CATHOLIC CURRICULUM

MISSION STATEMENT: At St Teresa’s we endeavour to help each child to develop spiritually, socially, aesthetically and academically; to make school a place where children can learn to work and play together and accept responsibility for making choices whilst growing daily in the knowledge and love of God and the teaching of the Church; and in all things to give witness to Christ.                      

‘Living, Learning, Growing in Jesus’

RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS:

• A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life with dignity and, as far as possible, independence and to play an active part in the community. Article 23
• Every child has the right to an education. Article 28
• Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities. Article 31

INTRODUCTION

At St. Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, our curriculum is designed to meet all National Curriculum requirements while embedding our Catholic ethos and celebrating the diversity of our community. This document provides a clear overview of how each subject and year group integrates statutory objectives, Catholic values, and inclusive practice, ensuring our pupils achieve academically, grow spiritually, and develop as compassionate citizens.

EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE (NURSERY & RECEPTION)

• Religious Education: Children learn about God’s love through Bible stories and daily prayer.
• PSHE: Stories focus on friendship and kindness, reflecting Jesus’ teachings.
• Mathematics: Counting and sorting activities use natural objects, encouraging appreciation of God’s creation.
• Understanding the World: Exploration of different cultures and faiths, valuing each child as “uniquely created by God.”
• Expressive Arts: Art projects celebrate religious festivals, such as creating nativity scenes.

KEY STAGE 1

Year 1

• Religious Education: Focus on Creation and learning about saints as role models.
• English: Retelling parables and writing thank-you letters for Harvest Festival.
• Mathematics: Real-life contexts, such as sharing food, reinforce division and addition.
• Science: Study of plants and animals, promoting care for God’s world.
• History: Learning about the Great Fire of London and community resilience.
• Geography: Exploring the local area, emphasising community, and belonging.
• Art & Music: Creating stained glass windows and singing hymns from various cultures.
• PE: Team games that foster teamwork and respect.

Year 2

• Religious Education: Focus on the life of Jesus and the importance of forgiveness.
• English: Exploring stories from different cultures to promote empathy.
• Mathematics: Problem-solving activities around sharing and fairness.
• Science: Investigating habitats, linking to care of creation.
• History: A visit to Windsor Castle supports the topic “Magnificent Monarchs,” where children learn about monarchy, visit state apartments and St George’s Chapel, and compare Queen Victoria’s life to today, linking to the Catholic value of service and leadership
• Geography: Comparing life in the UK with other countries, celebrating diversity.
• Art & Music: Collages of God’s creation and exploring world music.
• PE: Activities that develop cooperation.

Year 3

• Religious Education: Study of the Sacraments, especially First Holy Communion.
• English: Writing prayers and reading stories with moral dilemmas.
• Mathematics: Applying maths to charity events, such as calculating donations.
• Science: Investigating rocks and soils as part of God’s creation.
• History: The “Rocks, Relics and Rumbles” topic is brought to life with a trip to the Natural History Museum, where pupils act as archaeologists, connecting scientific discovery with stewardship of God’s creation
• Geography: Studying rivers and water, linking to baptism.
• Music: Pupils perform in a Christmas Carol Concert at St. Teresa’s Church, celebrating Catholic tradition and community
• PE: Emphasis on fair play and encouragement.

Year 4

• Religious Education: Exploring the Bible and the lives of saints from diverse backgrounds.
• English: Writing about inspirational figures who demonstrate Gospel values.
• Mathematics: Using statistics to analyze charitable giving
• Science: Studying electricity and the symbolism of light.
• History: Learning about Romans in Britain, including early Christian martyrs. The “I am Warrior” topic includes a visit to St. Albans and the Verulamium Museum to study the Romanisation of Britain, handle artefacts, connecting history, language, and the Catholic heritage of Britain.
• Geography: Studying regions of the UK and unity in diversity.
• Art & Music: Creating mosaics and composing music for liturgical celebrations.
• PE: Inclusive activities supporting all abilities.

Year 5

• Religious Education: Exploring the Church’s mission and Catholic Social Teaching.
• English: Debating ethical issues and writing about justice and charity.
• Mathematics: Budgeting for class charity projects.
• Science: Studying life cycles and respect for all life.
• History: Learning about the Tudors and religious tolerance.
• Geography: Studying global Catholic communities and migration.
• Art & Music: Creating portraits of saints and exploring music from different faiths.
• PE: Leadership in sports, promoting fairness.

Year 6

• Religious Education: Focus on discipleship and preparing for transition to secondary school.
• English: Writing reflective essays on forgiveness and reconciliation.
• Mathematics: Applying maths to fundraising events.
• Science: Studying evolution and creation, exploring faith and science.
• History: The “A Child’s War” topic explores World War II. Pupils critically evaluate evidence, consider moral choices, and present perspectives on children’s experiences during the war, linking historical understanding with empathy and Catholic values of justice and peace
• Geography: Exploring global issues such as refugees, linked to Catholic Social Teaching.
• Art & Music: Creating remembrance art and preparing music for leavers’ Mass.
• PE: Emphasizing teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship.

EMBEDDING DIVERSITY

• Diversity Wheel: All planning considers pupils’ backgrounds, abilities, and experiences, ensuring everyone feels valued.
• Inclusive Curriculum: Lessons celebrate saints and significant figures from various cultures, study global issues, and include texts and music from around the world.
• Celebrations: Religious and cultural festivals are marked throughout the year, promoting respect and understanding.

IMPACT

Spiritual and Moral Growth: Pupils demonstrate compassion, respect, and a sense of social responsibility.

Community Cohesion: The curriculum fosters a strong sense of belonging and celebrates the richness of diversity within the school.

CONCLUSION

St. Teresa’s curriculum is a living expression of our Catholic mission, fully aligned with the National Curriculum and enriched by our commitment to diversity and inclusion. This ensures that every child flourishes academically, spiritually, and personally.

For further details, please refer to our curriculum overviews and diversity statement on our school website.

Diversity 

What is a meaning of diversity?

It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. At St Teresa’s we want our pupils to know they are uniquely created by God and that our differences should be celebrated. We want everyone in our community to have a sense of belonging.

What is the diversity wheel?

The Diversity Wheel gives an overview of the dimensions of diversity that are present and active in our environment. At St Teresa’s we consider these dimensions when planning our curriculum. We take into consideration the teachings of the Catholic Church.