and structured continuous provision.

Our curriculum is designed with knowledge at its heart to ensure that children develop a strong vocabulary base and understanding of the world.  The curriculum promotes long-term learning and we believe that progress means knowing more and remembering more.

The school curriculum reflects the requirements to provide a broad and balanced curriculum as per the Academies Act 2010(opens in new tab), and the National Curriculum programmes of study(opens in new tab) which we have chosen to follow.

It also reflects requirements for inclusion and equality as set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2014(opens in new tab) and Equality Act 2010(opens in new tab), and refers to curriculum-related expectations of governing boards set out in the Department for Education’s Governance Handbook(opens in new tab).

Further information on how we achieve this can be found in our statement of equality information and objectives, and in our SEND policy and information report.

If you would like any further information about our school curriculum, please contact your child’s class teacher in the first instance.

Below are the links to programmes used in our curriculum.

RE- Come and See

PHSE and RSE- Ten Ten– Life to the Full, Journey in LoveCafodPHSE Matters

Wordsmith

Accelerated Reader 

White Rose 

Purple Mash

Mandarin

Little Wandle New Letters and Sounds

For subject overviews for the whole school, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.

To see the specific knowledge and skills your child will be learning this year, please click on the year group buttons or links below. As we go through the year you will see more photos are added.

Foundation 1  /  Foundation 2  /  Year 1  /  Year 2  /  Year 3  /  Year 4  /  Year 5  /  Year 6

Phonics at our school

At Sacred Heart we follow the Little Wandle scheme for teaching phonics. We use phrases alongside each sound to help the children have a hook for learning each sound. Each phonic session revisits sounds which the children have previously learnt and then introduces the next sound in the phase they are working in. We follow a four part lessons; revisit and review, teach, practice and apply. Children are encouraged to practice and apply the new phonic skills they have learnt through both reading and writing words. Phonics sessions are discretely taught from Foundation 1 to year 2. When children are in year 3 on wards those who need support in this area will work in a phonics intervention to build on their knowledge and understanding from the previous key stage.

We run parent workshops in Foundation Stage, where parents are given more information about what Phonics are and how it helps their child to develop their reading skills. In year 1 a parent workshop is run in the Autumn term to share information regarding the Phonics Screening Check that the children will take in the Summer term. We encourage children to use their phonics when reading both in school and at home.

Please visit the Foundation and Year 1 pages of the website for videos to support the learning of phonics at home.

We follow the Wordsmith scheme of work including extra texts to ensure the children receive a diverse range of texts.

Please click here for details of our English curriculum.

Our new library!

Our new library is now open- see the photos below. Each class has a time during the week where they can sit on the cushions and listen to their teacher read to them.

Children are encouraged to love books and read for pleasure. With this in mind, children are given many opportunities throughout the day in which they can read, on their own, in a group or with the whole class. Reading at home is also crucial.

Accelerated Reader programme is used with years 2 to 6. With AR, children read a book and then take a comprehension quiz about it as soon as possible. This is all completed online and children are given regular feedback on how they have done. The programme also adds up how many words each child has read so far in the year.

Our First Millionaire reader was Charity and she won this many books!!!!

Please see details of our science curriculum below.

Science Whole School Curriculum Overview

Please click HERE for more details on Computing at Sacred Heart

Please click here for details of our history curriculum

Please see below for details of our geography curriculum.

Geography Whole School Curriculum

Please click here for details of our art and design curriculum

Please click here for details of our DT curriculum.

At Sacred Heart, we believe that music is an essential part of education that nurtures creativity and expression in children. This is why we have chosen the Kapow Primary Music scheme for our school. The primary aim of this programme is to help every child feel musical and to inspire a lifelong love of music that can enrich their lives. Through Kapow Music, students will develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to become confident performers, composers, and listeners. The curriculum encompasses a diverse range of musical styles, covering genres from around the world and throughout history. This variety not only enhances children’s musical abilities but also encourages them to respect and appreciate different cultural traditions and communities. By integrating the Kapow Music scheme into our school’s curriculum, we aim to build a strong foundation in music education, allowing students to express themselves and develop friendships through shared experiences. Ultimately, we hope to instill in our children a profound appreciation for music that will accompany them throughout their lives.

Please click HERE to see details of our music curriculum

Please click HERE for details of our MFL/Mandarin curriculum

Please click HERE for details of our PE curriculum

At Sacred Heart we follow White Rose. Please click here to see the Calculation Policy showing the Progression of Skills through each year group.