Curriculum Intent
At St Cuthbertâs, we know that for our children to flourish, they must experience a curriculum that is broad, rich, engaging and ambitious. Many of our pupils begin school with limited experiences, low aspiration or barriers linked to language and confidence. Our curriculum is therefore intentionally designed to raise ambition, widen horizons and ensure every child believes that they can achieve highly.
Our Catholic ethos and Gospel values of love, forgiveness and service sit at the heart of our curriculum. As a community of faith, working in partnership with home and parish, we value each child as unique. We recognise that pupils learn best when they feel happy, safe and secure, and our nurturing environment enables them to grow academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally. We aim to educate the whole child, developing resilient, wellârounded citizens who are healthy in mind, body and spirit.
Careful analysis of pupilsâ backgrounds, experiences and needs continues to shape our curriculum design. By understanding potential barriers to learning, we ensure that the curriculum is inclusive, coherent and accessible for all pupils. Foundational knowledge is clearly identified so that pupils secure essential building blocks before moving on. Our curriculum is built around worth, spirit and contribution, enabling pupils to develop character, confidence and a strong sense of belonging.
We remain committed to academic excellence. While we protect curriculum breadth, we also prioritise the fundamental skills of phonics, reading, writing and mathematics. We believe that a rich, relevant and wellâsequenced curriculum drives standards, fosters enjoyment and ensures that all pupils can access future learning.
Curriculum Implementation
We invest in highâquality professional development and external expertise to strengthen subject knowledge and curriculum design. Consultants and specialists support us in refining our personalised curriculum and ensuring that teaching is consistently strong. Teachers use a wide range of effective strategies to deepen knowledge, build skills and sustain pupilsâ engagement.
Reading is a vital foundation of learning and sits alongside early language, writing, mathematics and vocabulary as core skills that help our pupils flourish. Staff teach reading and phonics with expertise and care, ensuring pupils develop fluency, comprehension and a love of literature. These foundational skills enable every child to access our rich, ambitious curriculum and grow in confidence across all areas of learning. A consistent approach to reading across EYFS, KS1 and KS2 enables pupils to make strong progress. Our systematic synthetic phonics programme is delivered with fidelity, and targeted support ensures pupils develop secure early reading foundations that enable confident progression.
Teachers plan a rich, balanced curriculum that meets the needs of all learners. Adaptive teaching, and where appropriate, a bespoke timetable of provision, ensures pupils with SEND access the full curriculum. Scaffolding and interventions are used to remove barriers rather than narrow entitlement. Assessment is purposeful and used to check understanding of the taught curriculum, identify misconceptions and inform next steps.
Our curriculum is enhanced by a wide range of experiences that strengthen cultural capital and reflect our ethos. Pupils benefit from academic, spiritual, moral, social and cultural opportunities that help them understand British Values and appreciate the diverse society they belong to. We promote equality, inclusion and diversity, and our use of highâquality resources such as Educate Against Hate, alongside guidance and training from the Local Authority on PREVENT, strengthens this commitment.
We champion the arts, sports, performance and music, recognising their impact on wellbeing, confidence and aspiration. Educational visits, local studies and interâschool competitions make learning come alive. Our emphasis on the whole child raises selfâesteem, resilience and motivation.
Subject leaders understand the intent of their curriculum areas and monitor progression, depth and coverage. Through refined subject looks, leaders evaluate strengths and areas for development, ensuring coherence and high expectations as pupils move through school.
Curriculum Impact
From their varied starting points, pupils make strong progress academically, emotionally, socially, creatively and physically. Knowledge, skills and vocabulary are securely embedded, enabling pupils to recall learning confidently and apply it across the curriculum. Pupils demonstrate resilience, motivation and pride in their achievements.
Our investment in staff training, curriculum progression mapping and targeted support ensures pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Subject leaders provide clear, informative reports to governors, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.
Pupils enjoy learning, feel safe to take risks and work collaboratively and independently as inquisitive learners. They embrace challenge, show respect and demonstrate tolerance and acceptance of others. They develop as responsible citizens who understand values such as love, responsibility and friendship.
We believe our pupils will:
- Be academically, socially and physically prepared for their next stage of education and life in modern Britain.
- Recall and apply key knowledge confidently across subjects.
- Use and understand highâlevel vocabulary with accuracy.
- Speak articulately about a wide range of topics.
- Demonstrate resilience, motivation and a growth mindset.
- Leave St Cuthbertâs respectful, ambitious and ready to contribute positively to their community and the wider world.
If you would like further information about our Curriculum Offer, please contact Danielle Garvey (Curriculum Co-ordinator):
Tel: 0151 228 4137
Email your enquiry to: cuthberts-ao@st-cuthberts.liverpool.sch.uk