Back to top

Bolton St Catherine's Academy

Bolton St Catherine's Academy
BELIEVE . STRIVE . CARE . ACHIEVE
Achieve

Curriculum

Wider Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact

It is our intention to create lifelong learners who have enthusiasm and curiosity. This is achieved by using an enquiry based approach where learners are required to taking an active role in their learning by thinking deeply, asking and answering questions and building knowledge.

Our wider curriculum is largely based on Learning Challenges. It follows the programmes of study from the National Curriculum for History and Geography, Art, DT,  Religious Education and Music.

PSHE (Personal Development) is based on the SCARF programme. Physical Education follows the Head, Heart, Hands model of delivery and meets the National Curriculum aims.

Each Learning Challenge begins with a prime question as the starting point. A series of subsidiary learning challenges are then planned. Planning to use knowledge organisers as part of home learning will help to get parents and carers directly involved in their child's learning, these are shared prior to each half term to parents via Class Dojo.

Each of the learning challenges have been carefully planned to develop knowledge, skills and understanding that in turn ensure learning is progressive and continuous. Every opportunity should be made to help children apply their literacy (reading, writing and oracy), numeracy and computing skills throughout the learning challenge.

Every attempt has been made to ensure that all content absolutely meets our context. It is hoped that by taking starting points from the children's context, History and Geography is brought to life and be viewed as exciting and interesting.

Time for children to reflect or review their learning is central to the Learning Challenge process. Therefore, the final subsidiary learning challenge is handed over to the learners to reflect on their learning. The idea is that they present their learning to an appropriate audience making the most of their oracy and ICT skills. Initially, children may require a great deal of direction, but as they become more confident and skilled this should lessen. This concludes the learning challenge, however regular opportunities to reflect should be included over the weeks of the enquiry. Also, continued enquiry should be encouraged for example, through books being made available in class book areas, access to the academy library, knowledge organisers displayed in class and sent home, learning revisited in consequent learning challenges and year groups. This style of delivery will allow pupils to transfer key knowledge to long-term memory. Our medium term planning documents are sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and pupils can work towards clearly defined end points.

Additionally, we have identified trips, visits and visitors to further bring learning to life.
To this end our curriculum will equip our pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.

'It is the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.'

National Curriculum

Example of prime learning challenge, pre-learning tasks, subsidiary learning challenges and reflection.

Prime Question

How did the first flight change the world?

Pre-Learning Task

Knowledge Organisers shared

Subsidiary Learning Challenge 1 (LC1)

Where have you travelled to and how did you get there?

LC2

How did people travel long distances before there were aeroplanes?

LC3

Who invented the first aeroplane?

LC4

How have aeroplanes changed over the years?

LC5

Cross curricular DT link What do you think aeroplanes might look like in the future?

Reflection

Cross curricular Art link How can we use collage to show the evolution of aeroplanes?

For more information about our curriculum, please contact Mr Watson, our Primary Phase Leader - 01204 332533 or email primary@boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk

 


 Curriculum Overviews

EYFS

eyfs long term plan.pdf

 

Year 1

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 1 History What was life like when our grandparents were children?  Who were L S Lowry and Peter Bruegel? Did the great fire make London better or worse?
Geography Our School Why can't a meerkat live in the North Pole? Where do the wheels on the bus go?
Art Colour Chaos Nature Sculptures LS Lowry
DT Moving Pictures - Traditional Tales Our Fabric Faces Sensational Salads
Music Nursery Rhymes Nativity Chime Bars Chime Bars Sounds of Nature Assessed Performance
Science Everyday materials Seasonal Changes: Autumn and Winter Animals including humans Seasonal Changes: Spring and Summer Plants
Computing Computer Skills
DL /  IT 
Word Processing
IT 
Painting
IT 
Programming Toys
CS / IT 
Programming with Scratch Jr
CS

Using and Applying
IT 
Online Safety
DL 
PD Me and My Relationships Feelings
Getting help
Classroom rules
Special people
Being a good friend
Valuing Difference Recognising, valuing and
celebrating difference
Developing respect and
accepting others
Bullying and getting help
Keeping Safe How our feelings can
keep us safe – including
online safety
Safe and unsafe touches
Medicine Safety
Sleep
Rights and Respect Taking care of things:
Myself
My money
My environment
Being My Best  Growth Mindset
Healthy eating
Hygiene and health
Cooperation
Growing and Changing Getting help
Becoming independent
My body parts
Taking care of self and
others
RE God - What do Christians believe God is like? Incarnation - Why does Christmas matter to Christians? Creation - Who made the world? Salvation - Why does Easter matter to Christians? Islam - Who is Muslim and how do they live? Gospel - What is the good news Jesus brings?
Longitudinal How can you create patterns using leaves in the style of William Morris - Science/ Geography noticing changing seasons - drawing and printing How can we make a winter landscape - drawing - Science/ Geography noticing changing seasons How can you use art to show the changes of spring - drawing and collage - Science/ Geography noticing changing seasons What would a summer field look like (Van Gogh)  - drawing (oil pastels/ range of media) = Science/ Geography noticing changing Seasons
PE Invasion (FMS Football) Net/Wall/Court (FMS Dodgeball) Gymnastics/Dance Invasion (FMS Netball) Striking/Fielding (FMS Rounders) Athletics

Year 2

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 2 History How did the first flight change the world? Why is Samuel Crompton remembered? Who were the greatest explorers? Neil Armstrong and Christopher Columbus.
Geography What would Emma Jane find exciting about our town? Where would you prefer to live: England or Africa? Why do we love to be beside the seaside?
Art Portraits Fabricate Landscapes and Cityscapes
DT Fabric Bunting Pirate Paddy's Packed Lunch Problems Dips and Dippers
Music Renaissance Nativity Chime Bars Chime Bars Ringtones and Alarms Assessed Performance
Science Uses of Everyday Materials Animals including humans Plants Living Things and Their Habitats The Environment
Computing Preparing For Turtle Logo
CS 
Programming Turtle Logo and Scratch
CS 
Computer Art
DL 
Using the Internet
DL /  IT 
Presentation Skills
DL / IT 

Using and Applying
IT / CS 
Online Safety
DL 
PD Me and My Relationships Bullying and teasing
Our school rules about
bullying
Being a good friend
Feelings/self-regulation
Valuing Difference Being kind and helping
others
 Celebrating difference
People who help us
Listening Skills
Keeping Safe Safe and unsafe secrets
Appropriate touch
Medicine safety
Rights and Respect Cooperation
Self-regulation
Online safety
Looking after money –
saving and spending
Being My Best  Growth Mindset
Looking after my body
Hygiene and health
Exercise and sleep
Growing and Changing Life cycles
Dealing with loss
Being supportive
Growing and changing
Privacy
RE God - What do Christians believe God is like? Incarnation - Why does Christmas matter to Christians? Judaism - Who is Jewish and how do they live? Salvation - Why does Easter matter to Christians? Gospel - What is the good news Jesus brings? Creation - Who made the world?
PE Invasion (FMS Handball)/ Tag Rugby Net/Wall/Court (FMS Dodgeball) Gymnastics/Dance Net/Wall/Court (FMS Tennis) Striking/Fielding (FMS Rounders) Athletics

Year 3

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 3 History Who First Lived in Britain? Which significant events have happened in Bolton in the past?  How can we rediscover the wonder of Ancient Egypt?
Geography What makes the Earth angry?  What is the UK Like? Which Mediterranean country would you visit? 
Art Autumn British Art Bodies
DT Juggling Balls Mechanical Posters Edible Garden
Music Baroque Come Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Glockenspiel Glockenspiel - Composition Games / Storytelling Assessed Performance
Science Forces and Magnets Rocks Animals including humans Plants Light
Computing Presentation Skills
IT 
Word Processing Skills
DL / IT 
Drawing and Desktop Publishing
IT / DL 
Internet Research and Communication
IT / DL / CS 
Programming Turtle Logo and Scratch
CS

Using and Applying
IT 
Online Safety
IT 
PD Me and My Relationships Rules and their purpose
Cooperation
Friendship (including
respectful relationships)
Coping with loss
Valuing Difference Recognising and
respecting diversity
Being respectful and
tolerant
My community
Keeping Safe Managing risk
Decision-making skills
Drugs and their risks
 Staying safe online
Rights and Respect Skills we need to develop as
we grow up
Helping and being helped
Looking after the
environment
Managing money
Being My Best  Keeping myself healthy
and well
 Celebrating and
developing my skills
Developing empathy
Growing and Changing Relationships
Keeping safe
Safe and unsafe secrets
RE Creation and Fall - What do Christians learn from the creation story? Incarnation/God - What is the trinity?  Gospel - What kind of world did Jesus want? Salvation - Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’?  People of God - What is it like to follow God?  Hinduism - What does it mean to be Hindu in Britain today? 
PE Invasion (football) / Tag Rugby Dodgeball/Dance Gymnastics Gymnastics/Dance Hockey/Cricket (Striking and Fielding)  Athletics

Year 4

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 4 History What happened when the Romans came to Britain? Why should gunpowder, treason and plot never be forgotten? What would you have done after school 100 years ago?
Geography Why is Manchester a cool place to live? Why are mountains so marvelous? What would you see with a ticket around the world?
Art Fruit and Vegetables European Art and Artists Insects
DT Battery Operated Lights Let's Go Fly a Kite The Great Bread Bake Off
Music Brass (BMS - WOPS) Musicianship Brass (BMS - WOPS) Musicianship Brass (BMS - WOPS) Learning to Play Brass (BMS - WOPS) Learning to Play Brass (BMS - WOPS) School Band Brass (BMS - WOPS) School Band 
Science Sound States of Matter Animals including Humans Electricity Living Things and Their Habitats
Computing Scratch Questions and Quizzes
CS 
Word Processing
IT 
Programming Turtle Logo
CS 
Animation
IT 
Communication and Collaboration & Using and Applying
IT 
Online Safety
DL / IT 
PD Me and My Relationships Healthy relationships
Listening to feelings
Bullying
Assertive skills
Valuing Difference Recognising and
celebrating difference
(including religions and
cultural difference)
Understanding and
challenging stereotypes
Keeping Safe Managing risk
Understanding the norms
of drug use (cigarette
and alcohol use)
Influences
Online safety
Rights and Respect Making a difference
(different ways of helping
others or the environment)
Media influence
Decisions about spending
money
Being My Best  Having choices and
making decisions about
my health
Taking care of my
environment
My skills and interests
Growing and Changing Body changes during
puberty
Managing difficult
feelings
Relationships including
marriage
RE  Creation and Fall - What do Christians learn from the creation story? Incarnation - What is the trinity?  Gospel - What kind of world did Jesus want?  Salvation - Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’?  Kingdom of God - When Jesus left what was the impact of Pentecost?  Judaism - How do festivals and family life show what matters to Jews?  
PE Invasion (handball) / Rugby  Net/Wall/Court (Dodgeball) Gymnastics/Dance Net/Wall/Court (Tennis) Striking/Fielding (Rounders) Athletics

Year 5

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 5 History Was the Anglo-Saxon period really a dark age? Where did all the mills go? What did the Greeks do for us?
Geography Why should the rainforests be important to all of us? I'm a Year 5 Pupil Get me Out of Here What would it be like to explore Easter Europe?
Art Ancient Greece South and Central American Plants and Flowers
DT Marbellous Structures Programming Adventures Super Seasonal Cooking
Music Classical Silent Night (as a round) Glockenspiel Glockenspiel - Composition (Bandlab or Avid) TV Adverts and radio Assessed Performance
Science Properties and Changes of materials Earth and Space Forces Living things and habitats Animals including Humans
Computing Scratch: Developing Games
CS 
Flowol
CS 
Radio Station
IT 
Internet Research and Web Design
IT 
3D Modelling: Sketch Up
IT

Using and Applying
CS / IT 
Online safety
IT / DL 
PD Me and My Relationships Feelings
Friendship skills,
including compromise
Assertive skills
Cooperation
Recognising emotional
needs
Valuing Difference Recognising and
celebrating difference,
including religions and
cultural
Influence and pressure of
social media
Keeping Safe Managing risk,
including online safety
Norms around use of
legal drugs (tobacco,
alcohol)
Decision-making skills
Rights and Respect Rights, respect and duties
 relating to my health
 Making a difference
 Decisions about lending,
borrowing and spending
Being My Best  Growing independence
and taking ownership
Keeping myself healthy
Media awareness and
safety
My community
Growing and Changing Managing difficult
feelings
Managing change
How my feelings help
keeping safe
Getting help
RE Creation and Fall - Creation and science: conflicting or complementary?  Incarnation - Was Jesus the Messiah?  Islam - What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?  Salvation - What did Jesus do to save human beings?  Kingdom of God - What kind of king is Jesus?  Gospel - What would Jesus do? 
PE Invasion (football) / Tag Rugby Net/Wall/Court (Dodgeball) Gymnastics / Dance  Invasion (Netball) Striking/Fielding (Cricket)

Athletics

Year 6

Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 6 History Were the Vikings always vicious and victorious? Why should we remember the Maya? How did Britain change from William the Stone Age to William the Conqueror? 
Geography Why are rivers important to humans? How is our world changing? What's so special about the USA?
Art Wildlife Birds The Seaside North American
DT Automata Animals Felt Phone Cases Global Food
Music Romantic / 20th Century O Come All Ye Faithful Glockenspiel Glockenspiel - Composition (Bandlab or Avid) Film Scores Assessed Performance
Science Light Living Things and Their Habitats Electricity Evolution and Inheritance Animals and Humans
Computing Scratch: Animated stories
CS 
Spreadsheets
IT 
Kodu Programming / BBC Microbit (new 2025)
IT / CS 
Online Safety &
Using and Applying
(1 lesson) 
Using and Applying
Project – Game Product
IT / CS 
Film-Making
IT / CS 
PD Me and My Relationships Assertiveness
Cooperation
Safe/unsafe touches
Positive relationships
Valuing Difference Recognising and
celebrating difference
Recognising and reflecting
on prejudice-based bullying
Understanding Bystander
behaviour
Gender stereotyping
Keeping Safe Understanding
emotional needs
Staying safe online
 Drugs: norms and risks
(including the law)
Rights and Respect Understanding media bias,
including social media
Caring: communities and the
environment
Earning and saving money
Understanding democracy
Being My Best  Aspirations and goal
setting
 Managing risk
Looking after my mental
health
Growing and Changing Coping with changes
Keeping safe
Body Image
Sex education
Self-esteem
RE Creation and Fall - Creation and science: conflicting or complementary?  Incarnation - Was Jesus the Messiah?  God - What does it mean if God is holy and loving?  Salvation - What difference does resurrection make to Christians?  Hinduism - Why do Hindus try to be good?  People of God - How can following God bring freedom and justice? 
PE Invasion (handball) / Tag Rugby Hockey / Dance Dodgeball / Gymnastics Net/Wall/Court (Tennis) Striking/Fielding (Rounders) Athletics/Orienteering & Bikeability