Our Curriculum Vision and Pedagogical approach
The pedagogical approach at St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs Catholic Primary School is rooted in the school’s mission:
“Through the sign of the cross we follow Jesus.”
Our curriculum aims to develop pupils who are confident, skilled and kind, through the school’s three-tier curriculum model of knowledge, skills and virtues.
1 Peter 4:10:
“Use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”
Tier 1: Knowledge
We provide a knowledge-rich, sequential curriculum, enabling pupils to acquire, secure and apply substantive and disciplinary knowledge.
Sticky Knowledge and Retrieval
Teachers systematically revisit prior learning through structured questions regarding content taught:
- in the previous week
- in the previous term
- in the previous year
This approach supports long-term retention and schema development.
Reading and Phonics
Phonics & Early Reading – Little Wandle
- Delivered daily from EYFS through systematic synthetic phonics.
- Fully decodable books matched to each pupil’s phonics stage.
Early Reading– The Three Reads
The Little Wandle "three reads" approach is a reading practice method where children read a fully decodable book three times a week, with each session focusing on a different skill: decoding, prosody, and comprehension. This structured approach builds fluency and comprehension by providing dedicated practice in each key area.
Accelerated Reader (Year 3 Onwards)
From Year 3, pupils access Accelerated Reader, which:
- enables carefully matched independent reading through ZPD ranges,
- provides ongoing assessment through AR quizzes,
- supports teachers in monitoring reading progress and comprehension development,
- promotes reading mileage, consistency and challenge.
Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is a whole-school priority.
This is promoted through:
- a well-resourced and inviting school library,
- regular opportunities for free reading,
- well stocked and welcoming reading areas,
- shared story times,
- author celebrations and book-based events.
The library plays a central role in embedding reading enjoyment and fostering a culture of lifelong readers.
Mathematics
- The school followsWhite Rose Maths, providing a mastery-based curriculum grounded in small-step progression, conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning.
- Mastering Numberenhances early number fluency in EYFS and Key Stage 1 through daily, high-quality number sense sessions incorporating manipulatives such as rekenreks.
Writing – Pathways to Write
A high-quality, text-driven curriculum supporting explicit grammar instruction, modelling and extended composition. Drawing Club in Early Years enhances early language, creativity and storytelling through narrative-rich activities.
Religious Education: Lighting the Path
A progressive and theologically secure RE curriculum rooted in Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching.
Foundation Subjects
Mapped carefully for progression, incorporating sticky knowledge, disciplinary skills and clearly articulated learning intentions.
Tier 2: Skills — Skills Builder
Explicit teaching of the eight essential competencies: speaking, listening, teamwork, leadership, creativity, problem solving, aiming high and staying positive. Skills builder skills are embedded throughout all subjects and we have certificates based on them given out in celebration worship. Once a year each class runs a Skills builder project (community cafe, stalls, art galleries etc)
Tier 3: Virtues — Catholic Character Education
Catholic Character Education is the formation of the whole child—heart, mind, and spirit—rooted in the belief that every pupil is created in the image and likeness of God. It aims to develop not only academic ability but also the moral, spiritual, and emotional virtues that enable pupils to flourish as individuals, as members of their community, and as disciples of Christ.
It is grounded in:
- Gospel values such as love, compassion, forgiveness, and justice
- Catholic Social Teaching, promoting dignity, solidarity, stewardship, and the common good
- The example of Jesus Christ, who models the fullness of human virtue
Through Catholic Character Education, pupils learn how to make wise choices, act with integrity, and build habits that reflect their God-given dignity. Teaching about the virtues is is woven into the curriculum, pastoral care, relationships, and school culture, helping pupils develop the moral character and spiritual depth needed to live a life of purpose, service, and faith. We celebrate the Catholic virtues in weekly assemblies and certificates.
Cultivating virtues such as compassion, resilience, courage, humility and service, in line with:
1 Peter 4:10:
“Use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”
Best Days of Their Lives: Enrichment and Personalisation
We intentionally build memorable and transformative experiences into the curriculum by providing:
- educational visits that extend learning beyond the classroom,
- visitors and specialists who enrich and personalise subject content,
- themed days, cultural events and workshops.
Enrichment is fully integrated into the curriculum to broaden horizons and ensure pupils experience many of the “best days of their lives” during their time at St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs.
Principles of Effective Pedagogy
Teaching is characterised by:
- clarity of explanation, modelling and scaffolding
- adaptive teaching to meet diverse needs
- systematic retrieval practice
- high expectations for all pupils
- respectful relationships and strong routines
- opportunities to revisit and deepen understanding