"Pupils appreciate the help they are given by their teachers, so they can achieve well in the subjects they study."

- Ofsted Inspection, November 2019

Curriculum Intent

Preparing students to stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers, locally, nationally and globally.

To achieve their God-given potential, learners in our care are inspired and supported to be:

Ambitious        Hard-working        Resilient        Responsible 

Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10, v10b).

The quality of education in the College is driven by our curriculum, which is designed to: 

1. Enable every child to achieve their God-given potential in all aspects of their life. “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” (Proverbs 18:15)
2. Develop our children’s cultural capital: prepared & equipped to stand shoulder to shoulder with peers. “Do you see people who are skilful in their work? They will stand before royalty.” (Proverbs 22:29)
3. Value the uniqueness of every child, with children at the heart of everything we do. “so, God created human beings, making them to be like himself.” (Genesis 1:27)

Our curriculum is building wisdom, truth and knowledge; the learning and teaching of understanding, virtues and habits that shape individuals, families and communities; the worth of each person; what people hope for; and more.

Curriculum Implementation Key Features:

• A broad and balanced curriculum, with an expansive enrichment programme which develops the  skills, knowledge and attributes of our students, raising their horizons, particularly for the most disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Providing a complete environment for students to flourish in order to live ‘life in all its fullness’, academically, socially and spiritually, as responsible members of their communities.
• A three-year coherently planned Key Stage 3 curriculum, which builds, from their individual starting points, a strong and broad foundation of skills and knowledge for students to succeed at Key Stage 4 and beyond.
• A two-year Key Stage 4 where students are given time to study and prepare for the Core and EBacc GCSE subjects, alongside PE and RE, without losing the breadth of studying a ‘free’ option (such as a creative or Performing Arts subject, Technology or a second Humanities subject).
• First-class careers advice which supports children to be ambitious for their futures.
• Giving children opportunities to contribute to their immediate and wider communities, and to become responsible and charitable global citizens.
• When students join us in Year 7, they will have already chosen a language to study; French or Spanish, in order to build solid foundations for study at Key Stage 4, where they are strongly encouraged, where appropriate, to follow the EBacc route.
• A high quality Life Skills programme is delivered during Tutor Time and Life Skills Week; so that students have a wider understanding of the world we live in.
• The curriculum is underpinned by six principles of teaching and learning: challenge; explanation; modelling; practice; feedback; and questioning.

Planned Curriculum Impact:

The impact of our curriculum is to enable all learners to ‘have life and have it to the full’. Specifically:

• All students have a thirst for learning and consistently achieve highly.
• All students have the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to flourish in all aspects of life.
• Learners have developed interests and talents through the enrichment that runs through the curriculum.
• All students will value relationships, contribute responsibly to communities and feel empowered to speak up against injustice.

What does our vision mean? 

John Chapter 10, verse 10: This verse comes from the parable of ‘The Shepherd and His Flock’. Within this parable, Jesus teaches about the virtue of living life in the right way.

• We are St Catherine’s College: We are a community of which we are proud to be a member.
• Standing shoulder to shoulder: We want our students to be second-to-none in their readiness for life after and beyond school - However, as part of the SCC community and as responsible global citizens, we also want students to demonstrate solidarity with others, especially those in need.
• God-given potential: As a Church School we believe that everybody is unique with talents, qualities and skills to discover and nurture for the benefit of society.
• Inspiration and Support: Every school ‘cares’, but as a Church School we will go the extra mile so that all students can flourish.  

What are our values?

• Ambitious: We would like students to aspire to be the best they can be, aiming high in everything.
• Hard-working: Ambition without hard work is just a dream. Hard work is the solution to most challenges and can lead to success.
• Resilient: Success comes from not giving up; from demonstrating the perseverance to keep going.
• Responsible: As a member of civilised society, we will teach that the pursuit of excellence should be combined with respect and consideration for others and the fulfilment of a stewardship role.