Curriculum

Our Curriculum Lead is Miss Moran. 

BUILDING THE KINGDOM

We are very proud to be a part of the Building the Kingdom programme, the aim of which is to embed distinctive Catholic Curriculum design for the transformation of society. As said on their website, ‘through the National School of Formation, a dynamic and challenging approach to teaching and learning in a Catholic School has been developed. This initiative calls for the contextualising of all learning within the beliefs and values of the Gospel and the Catholic tradition, aspiring to reach the highest possible levels of learning. We call it Building the Kingdom...

Through Building the Kingdom, we explore the big questions of purpose and meaning that arise throughout the Liturgical year, and then create lessons and events which engage students with the skills needed to be agents for a Spirit fuelled transformation of society.  
 

Geography Curriculum Intent 

Building the Kingdom Statement

Geography enables all learners to experience the beauty, awe and wonder of God’s world and to develop an awareness of their place in it. All places and spaces have a history behind them shaped by humans, location, climate, and politics. Geography gives us a spatial awareness of the globe and serves to form respectful attitudes that serve to remind students that we are stewards and not masters of creation.

Theological influences help to shape the cosmological understandings of the world as we recognize that we are a global community with a global interdependence, accountability, and responsibility for the common good of all people. Our Stewardship must reflect our understanding that the planet is our irreplaceable home.

In Geography children are encouraged to live a Catholic life through the Jesuit virtues by making correct choices relating to the environment (protecting God’s world). They will also have an understanding of how choices affect the lives of people especially in the developing world.

At St Patrick’s our Living Geography Curriculum aims to instil children with a sense of awe and wonder, curiosity and interest within the world around them.

Geography is a language that provides a way of thinking about the world. It prepares young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make sense of their world and to face the challenges that will shape our societies and environments at the local, national and global scale. At St Patrick’s we call Geography ‘Living Geography’ because Children learn about issues that are both current and relevant to them. 

Living Geography has its own vocabulary and requires children to organise information around 4 Big Ideas.

1. Locational Knowledge – Knowledge of the local area, Britain, Europe and world geography; countries, continents, oceans and biomes.

2. Place and Space – recognising similarities and differences across the world, interconnectedness and spatial patterns. It asks the questions; Where do I live? How does it look? How do I feel about it? How is it changing? How do I want it to change? Can I influence this?

3. The Physical and Human World – a knowledge of the physical and human environments and includes the concept of interdependence. It asks the questions; What is the world made of? How and why are environments different? How does the physical world impact on how people live? How is human activity changing the world? What can we do about this? 

4. Globalisation – a critical understanding of the concepts of interdependence and globalisation.

As well as the key knowledge children are taught practical skills such as using grid-references, reading and creating maps and using various types of technology. Fieldwork and first-hand observations are utilised across year groups to enable children to work as geographers. Both the skills and knowledge learnt is revisited throughout the school, allowing children to become confident and independent in their learning.Our Living Geography approach encourages a level of fascination and curiosity within children and embeds within them a sense of both love and responsibility for the world.

History Curriculum Intent

Building the Kingdom Statement

History encourages all learners to discover the truth of the past and to have a deep understanding of the present, which in turn will enable them to make informed and wise decisions for creating a better future. History helps students find their place in the story of humankind. Students are helped to develop critical thinking skills as they delve into the rich variety of available sources. Learning to analyse and critique information and data encourages the ability to discern facts and reach conclusions, matching evidence with truth. Learning from the past helps to facilitate a better future for the common good of all God’s people.

Our Hands on History encourages children to enhance their understanding of living a Catholic life by developing the virtues of Curiosity and Eloquence. Education is the search for truth. Children will be actively engaged in probing, challenging and questioning until the truth is plain. Children will learn to think for themselves and to become a life-long learner.

We will also be asking questions about choices made through history and linking them to our Catholic Values. There will be opportunities to link to the lives of people through History who have followed these values.

At St Patricks our Hands on History Curriculum aims to instil a sense of place within time, by building curiosity and interest through historical events. 

History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be.  The past causes the present and so the future.  Studying History provides cultural awareness so children can build up a better understanding of why certain people act the way they do.

History teaches us to appreciate and evaluate the world beyond our own lived experience.  The study of History can take you to cultures, places and events beyond the here and now.  

Hands on History has 4 Big ideas

1. Significance – Significant events, such as the reformation, World Wars, and events today.

Significant figures such as kings and queens, politicians, explorers. Significant localities, Local History, cultural heritage

2. Continuity and change - What has stayed the same and what has changed over time?

The way we live and how life has changed.

3. Cause and effect - Why things have changed and the impact this has had for example Ancient Egypt or slavery

4. Perspective - What do different people think about this event?

Different viewpoints about the same event for example the suffragemovement.

As well as the key knowledge children are taught transferrable skills such as research, questioning, making comparisons and to argue critically. First-hand experience helps children to understand and visualise the past and become young Historians.