Curriculum Intent Statement
At Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Primary School, we aim to provide our pupils with a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the needs of all learners and is rooted firmly in our Catholic mission and values. We believe that all learning is a sacred endeavour, and our curriculum reflects our commitment to nurturing the whole child – academically, spiritually and socially. The core values of Catholic education are central to the life of our school and underpin everything we do.
We strive to develop resilient, independent and confident learners who can solve problems and adapt in an ever-changing world. We want our children to develop a strong sense of self-worth through belonging to a loving, inclusive community where everyone is accepted, respected and valued.
Intent
Our curriculum is ambitious, challenging and inclusive for all pupils, regardless of their starting points or backgrounds. It provides children with the essential knowledge, skills and cultural capital needed to succeed in their future lives. We aim to foster a love of learning, ensuring pupils feel safe, inspired and motivated to achieve their full potential.
Rooted in the National Curriculum, our approach enables pupils to develop as independent, confident and successful learners with high aspirations. We seek to empower children to make a positive contribution to their local community and the wider world by being ‘the best we can be.’
Specific skills are discreetly taught and practised so that they become transferable. The sequenced lessons activate prior learning, build on skills and deepen knowledge and understanding. Learning, vocabulary and content is cumulative; content is learned, retrieved and built upon.
We are committed to developing pupils as:
- Leaders of tomorrow making a difference today – LEAD
- Advocates for others, especially the vulnerable – STAND
- Powerful Orators who communicate on issues that matter – SPEAK
- Gospel Activists – individuals who live out their faith – ACT
- Inquisitive learners with a lifelong love of knowledge – ASK
- Problem solvers who are able to think creatively – THINK
- Team builders who include everyone and value and respect diversity – SHARE
Implementation
Our curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum alongside rich and varied experiences that meet the needs of our pupils. It provides memorable opportunities and meaningful contexts that enhance learning and develop transferable skills.
The school takes pride in providing a highly inclusive environment, where learners demonstrate high levels of enjoyment in their education and make good progress in most subjects and areas of learning. Children at all levels are helped to achieve their potential. Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for greater depth and those who require further support are encouraged and given adaptive teaching or targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs.
The local community, its heritage and traditions are used to engage and inspire pupils, making learning relevant and purposeful. Educational visits, visitors and outdoor learning experiences enrich the curriculum and broaden pupils’ horizons.
Teaching follows a clear structure:
- Retrieval (Reflect and Review) – recalling prior knowledge to strengthen memory – remember more, know more, learn more.
- Explain and Model – clear teacher instruction and modelling
- Check for Understanding – Effective questioning to assess understanding and identify misconceptions accurately; provide clear, direct feedback; responding and adapting their teaching as necessary)
- Applied Learning – opportunities to practise and deepen learning for all pupils, through a united approach of high expectations, all classes promote a culture of: high challenge, low threat.
Impact
Our curriculum ensures that pupils:
- Develop strong knowledge, skills and understanding across subjects
- Build confidence, resilience and independence as learners
- Enjoy learning and demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviour
- Communicate effectively using a rich and varied vocabulary
- Work collaboratively and develop strong social skills
- Understand their role as responsible citizens in their community and beyond
Pupils are proud of their achievements and are given opportunities to share their learning with their parents and carers through events in school, parents’ evenings, social media and external events.
Ultimately, our curriculum supports children in becoming well-rounded individuals who are ready to contribute positively to society, guided by faith, values and a lifelong love of learning.
Listen to our OLQM Characteristic Song
Further curriculum information can be found below
Parents may withdraw children from all, or part of, the religious education programme, or collective worship.
However, we ask parents to support the Catholic ethos of the school and as they have made a positive decision to opt for a Roman Catholic school, the Governors do not expect to receive any requests.
