St. Bede's Catholic Junior School
Curriculum
St. Bede's Catholic Junior School Curriculum Vision
At St. Bede’s Catholic Junior School, we believe that every child is a unique individual created in the image and likeness of God, and our curriculum is designed to nurture each child’s academic, personal, and spiritual potential. Our teaching and learning go beyond meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum — we aim to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
Intent
Our curriculum lies at the heart of our vision to provide an education that is ambitious, inclusive, and transformative. It is carefully designed to:
• Meet and exceed the expectations of the National Curriculum, while reflecting the distinctive Catholic character of our school.
• Develop the whole child — spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially, and physically.
• Ensure progressive knowledge and skills are securely built year on year, enabling pupils to know more, remember more, and do more.
• Promote high aspirations and a sense of responsibility towards others and the world.
• Prepare children to thrive in the 21st century by equipping them with resilience, creativity, digital literacy, and global awareness.
Our curriculum aims to ensure that pupils not only succeed academically, but also grow in faith, compassion, and confidence as active citizens who will make a positive difference in society.
Implementation
We deliver our curriculum through high-quality teaching, expert subject leadership, and carefully sequenced learning. Teachers ensure that:
• Concepts are introduced progressively and revisited regularly for deep understanding and retention.
• Lessons are engaging, purposeful, and connected, making meaningful links between subjects and real-world contexts.
• Learning is enriched through hands-on experiences, educational visits, visitors, and outdoor learning opportunities.
• The needs of all learners are met through adaptive teaching, inclusion, and accessibility, ensuring that every child — including those with SEND and EAL — can achieve success.
• The local community, parish partnerships, and wider world are used as powerful resources to bring learning to life.
• Staff continuously reflect and develop their practice to maintain the highest expectations for all pupils.
Impact
We measure the impact of our curriculum not only through outcomes and attainment, but also through the development of character, confidence, and faith:
• Pupils demonstrate deep knowledge and understanding across subjects and can apply learning in new contexts.
• They are articulate, reflective, and motivated learners who take pride in their work.
• Assessment is used effectively to identify gaps, celebrate achievement, and inform next steps.
• Pupils show respect, empathy, and resilience — living out the Gospel values that underpin all we do.
• Our children leave St. Bede’s as independent, thoughtful, and compassionate individuals, ready for the next stage of their education and life in the wider world.
Our Curriculum in Action
Our curriculum:
• Is underpinned by clear aims, values, and purpose.
• Develops the whole child – knowledge, skills, understanding, and attitudes.
• Is broad, balanced, and designed with clear progression in every subject.
• Provides rich, first-hand, purposeful experiences to deepen learning.
• Is flexible and responsive to pupils’ needs, interests, and current events.
• Embeds the principle of sustainability and stewardship of creation.
• Encourages use of the outdoor environment and community expertise.
• Builds meaningful connections between subjects, local heritage, and global issues.
• Promotes inclusion, equality, and accessibility for all learners.
• Has a local, national, and international dimension, helping pupils understand their place in the world.
To support parents and the wider community, we provide detailed subject overviews, curriculum maps, and links to high-quality online learning resources via our school website. We actively encourage parents/carers to explore these materials and engage with their child’s learning beyond the classroom.
At St. Bede’s, our curriculum is a living expression of our mission — to educate the whole person in mind, body, and spirit. It is ambitious, inclusive, and rooted in Gospel values, ensuring every child grows as a successful learner, a confident individual, and a compassionate citizen of God’s world.
Please visit our Equality tab by following this LINK to find more information and this LINK for our SEND page.