CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPORTING TO PARENTS
St George’s offers a wide curriculum which caters for the individual needs of its pupils. In line with Council policy we aim to raise attainment by increasing time spent on the teaching of language at early stages and by using the Depute Head to support groups throughout the school.
“Curriculum for Excellence” guidelines are currently being implemented throughout the school.
Curriculum for Excellence is based on seven main principles:-
Challenge and enjoyment
Personalisation and choice
Progression
Depth
Relevance
Coherence
Breadth
Current guidelines are divided into the following main areas:-
Language
Mathematics
Environmental Studies
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Health Education/Personal and Social Development (PSD)/Religious Education, (including Relationships and Moral Education) /Anti-racist Education/Citizenship/Enterprise
Modern Languages
Assessment
Reporting
Curriculum for Excellence
Bringing learning to life and life to learning
Curriculum for Excellence is now being introduced across Scotland for all 3-18 year olds – wherever they learn. It aims to raise standards, prepare our children for a future they do not yet know and equip them for jobs of tomorrow in a fast changing world.
Curriculum for Excellence enables professionals to teach subjects creatively, to work together across the school and with other schools, to share best practice and explore learning together. Glow, Scotland’s unique, world-leading, online network supports learners and teachers in this and plans are already in place for parents/carers across the country to have access to Glow.
Teachers and practitioners will share information to plan a child’s “learning journey” from 3-18, helping their progression from nursery to primary, primary to secondary and beyond, ensuring the change is smooth. They’ll ensure children continue to work at a pace they can cope with and with challenge they can thrive on.
Curriculum for Excellence balances the importance of knowledge and skills.
Every child is entitled to a broad and deep general education, whatever their level and ability. Every single teacher and practitioner will be responsible for literacy and numeracy – the language and numbers skills that unlock other subjects and are vital to everyday life.
It develops skills for learning, life and work to help young people go on to further study, secure work and navigate life. It brings real life into the classroom, making learning relevant and helps young people apply lessons to their life beyond the classroom. It links knowledge in one subject area to another, helping children understand the world and make connections. It develops skills so that children can think for themselves, make sound judgements, challenge, enquire and find solutions.
There will be new ways of assessing progress and ensuring children achieve their potential. There will be new qualifications for literacy and numeracy and from 2012/13, new National 4 and 5 qualifications from 2013/14. Our well regarded Access, Highers and Advanced Highers will be updated to take account of and support the new approaches to learning and teaching.
There’s personal support to help young people fulfil their potential and make the most of their opportunities with additional support wherever that’s needed. There will be a new emphasis by all staff on looking after our children’s health and wellbeing – to ensure that the school is a place where children feel safe and secure.
Ultimately, Curriculum for Excellence aims are to improve our children’s life chances, to nurture successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors, and responsible citizens, building on Scotland’s reputation for great education.
This session we are continuing to develop a whole school cross-curricular theme in line with Curriculum for Excellence. Although active learning is being implemented in a variety of curricular areas throughout the week, we have a particular focus on active learning every Friday. On these days we invite a variety of people in to school to work with the children. This helps the children to link their work in school to the world around them. We also ensure the children have opportunities to go on educational visits to widen their experiences.
LANGUAGE
We are currently working with the new Curriculum for Excellence Literacy Guidelines and updating our practice in school. Language is at the heart of children’s learning and permeates the whole curriculum.
Reading has been developed in St George’s over the last few years. ‘Storyworld’ is used at the early stages and ‘Literacy World’ in the upper school. In addition, we use a variety of novels and texts to interest the children in reading and help them then apply their reading skills in other areas of the curriculum.
We try to instil a love of books in children. Staff run a lending library throughout the school. Reference skills are taught through the school library and children are encouraged to join their local library. World Book Day is celebrated in school every March.
The children are encouraged to talk together to deepen their learning and thinking. They are given opportunities to organise their thoughts and express them clearly. Class teachers use a variety of approaches to encourage useful discussions in both small groups and class situations. In group discussions they must listen and respond to each other. The children are trained to listen to instructions and directions.
The Glasgow Initiative “New Horizons In Writing” is being implemented in school. The Writing resource “Write To The Top” is used at all stages.
Children are encouraged to write by themselves from the earliest stages through what is known as ‘emergent writing’ and continue to develop to the later stages when they are expected to produce more extended pieces of writing.
A programme for punctuation and structure is presently being implemented from Primary 1 to 7.
In P6 and P7 pupils are taught French.
MATHEMATICS
This area of the curriculum includes:-
Number, Money and Measurement
Shape, Position and Movement
Information Handling
Problem Solving and Enquiry
The main programme used in school is Heinemann Mathematics, with Tee Jay Maths being used at Level E in Primary 7.
The essential element of this programme is the development of understanding through activity, discussion and experience. For children working in Level 1 and 2 of Curriculum for Excellence we have introduced Heinemann Active Maths to engage the children in their learning.
Many other resources support this programme and are used to develop mathematical skills and understanding.
At some stages, pupils are involved in ‘setting’ where children are rearranged into ability groups so that more time can be given to direct teaching.
The use of interactive teaching methods allows the whole class to be actively involved with the teacher at the same time.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
This area of the curriculum includes:-
Social Subjects
Science
Technology
Our aim in Environmental Studies is to help children, to understand, experience and appreciate the environment through investigation.
Environmental Studies is planned around our school themes and throughout the year the teacher will cover a variety of features and topics.
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
HEALTH EDUCATION
CITIZENSHIP
ANTI-RACIST EDUCATION
ENTERPRISE
Personal and Social Development is concerned with the education of the whole child, through the development of life skills. Citizenship is closely related to this area.
St George’s Primary aims to become an Eco school. An Eco Committee has been set up to include staff, parents, pupils and a member of the community. We hope to address Eco issues such as Litter and Waste as part of our School Improvement Plan priorities.
In St George’s Primary staff continually try to foster in the children respect for adults and for each other. This is done through our positive approach to discipline using class reward schemes, circle time sessions, school assemblies, and a school reward system.
The school has a Pupil Council where representatives of each stage can participate in decision-making. A Home/School Agreement has now been completed and a copy given to every family of the new Primary 1 pupils.
St George’s Primary is a health-promoting school. The school promotes healthy eating through the tuck shop. A Breakfast Club has now been established with breakfast for all pupils from 8.00am to 8.45am. Water is now freely available to everyone. All children are now entitled to free milk. A toothbrushing programme for Primary 1 and 2 is currently in place.
The Curriculum for Excellence Health & Wellbeing Experiences were used this session to plan a whole school health theme.
Every year the school has a health day where pupils take part in a variety of health activities with the help of staff, parents and visiting specialists.
Enterprise Education is done at each stage of the school when the pupils work as a team to create products which can be used in school or at home.
Anti-racist Education is taught through Citizenship. Material, produced
in an Anti-racist pack by Glasgow City Council, is used in every class.
SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL, MORAL AND
CULTURAL VALUES (RELIGIOUS EDUCATION)
St George’s, being a Catholic School, teaches the basic beliefs and modes of conduct of the Catholic Religion. This session we have introduced the new Guidelines “This is Our Faith”.
Through Religious Education we aim to lead the children to Christian
awareness of each other, encouraging them to be aware of the wide range of religious traditions within our community and beyond. Children are also prepared for the reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Children participate in religious services. Parents are informed about these services and are most welcome to participate with their children and the staff. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious instruction, and should make their wishes known to the Head Teacher on enrolling their children in school, and in writing.
Parents and carers from religions other than Christianity may request that their children be permitted to be absent from school in order to celebrate recognised religious events. Only written requests detailing the proposed arrangements will be considered. Appropriate requests will be granted on not more than three occasions (days) in any one school session and the child or young person noted in the register, using code REL on these days.
Relationships and Moral Education is done form P1-P7.
In P6 parents are asked to support their children at home with Sex Education materials supplied by the Archdiocese.
In P7 Sex Education is done in school with support materials to be continued at home.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS
Expressive Arts include:-
Physical Education
Music
Art &Design
Drama
The school follows a structured programme for each area.
Although the Glasgow PE, Art and Design and Drama guidelines are there for staff, we are aiming to include most areas of Expressive Arts within our termly topics.
Children in Primary 7 are given opportunities for swimming. We make every effort to afford equal opportunities for boys and girls in all these areas.
Throughout the year classes have an opportunity to take part in out of school PE activities or have visiting specialists in school including Celtic and Rangers coaches.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS/ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY
At any time in their school career, children and young people can have additional support needs and these are addressed in a number of ways.
Within each class, all children are given group or individual work to suit their ability. A wide variety of materials are used in the school so that the children have work appropriate to their needs.
Where a child is highlighted by a teacher as having particular difficulties, steps will be taken through the internal referral system to have the child assessed. Recommendations will be made and support given where needed.
The Additional Support for Learning (ASL) programme will be flexible to allow for short-term needs of pupils. The Depute Head also works for part of the week to support learning.
Any child experiencing severe learning difficulties will be referred, after discussion with parents, to Psychological Services for specialist help.
The school has a duty to ensure that all our children and young people have equal access to the curriculum, supported as appropriate to their individual needs. This covers not only the content of lessons and teaching strategies but also minor adaptations to the physical environment of our buildings to address the needs of children and young people with physical or sensory impairments, including the relocation of classes to the ground floor where feasible. We also need to ensure that parents and carers who have a disability have equal access to information about their child or young person. This will involve, for example, relocating the venue for parents/carers meetings to facilitate physical access; provision of an interpreter for deaf people; agreeing a phone contact system to provide direct feedback to parents and carers.
Physical Access: St George’s school has wheelchair access via ramps at a number of locations around the school.
Some toilets have been adapted to cater for wheelchair users.
Curriculum: The curriculum will be adapted to suit the needs of any child who has difficulty accessing it through disability.
Staff Development: Staff are kept informed about new legislation through meetings, training sessions and written official documents.
Communication: St. George’s school will try to ensure any reasonable adjustments are made to help parents or carers who have a difficulty, provided the school is informed.
HOMEWORK
The school has a homework policy which parents are asked to support by signing work completed at home.
Homework will be given regularly from P1-P7. It will consolidate work done in the class, provide opportunities for individual learning, and inform you of the kind of work your child is doing in school.
Tasks should take around fifteen minutes at early stages and thirty minutes for the upper stages. Homework will be given three to four times per week.
Homework will be varied. Reading, Spelling, Maths and topic-related work may be given, as well as independent research work. Health activities may also be part of the homework programme.
Pupils will be expected to maintain a high standard of presentation in their homework jotters. Parents are asked to ensure all homework is returned to school to be discussed in class.