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About St Nicholas
School
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| The Curriculum |
| Introduction |
St Nicholas School
follows the National
Curriculum. National
Curriculum documents
are available for
parents to view on
request. Our curriculum
policies may also
be viewed. At any
time some of these
may be under review
as we aim to continuously
improve what we do.
All year groups study
the following subjects;
English,
mathematics,
science,
information
and communication
technology, design
technology, history,
geography,
art
and design, music
and physical
education. These
are compulsory within
the National Curriculum.
We also teach religious
education throughout
the school (a statutory
requirement) and choose
to teach French
in Years 5 and 6.
Much subject learning
takes place within
carefully planned
integrated projects.
All activities are
open to boys and girls
equally. Class Teachers
will be happy to explain
our approach.
At primary level particularly,
as much learning as
possible should take
place through first
hand experience. Therefore,
many projects will
include visits
beyond the school
premises. Details
of such visits, which
in some years include
residential ones,
are sent to parents
well in advance.
Brief details of each
of the Curriculum
topics are set out
below. |
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| English |
 The children come to us with an already rich and varied
language base which we aim to enhance
and extend. The skills involved in listening, talking, reading and
writing are taught and a high
priority is placed on the ability
to use English effectively. We aim to develop a love of literature
and pleasure in reading, as
well as the ability to research
information from a range of text and other sources. A wide range
of carefully planned activities
provide opportunities for the children
to write for a variety of purposes and audiences, emphasising that
the best way to develop
language skill is through its purposeful
use. We believe that what a child has to say is the most important
aspect of a piece of writing,
but we also place a strong emphasis
on grammar, spelling, handwriting and presentation as aids to communication |
| Mathematics
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We wish pupils to feel confident and to be competent
when using mathematics as a tool
to help make sense of the world
and to solve many problems. We
believe it is vital for a child
to have a firm base of understanding
on which to build later mathematical
ideas. Thus mathematics work will
include a good deal of practical
activity, investigation and discussion,
and will be incorporated in many
different subject areas. Mental
work is very important and
the ability to be accurate and
to make reasonable estimates is
developed simultaneously. Calculators
are used as part of the curriculum,
though knowledge of
number bonds (for example, which
pairs of numbers add to make seven)
and ‘tables’ are considered
essential.
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| Science
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Science is the third core subject of the National Curriculum.
The emphasis here is on practical investigations, often as part
of an integrated topic and building a strong foundation of scientific
knowledge and understanding. Opportunities are provided to enable
the children to develop enquiring minds as well as such essential
skills as observation, questioning, prediction, planning, hypothesizing,
interpreting data and communicating results.
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Information
& Communication Technology
(ICT)
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ICT is now also a core subject. Children learn to use
computers for a variety of purposes including word processing, desktop
publishing, data handling, control, investigation and to enhance
their learning in all other subjects. The school has undertaken
a major upgrade in its provision of ICT and this includes a data
projector and interactive whiteboard, together with computers in
every classroom. There are seventeen new computers for the ICT Suite.
Classrooms and the suite are networked and linked to the Internet
through a specialist educational provider. We have a good range
of peripheral equipment for children’s use including colour
printers, scanners and digital cameras and an increasing number
of portable laptops to allow children to use ICT when the need arises.
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| ICT in the classroom |
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The ICT suite |
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History,
Geography and Environmental education
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An important part of the teacher's
job is to open new windows through
which children can view the world.
They will learn about themselves
and their surroundings in many
subjects but particularly in our
topic work which includes history,
geography, science and religious
education. |
Design
Technology
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The purpose of design technology is to enable pupils to be inventive
in designing practical solutions to problems and thereby to bring
about change and improvement in existing situations. This subject
includes cooking and working with a wide range of materials including
textiles. Ideas are conceived, developed, modified and given shape
in artifacts s.
More examples of design work
can be found in the gallery.
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| French
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French is taught in
Years 5 and 6. The
initial emphasis is on oral activities
and gaining confidence using the
language in everyday situations.
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Art
and Design
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We consider creative and practical subjects provide an essential
part of a child’s education. A wide range of art materials
and techniques will be available
to children throughout the
school. We have a kiln and are well equipped for art and craft
activities.
Visitors often comment on the
high quality of painting, fabric
and ceramic work they see.
Much more art and design work
can be found in the gallery.
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| Music
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In class music lessons
pupils sing a variety of songs
and are given the opportunity
to play percussion instruments.
They learn basic musical theory,
look at and listen to different
musical instruments and experiment
with their own compositions.
They listen to music from a wide
range of styles, origins and times.
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Musicals on the school stage
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Physical
education
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The physical education programme includes educational
gymnastics, dance and games skills. Most games activities are taught
by Sports Focus specialist coaches. Every class participates in
regular lessons in the main or small hall, using large and small
apparatus. There may also be extra lessons outside depending on
the weather.
 We aim to provide all the children
with a wide range of opportunities
through timetabled lessons and clubs, to develop skill and enthusiasm
for participating in sport.
Children are introduced to athletics,
cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounders, swimming and rugby.
School teams compete in these
sports and are often successful
(district winners in athletics, 1998, 1999 and 2001, 2008 and 2010
runners up in 2003, 2005 and 2006; gymnastics
1998,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003. 2004 and 2006, London Regional champions in 2001; Kwik Cricket
district winners in 1998, 1999,.
2000 and 2001and 2006 and County
champions in 2001; swimming, second in 2000; football league winners
in 1998, 1999 and 2003 ; hockey
semi-finalists in 2006 and rugby
tournament winners in 2006).
We will be meeting our National
Curriculum requirement to teach swimming by taking Year 3 children
to a local pool where they will be taught by specialist instructors. We
were particularly pleased to be awarded in September 2003 Activemark
Gold by Sport England in recognition
for the very high standards of physical education and sport provision
at the school. We were
re-accredited for the outstanding
provision in extra-curricular sport during 2007/8.
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Personal,
Social and Health education (PSHE) and Citizenship
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| St Nicholas is accredited as a Health Promoting School.
Through PSHE and Citizenship we aim to give our pupils the knowledge,
skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent
lives and to become informed, responsible citizens. They follow
the SEAL programme (Social, Emotional Aspects of Learning) and take
part in a wide range of activities across and beyond the curriculum.
They are encouraged to take a full part in the life of the whole
school, through the school council for example. This aids their
understanding of the political and social institutions that affect
our daily lives and our rights and duties as members of the school
and wider community. Pupils are taught to understand and respect
diversity and differences. They are given opportunities to reflect
on their own experiences and develop their spiritual, moral, social
and cultural understanding, tackling many issues, which are part
of growing up.
Sex education is taught as part
of PSHE. In Year 6, as well as
the input given by the teaching
staff, the pupils benefit from
a talk and workshop with a visiting
school nurse. Parents will be
notified in advance of this visit.
Teachers and staff are always
happy to discuss issues relating
to PSHE. If any parents feel
anxious about their child receiving
sex and relationship education
they should feel free to contact
their child’s class teacher
or the headteacher. |
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Religious
Education
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The Christian ethos of the school is reflected in our
teaching of religious education
which fosters tolerance and understanding of other faiths. Daily
collective worship is achieved through a
weekly pattern of phase, year group
and class meetings. The Rector and Lay Reader of St. Nicholas Church,
Shepperton and the Priest
in Charge of St Mary Magdalene
Church, Littleton, assist with assemblies. Parents have the right
to withdraw their children from Religious
Education or collective worship.
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| Assessment
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| Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and
learning process and enables teachers to discover and reflect on
what the pupils know, understand and can do. It also motivates pupils
and provides them with a framework for evaluating their own work
and that of others. There are two main forms of assessment, the
ongoing assessment that informs teachers’ daily plans and
the assessments that take place at the end of a topic or year which
are used to inform their medium and longer term plans.
Surrey screening procedures are used in Year 3. A school report
is sent home at the end of each
year; at the end of the Reception
year these include the National
Foundation Stage Profile which
is assessed during the year;
in Year 2 they include teacher
assessments informed by tests;
in Years 3 to 5 they include
optional national tests and in
Year 6 they include the Standard
Assessment Tests (SATs). We also
set targets for individuals and
for the school as a whole. The
most recent available school
and national results areavailable
on our Attainment page.
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