Literacy (English)

We aim to develop children who are confident in the use of English in each of the following:

• Reading. Children are taught to read using a combination of phonic and whole word approaches, using shared and guided strategies. Children are given regular opportunities for both reading aloud and silently.
• Writing. Children are taught to develop and extend their ability to write accurately, clearly and coherently for different purposes and audiences.
• Speaking and listening. Children are encouraged to develop the confidence to express themselves fluently through a range of activities, including role play, drama and presentational tasks.

Numeracy (Mathematics)

We aim to equip all children with mathematical skills needed in everyday life and the confidence and ability to apply them in practical situations.

We teach a wide variety of strategies for children to develop their skills and confidence in mathematics. There is a strong emphasis on the acquisition of mental skills as well as written methods.

Science

In Science we aim to stimulate and excite pupils' curiosity about changes and events in the world, and to enable them to satisfy this curiosity with understanding. We link pupils' understanding with scientific thought and thus allow them to develop a greater understanding of the world in which we live and their responsibility to ensure its sustainability. We believe that pupils should be engaged as learners at many levels through linking ideas with practical experience which develops the skills of enquiry, observation, research, experimentation, use of apparatus, measuring and checking results, making comparisons and communicating results and findings.

Children cover a range of topics from Reception up to Year 6. These include Circuits and Conductors, Solids and Liquids, Teeth and Eating and Materials. Science teaching mostly takes place in the classroom but the school grounds are used when appropriate.

Visits and visitors are an essential part of our Science curriculum as they enable children to learn from experts. Recently these opportunities have included a Science show at Teddington School, Vic Taylor and his mini-beasts, Kew Gardens, The Lookout Discovery Centre and the Science Museum.

Religious Education & Collective Worship

As a Voluntary Aided Church of England School the principles of the Christian way of life underpin all that we do. We aim to give children a foundation of the Christian faith and belief, which is reflected in the principles surrounding the school's foundation. Children also have the opportunity to learn about other religious traditions. The Governors determine the syllabus for Religious Education in the school and regularly review it.

Our daily acts of worship (assemblies) provide a focus for the school community and are very varied in content. Clergy from the two sponsoring parishes take a weekly assembly.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education and Collective worship. Any parents who are considering doing this are asked to discuss it with the Headteacher. Children who are withdrawn will be supervised.

Sex and Relationships Education

Sex education is part of a developmental programme of personal and social education designed to meet the needs and maturity of children. The Governors have agreed a policy for sex education and it is available from the school office.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from the non-statutory parts of sex education.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

For children to have the best opportunities in life today it is essential that we develop children who are confident with computers and other technology. Children at St Mary's and St Peter's have excellent opportunities to learn in our state of the art ICT suite. All classrooms also have their own computers and all children follow a detailed and progressive curriculum.

Art

We have a strong reputation for our arts work in the school. This is reflected in the Artsmark Gold award that we received from the Arts Council in 2003, 2006 and 2009. We believe that creativity in the arts provides richness to children's learning.

We take pride in our school environment and the high quality artwork to be seen around the school.

Music

Music is at the heart of our school and we believe it is key in promoting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. At SMSP, through the teaching of music, we provide opportunities for all pupils to express ideas and feelings by performing, listening to, appraising and composing music.

By linking Music with all areas of the National Curriculum from the earliest stages in Reception, through to the end of Key Stage 2, pupils develop their creativity and expand their understanding of different cultures and traditions.

Beyond the classroom, extra-curricular Music thrives through a variety of musical ensembles and clubs. Here, we encourage pupils of all abilities to aspire to become excellent performers, work collaboratively, make good progress and develop a wide and varied repertoire.

We have strong links with our community and our choirs and instrumental groups perform regularly for local residents and at our parish churches. We also have good links with the local secondary schools and like to invite our former Year 6s back to join some of our concerts, as well as visiting them performing in their new settings.

All our pupils enjoy participating in regular school performances throughout the year which give them an opportunity to showcase their many talents and accomplishments, of which we are very proud.

Drama

The school offers a wide experience of drama and dance, through the curriculum and through opportunities for children to perform in regular productions and drama workshops. We regularly have professional actors working with children and have been developing innovative projects such as our whole school Shakespearian project.

History

In History we aim to fire children's curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. We consider past societies and their beliefs and actions. In doing so, children develop their concept of time and a chronology of significant periods, people and events.

During Key Stage 1 pupils learn about significant people and lifestyles in the past, and begin to understand how the past is different from the present. This includes a study of toys, homes and the seaside in the past, as well as the Fire of London and Florence Nightingale.

In Key Stage 2 children's knowledge of different periods, events, people and places is extended through the study of the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Victorians, Tudors and World War I and II. Children begin to recognise that the past can be represented and interpreted in different ways, and they begin to develop a notion of change and continuity over time.

To find out about the past, children are encouraged to carry out research, find evidence, weigh it up and to form their own conclusions. We are passionate about providing children with the opportunity to use artefacts and primary sources to investigate the past. Equally, we like to use specialist visitors and educational visits to support and enhance the children's enjoyment and appreciation of History.

Our aim is for many budding Historians to leave SMSP!

Geography

In Geography we aim to develop children's understanding of the world and the human place within it.

Modern Foreign Language

Children from Years 3 to 6 learn French on a weekly basis. The programme of study enables them to progress through 3 strands of learning; oracy, literacy and intercultural understanding. In addition to this, the children will also develop their knowledge about language in general as well as develop a range of language-learning strategies. This provides a basis for children's future development as language learners.

The children will be taught a variety of topics, ranging from numbers and colours to animals, clothes and the weather. They are also provided with opportunities to explore ad experience aspects of another culture throughout the school year.

Children in KS1 are also exposed to learning another language. This is predominantly French. Their focus is training the ear to hearing a foreign language. This involves lots of songs, rhymes and stories in French. They also learn about life in another culture.

Sports and PE

We encourage children to be active. Within the formal curriculum all children take part in PE and Games, having opportunities to learn skills in a wide variety of sports. Children have opportunities to develop skills in gymnastics, football, netball, athletics and many other competitive and non-competitive sports.

They also have a wide variety of opportunities to take part in extra curricular sporting activities. As well as football and netball teams we have offered cricket, rugby, rounders, basketball, athletics, swimming and dance. We have a number of partnerships with local sporting organisations and children are often able to receive professional sporting tuition. We regularly take part in inter school competitions and we are proud to say that our school swimming team were crowned both Large State School Champions and Richmond Borough Champions Girls 2010-11.

Design & Technology

Extra-curricular activities

We believe it is appropriate to allow children to enrich and extend their learning beyond the formal curriculum and regularly provide opportunities for children to take part in after school and lunchtime activities. As well as sporting activities we provide extensive programme of activities for 'clubs' including ICT, book clubs, arts clubs, music activities, French club, theatre club, drama club, and many more!

We also have opportunities for after and before school care with our After School Club and our Breakfast Club. They run daily and are currently very popular with working parents.