Our Curriculum
“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese Proverb
The St Anne’s curriculum is designed with knowledge at its heart to ensure that children develop an extensive understanding of the world as well as a strong vocabulary base. The curriculum promotes long-term learning with particular emphasis on children knowing facts by heart and building rich webs of knowledge as they progress – this creating ‘sticky’ learning. As a result, we have carefully sequenced our Foundation Subjects so that each unit of work builds directly on what has come before. We carefully check, activate and make connections with prior knowledge to ensure our pupils are able to build upon previous learning. We believe that knowledge breeds curiosity – as pupils learn more about the world they become more curious.
Every child at St Anne’s is recognised as a unique individual. We celebrate and welcome differences within our school community. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values. We constantly provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning and believe that childhood should be a happy, investigative and enquiring time in our lives where there are no limits to curiosity and there is a thirst for new experiences and knowledge. We use the School Values to promote positive attitudes to learning which reflect the skills needed to promote responsibility for learning and future success.
Over the last three years, we have invested a significant amount of time in developing a knowledge and skills based curriculum to give our pupils access to the very best curriculum content. This ensures that pupils secure a solid base to build upon as they move up through school and beyond- leaving St Anne’s with the confidence and skills to: make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.
Our Golden Threads
At the heart of our curriculum are two golden threads that weave through every subject and learning experience: Inspirational People and Diversity. These threads underpin our approach to teaching and learning, helping to shape our pupils into respectful, curious and compassionate individuals who are equipped for life in modern Britain and the wider world.
Inspirational People
Across all subjects, children are introduced to a wide range of inspirational figures who have made significant contributions within their field – be it science, art, sport, literature, technology or beyond. These people are not just historical figures but also contemporary individuals who are leading change and breaking new ground today. Whether it’s learning about Mae Jemison in science, Tenzing Norgay in geography or Hedy Lamarr in computing, children are continually reminded that with determination and passion, they too can make a difference.
Diversity
We are committed to ensuring that the inspirational people children learn about reflect the rich diversity of our community and world. As a school, we have made it our mission to include voices and stories that represent different genders, ethnicities, cultures, religions, abilities and backgrounds. In doing so, we aim to give every child the opportunity to see themselves represented in the curriculum and to develop respect and appreciation for others who may have different experiences from their own.
How It All Comes Together
Our curriculum is carefully mapped out to ensure these golden threads are meaningfully embedded. For example:
- In history, children carry out meaningful historical enquiries into key significant events both within and beyond living memory whilst they also explore the impact of individuals like Mary Seacole, Winston Churchill, and Mary Anning.
- In science, alongside learning core scientific concepts, knowledge and skills, children are introduced to scientists such as Rosalind Franklin and Stephen Hawking.
- In music, we study a range of global musicians, from Ella Fitzgerald to Stevie Wonder, while celebrating different cultures and creative traditions from around the world.
Through this approach, we not only deepen children’s subject knowledge but also foster empathy, ambition and a sense of belonging. We want our pupils to leave St Anne’s not only academically ready for the next stage of their education but also with a strong moral compass and the belief that they too can inspire change.
We are proud of our curriculum and how it continues to evolve to reflect the needs and values of our school community. If you would like to find out more, please visit our individual subject pages or speak with our curriculum leads, Mrs N Moorhouse and Mrs N Nurney.
Enrichment activities- St Anne’s pledge