Curriculum

On this page you can learn all about the subjects that are taught here at St Peter's.

Class Home Link Booklets

These will tell you what your child(ren) are learning this year:

The World Class Curriculum

Here at St Peters we are working towards a curriculum where we are preparing our children for life in the 21st century. Times change and with that the curriculum we deliver must change.

Our curriculum is skill based. We hope to equip the children with the skills they might need as they grow up. We design the curriculum for each class individually whilst ensure there is continuity between year groups.

We start each topic off by finding out from the children what they already know as well as what they wish to find out during the topic. This way the children feel they have ownership over their lessons. As we go through the topic children makes various notes and add it to a class mindmap so they can follow their learning journeys week by week.

As part of the World Class Curriculum we have introduced a University afternoon where children are asked to make choices about a new skill they would like to learn. It is also an opportunity for children to work with others from across the different year groups.

Our Subjects: Art and Design

This pupil is responding to a walk we did around Droitwich. He is using water colours to paint his scene of the Droitwich Heritage Centre.

At St Peter's we believe Art and Design is not just a subject to learn but an activity you practice. We believe it stimulates creativity and imagination and gives the children a chance to express themselves freely.

The children at St Peters use colour, line, form, pattern, texture and different materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. The children have the opportunity to explore, develop and investigate their ideas as well as evaluate their work and the work of others.

Our Art and Design lessons are not taught as a separate isolated subject but as part of topic or a theme.

More about Art and Design (pdf)

Our Subjects: Design Technology

Making a vehicle for the Isle of Struay.

At St Peter's we believe that design technology should develop lively and enquiring minds through the ability to question, argue rationally, investigate and process information.

We try to link our work to Literacy and use skills from other subjects too.

In Year 2 we have designed and made a vehicle to travel on the Isle of Struay.

Our Subjects: French

This is a class in Year 3 practicing their French vocabulary.

At St Peter’s children in Years 3 and 4 learn French as part of their weekly curriculum.

Learning a new language is all about the talking! Children thoroughly enjoy the games and activities designed to introduce new vocabulary and inspire confidence.

The Modern Foreign Language framework has 3 strands:

Oracy – Speaking and listening.
Literacy – Reading and writing.
Intercultural Understanding – Learning about the similarities and differences between our country and another.

Waving the French flag.

A display on France.

Our Subjects: Geography

Through the teaching of Geography at St Peters we aim to:

Stimulate children's interest and awareness of the earth and its peoples starting with an appreciation of their immediate environment.
Foster children's sense of wonder at the beauty of the world around them.
Help children develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the human habitat.
Enhance children's sense of responsibility for the care or the Earth and its people.

Children use geographical skills and resources for example, maps, aerial photographs, atlases and ICT. Geography is also linked to other areas of the curriculum such as Maths, Science, Literacy and ICT.

Our Subjects: History

Tudor dancing during Tudor Day.

In History we use a 'hands on' approach and encourage children to explore history through a variety of ways. We provide them with opportunities to help them to become curious about the past in Britain and the Wider World.

As their historical knowledge develops, the children develop an understanding of significant people and events. They learn to find evidence and reach their own conclusions and argue their point of view.

At St Peters we develop historical understanding through a number of ways. For example:

Through using and handling historical artefacts.
Through visiting places of historical interest, eg. Year 4 visit Selly Manor, Year 3 World War 2 visit to the Seven Valley Railway.
Using themed days where children have the opportunity to dress up and experience living in the past, eg. Year 4 Tudor day, Year 3 Roman day.

History is also linked to many other areas of the curriculum such as dance, literacy, art and science through the implantation of the World Class curriculum.

Writing like the Tudors, using quill and ink.

Year 4 Teachers ready for a Tudor banquet.

Our Subjects: Information and Communication Technology

Using the computers in the ICT Suite.

At St Peter's we believe ICT should be embedded into all subjects. We use ICT in various ways to make learning fun and exciting.

We have an ICT suite which has 16 computers, with flat screen monitors, each year group has an opportunity to use the computers in the suite every week. All children have their own log in name and supervised access to school email. The suite is also used for computer club, which takes place after school. We also have a digital cameras and video recorders, as well as interactive microscopes for cross curricular use.

Each classroom has a SMART interactive whiteboard, this is used to support whole class teaching. We have interactive big books and maths games which make learning engaging for all pupils. Recently we have purchased a set of 16 laptops which gives the children the opportunity to access the internet and do cross curricular work from the comfort of their desks.

Our Subjects: Literacy

At St Peter's we aim to make Literacy fun! We teach Literacy skills in discrete Literacy lessons, and use these skills in other subjects right across the curriculum. We use Big books , Interactive texts and other texts for our daily lessons.

Reading
Home readers are changed each day and books are recorded in Home Reading diaries. Children also read regularly in small groups with teachers during guided reading lessons. We have different sets of books for these activities. There is also a Library where books can be chosen to help with work. Each week children choose a Library book to take home.

Writing
Joined handwriting is taught, practised and encouraged from the Early Years. At the end of each teaching unit, a Big Write is planned. Children have the opportunity to plan and write an extended piece of work to show what progress they have made. Everyone enjoys showing the new skills they have learnt.

Speaking and Listening
Children are encouraged to listen to others and give their opinions in all areas of school life. Children enjoy participating in drama activities both in Literacy lesson and across the curriculum.

Year 3 children enjoyed sharing books during Book week.

Children sharing books in a guided reading session.

Our Subjects: Mathematics

Investigating how many objects are needed to make it balance.

Mathematics is a subject that is used continually throughout life, it equips children so that they can understand the world around them, and its importance is universally recognised.

These tools include logical reasoning and problem solving skills which are important in all aspects of everyday life.

Accordingly, in line with the approach of the National Numeracy Framework which builds on the learning that has taken place, children are taught to apply mathematical knowledge to solve problems and think logically. A variety of mental strategies are taught to develop confidence with number.

Interactive whiteboards are used to enhance numeracy lessons.

Maths games warm up the brain ready for the lesson and develop mathematical vocabulary.

Our Subjects: Music

At St Peter's we have creative and exciting music curriculum. We encourage all our children to show enthusiasm, skill and develop an overall love of music.

At St Peter's we have many opportunities to show our music both in class, whole school and extra curricular. The children in Year 4 currently have the opportunity to take part in learning 3 instruments through the course of the year; these consist of a woodwind, brass and string. We have a school choir who regularly sing at different festivals and school events.

Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that can change a way pupils feel, think and act. It brings together intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development.

Some of the Choir enjoying really getting into the swing of it at the KS2 music festival.

Making musical instruments out of recyclable materials.

Our Subjects: Physical Education

Football training (in our 'Aston Villa' colours!).

Pupils at St Peters have access to at least 2 hours of quality Physical Education a week. The main curriculum areas being:

Gymnastics
Dance
Games
Swimming

Learning and undertaking activities in physical education contribute and prepare pupils to become:

Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve.
Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

St Peters are a member of the Droitwich Schools Sport Partnership which gives us access to a wide range of coaches during lessons and the provision of after school clubs. These include multi-skills, tag rugby, cricket, golf and football provided by Kidderminster Harriers. The pyramid also provides opportunities for pupils to perform and participate in days run by Droitwich High School which gives pupils the opportunities to learn new skills.

Pupils in year 4 have access to swimming lessons at Droitwich leisure centre and the opportunity to attend Malvern Outdoor centre to learn outdoor PE skills.

We have also achieved Active sport mark for our provision of physical education in school.

Our Subjects: PSHE

Some of the 'friend ships' we created during Friendship week.

At St Peter's we aim to equip children with the skills they need to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being.

We provide a coordinated programme of discreet, cross curricular and extra curricular opportunities for children to develop their personal, social and emotional skills and develop their knowledge of health education and citizenship.

Every Friday is ‘Feel Good Friday’ where children and staff are invited to meet in the park and walk to school. The children also enjoy taking part in our annual 'Friendship week'.

Our Subjects: Religious Education

Year 3 children acting out the story of Diwali with character masks that they have made.

Saint Peters CE (VA) First School is a Church of England school and RE is taught via the National Curriculum as well as the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

We teach our children about a variety of world religions, including, Hinduism and Judaism, and we believe that in this multi-cultural society it is very important to do so. However, as a Church School we actively promote the beliefs and values of the Christian faith through our RE Lessons and our daily assemblies.

Religious Education has strong links with our PSHE curriculum as both are concerned with not only with the academic education of our children, but also their emotional, social and moral development. We aim to encourage and stimulate the children and nurture not only self-esteem but also respect for and understanding of each other and their faiths and customs.

Through our RE curriculum we also aim to enhance our pupils’ spiritual growth, providing opportunities for them to gain self knowledge, to experience awe and wonder of the natural world and human achievements and to take time to reflect on what they have seen, heard and experienced.

A display on 'Places of Worship'. The mosaics were inspired by a visit to Sacred Heart Church.

Year 2 acting out the story of St Francis of Gubbio during our topic on Saints.

Our Subjects: Science

Investigating materials to make Cinderella's mop in Year 2.

At St Peter’s we aim to make Science fun! We follow a practically based curriculum which develops Scientific skills. We believe that children learn more from first hand experiences so provide lots of practical activities to develop knowledge, understanding and enjoyment in the subject.

The curriculum has four strands:

Scientific enquiry which is developed in all areas of the curriculum to develop predicting, planning, observing, recording, interpreting and evaluating.
Life processes and living things including for example health, growing things and living things in our local environment.
Materials, their properties and how they are used or found around us.
Physical processes which includes light and dark, forces and electricity.

Children have lots of practical experiences both within school and in the local environment. The introduction of new technology in the form of Digital cameras, Microscopes and Data Loggers helps promote enquiring minds.