Intent

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Our unique and ambitious curriculum at St John’s is underpinned by our values of Love, Trust, Respect, Cooperation, Resilience and Courage. We believe that every child has the right to learn together in  an atmosphere of high expectations and mutual respect. We want our children to be passionate about learning and to understand the wonders of God’s world, how life works interdependently through a complex web of relationships that work in ever changing, awe-inspiring ways. Our curriculum has been carefully designed and sequenced to expose our children to enriching learning experiences both inside and outside of the classroom, to equip them with the knowledge, skills and personal characteristics required to flourish. By teaching in such a highly interconnected way, children are encouraged to make links between their academic learning across different areas of the curriculum. Whilst meeting the requirements and content of the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the national curriculum, our children will draw on their ever-increasing understanding of the world around them through meaningful learning enquiries in order to leave St John’s as well rounded individuals who can inspire and contribute to the local community and the wider world. 

 

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Implementation - How will we deliver this?

 

Our curriculum is delivered through a coherently planned set of half termly learning enquiries with the six driving Principles of Cycle, Diversity, Adaptation, Health, Interdependence and Oneness. Each Learning Enquiry is based around a ‘big’ question and as children progress through their learning, they are encouraged to seek truth, question further, research and find resolutions by developing their own answers. High quality oracy, reasoning, problem solving and with a growth mindset, our children enjoy a knowledge and skills rich learning environment where memorable experiences excite, engage and develop our children’s understanding. Our high-quality teaching and learning experiences are supported further through a carefully planned programme of visits, workshops, partners in learning and outdoor learning. This ensures that the children are fully immersed in their Enquiries and allows them the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding with a Great Outcome; an opportunity to culminate the half term's learning with a celebration which brings together the learning in a memorable way. 

 

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Curriculum enrichment

 

Our curriculum nurtures the ‘whole child’ by igniting their potential with extensive opportunities across a wide range of enriching experiences both within and beyond the school day. This includes an extensive programme of after-school clubs, including opportunities in sport, music and art. Furthermore, all children will have the opportunity to participate in Forest Schools, Surrey Arts Brass lessons, swimming lessons and cookery lessons. Our community projects and social action include, amongst others, Minicap, Plogging, Starfish Malawi and Dorking Football Mini Wanderers.

 

Information about our curriculum offer, including curriculum mapping, for each subject can be found under each subject heading under Curriculum at the top of this website.

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Impact - What difference is this curriculum making to our children? 

 

Children leave St John’s with the ability to be resilient learners who have respect for the world around them. Ultimately, we want children to be socially, morally, spiritually and culturally responsible and aware;  to make positive contributions to the local community and as a global citizen. Children will have a wealth of transferable skills which have been developed throughout their time at our school in an inclusive and nurturing environment.  We want the children to see that our curriculum can teach us how to live more sustainably and to apply knowledge and  skills in a meaningful way. Children will be motivated and empowered to learn, critically think about the world around them and apply their understanding effectively; these will be the children who shine, live out the school values in their daily lives and are equipped to face future challenges.

 

An inclusive and accessible curriculum

 

We welcome children with special educational needs or disabilities and value all children's unique contribution to St John’s. Our curriculum complies with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability regulations 2014. We aim to identify children's special educational needs and disabilities as early as possible in collaboration with the children and their parents and carers.

 

High quality teaching is our first step in responding to pupils who have SEND. We also make the following adaptations to ensure all pupils’ needs are met:

• Differentiating our curriculum to ensure all pupils are able to access it, for example, by grouping, 1:1 work, teaching style, pre teach and content of the lesson.

• Adapting our resources and staffing

• Using recommended aids, such as laptops, coloured overlays, visual timetables, task boards and larger font.

• Differentiating our teaching, for example, giving longer processing times, pre-teaching of key vocabulary, reading instructions aloud and using visual resources.

Information and services for young people from 0-25 years old and their families with Special Educational Needs or a Disability can be found here: Surrey Local Offer