Statement of Intent
‘A well taught knowledge-rich education is potentially the driver for true equality for pupils from different backgrounds. Knowing things, not just recalling the bald facts but deeply understanding them gives pupils confidence. It helps them to discuss a wide range of live topics with their peers, irrespective of their backgrounds.’
– Dame Rachel de Souza
St. Joseph’s school’s curriculum is planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before, and towards those defined end points. (Ofsted framework – Curriculum intent) The subject specific objectives have therefore been built on this principle. In other words rather than having yearly key assessments for each subject, you can see how an aspect of the subject is built upon by using the main subject specific concepts such as chronology in history.
This will ensure that St Joseph’s pupils feel an authentic, significant sense of success, as they encounter a worthwhile curriculum in a safe and personally enriching environment. In other words, it is important to know and enjoy the subject rather than enjoy the lesson.
It is our vision that, with an increased subject knowledge combined with a positive impression of the subject our children will be driven to knowing more and having aspirations for later in their life. This may manifest as interest in what is being taught or a motivation to find out more themselves.
‘We are not the makers of history. We are made of history’.
At St. Joseph’s, our curriculum for History is taught in blocked units throughout the year, this allows the children to develop the skills of a historian by becoming fully immersed in their learning during that time. A rich, high-quality and immersive history education will assist our children in developing a coherent knowledge and understanding of British, European and world history and of Britain’s key position in it, whilst developing their own individual sense of identity and cultural heritage. Our children will develop skills to appropriately use research and sources to consider historical information and to develop a range and depth of historical and chronological understanding.
We want our children to experience exciting and memorable History lessons, so that they can progress in their knowledge and understanding of the subject and leave our school being confident and historically literate with a strong love and passion for History.
