Our Curriculum Vision

Our curriculum is rooted in our mission of Growing Together in Faith and Understanding. We believe that every child is uniquely created in the image of God and is called to flourish spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally. Inspired by Gospel values, we are committed to developing confident, compassionate and knowledgeable learners who are equipped to make a positive difference in their communities and the wider world.

Our curriculum is ambitious for every child. It is carefully designed to provide rich knowledge, meaningful experiences and the intellectual habits needed for lifelong learning. We want our children to leave us as articulate communicators, reflective thinkers, resilient learners and active citizens who embody our Catholic values through their words and actions.

Curriculum Principles

Faith at the Heart

Our Catholic faith provides the foundation for all that we do. Through Religious Education, collective worship, prayer and daily interactions, children develop a deep understanding of their faith, respect for others and a commitment to social justice. We nurture children who recognise their responsibilities to God's world and to one another.

Oracy: Learning Through Talk

We believe that spoken language is fundamental to learning, thinking and belonging.

Across the curriculum, children are explicitly taught to become confident speakers, attentive listeners and thoughtful contributors. Through our commitment to Voice 21 Oracy and the development of a dialogic classroom, children learn how to:

• Build on the ideas of others.
• Agree and disagree respectfully.
• Justify their opinions with evidence.
• Ask purposeful questions.
• Listen actively and respond thoughtfully.
• Present their ideas with confidence to different audiences.

The consistent use of talk structures and talk tactics ensures that every child has a voice and every voice is valued. We aim for pupils to leave Our Lady of the Rosary as articulate, confident and compassionate communicators who can participate fully in society.

Habits of Mind: Developing Powerful Learners

We are committed to nurturing the Habits of Mind identified by Costa and Kallick, helping children develop the dispositions needed for success in school and beyond.

Children are encouraged to:

• Persist when challenges arise.
• Think interdependently.
• Create, imagine and innovate.
• Question and solve problems.
• Think and communicate with clarity and precision.
• Strive for accuracy.
• Reflect on their learning.
• Take responsible risks.

These habits are woven throughout daily teaching and learning, enabling children to become increasingly independent, resilient and reflective learners.

High Expectations Through First Quality Teaching

Excellent learning begins with excellent teaching.

Our approach is built upon First Quality Teaching, ensuring that high-quality classroom teaching meets the needs of learners from the outset. We maintain high expectations for all pupils and create classrooms where success is achievable through carefully planned support, adaptations, challenge and encouragement.

Teaching is characterised by:

• Clear sequential learning objectives and steps to success.
• High levels of engagement and participation.
• Strong subject knowledge.
• Purposeful questioning.
• Immediate feedback and responsive teaching.
• Inclusive practice for all learners.

Adaptive Teaching for Every Learner

We recognise and celebrate the diversity of our school community. Children learn in different ways and at different rates; therefore, we prioritise adaptive teaching rather than lowering expectations.

Teachers carefully respond to pupils' needs through:

• Scaffolding and modelling.
• Targeted questioning.
• Appropriate challenge.
• Flexible grouping.
• Additional support where required.
• Inclusive classroom environments.

Our aim is that every child, regardless of background, starting point or need, can access the full curriculum and achieve success.

Evidence-Informed Practice

Our teaching is informed by educational research, particularly Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction.

Across the school, effective teaching includes:

• Small-step learning.
• Retrieval and review of prior knowledge.
• Guided practice.
• Careful modelling.
• Frequent questioning.
• Checking for understanding.
• Independent practice.
• Regular opportunities to revisit and embed learning.

These approaches help children to secure knowledge in long-term memory and apply it confidently in new situations.

Our Curriculum Promise

By the time children leave Our Lady of the Rosary, they will be:

Faith-filled and compassionate.
Articulate and confident communicators.
Resilient and reflective thinkers.
Knowledgeable and curious learners.
Respectful and responsible citizens.
Ready to flourish in secondary education and beyond.

Through faith, understanding, high-quality teaching and the power of talk, we ensure that every child is able to grow, learn and thrive.