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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 provid e
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 acknowledge the importance
of grammar, spelling, handwriting
and presentation as aids to communication.
The school 's programme makes
very substantial use of the National
Literacy Strategy |
| 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
are developed simultaneously.
Calculators are among the items
of equipment we find invaluable
in this subject but we also consider
that it is very useful for an
individual to be able to do "sums"
well and to know "tables".
The school's programme makes full
use of the National Numeracy Strategy.
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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 and investigation.
In each classroom children have
access to two computers.
There is also an Information and
Communication Technology suite
with seventeen high specification
computers which 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
a digital camera.
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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.
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.
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 and rugby. School
teams compete in these sports
and are often successful (district
winners in athletics, 1998, 1999
and 2001 and runners up in 2003;
hockey, 2002; gymnastics
1998,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
and 2004, London Regional champions
in 2001; cricket 1998, 1999,.
2000 and 2001and County champions
in 2001; swimming,
second in 2000; and football
league winners in 1998 and 1999
and 2003).
We will be meeting our National
Curriculum requirement to teach
swimming by taking the children
to a local pool where they will
be taught by specialist instructors.
We anticipate that this year swimming
will focus on Year 3.
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.
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Personal,
Social and Health education
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Through PSHE 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 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 the 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 Rector 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 the teacher
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
teacher's daily plans and the
assessments that take place at
the end of a topic or year which
are used to inform the teacher's
medium and longer term plans.
On entry to school, children will
be screened under a Surrey scheme
which meets National baseline
requirements. Similarly,
Surrey screening procedures are
used in Year 3. A
school report is sent home at
the end of each year; at
the end of Year 2 and Year 6 the
report will include results from
the pupil's Standard Assessment
Tests (SATs). These
are assessments which are taken
at the same time by all children
of this age throughout the country.
At the end of Years 3 to 5 reports
will include results of optional
national tests. We
also set targets for individuals
and for the school as a whole.
The most recent available school
and national results are available
here.
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