THE CURRICULUM AIMS AT SAINT MARTIN’S

The Vision

​“Learning the best that has been thought and said”
​Matthew Arnold

At the heart of Saint Martin’s curriculum is our Christian mission, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11. All have been called and are treasured by the God. Our core purpose is to enable our pupils to know that they are loved and to realise their God-given potential. This means providing children, from all abilities and backgrounds, with an ambitiously academic curriculum where pupils succeed through excellent teaching, uncompromising standards of behaviour and relentless care.Our curriculum at Saint Martin’s is founded upon the belief that all pupils should learn about the ‘best that had been thought and said’. We are all the inheritors of the greatest ideas, writings and discoveries of the past. Our curriculum is designed to enable pupils to learn about these ideas, taught through the expertise of teachers whose mission it is to convey their knowledge and love of their subjects and to ensure that pupils remember what they are taught.

Our aim is for pupils to not only leave with superb qualifications; it is also to experience a rich education where they will have read great literature, studied the ideas of philosophers, appreciated art and music, explored the most fascinating scientific discoveries and much more. Our ambition is that through learning the ‘best that has been thought and said’, they will be supported in becoming thoughtful and educated human beings.

What we call civilization – the accumulation of knowledge which has come down to us from our forefathers – is the fruit of thousands of years of human thought and toil.
It is not the result of the labour of the ancestors of any separate class of people who exist today, and therefore it is, by right, the common heritage of all.
Every little child that is born into the world, no matter whether he is clever or dull, whether he is physically perfect or lame, or blind; no matter
how much he may excel or fall short of his fellows in other respects, in one thing at least he is their equal – he is one of the heirs of all the ages that have gone before.’Robert Tressell, ‘The Ragged-Trousers Philanthropist’ pub.1914

THE CURRICULUM

We have a five-year curriculum in each subject area. Departments have reflected on their ambition for what expertise they believe students should possess by the time they leave Saint Martin’s. This ambition will always take account of the GCSE requirements, but we aim for much more of our pupils.

For example, studying Ovid in Year 7 enables a pupil reading Shakespeare to have a far more profound understanding of the play than someone who has not studied the origins of Renaissance literature. Or an art student being given a systematic course in becoming a proficient portrait artist in Year 7 in order to become a highly skilled portrait artist by the time they get to Year 11.

Through traditional teaching pupils learn more efficiently and are therefore able to learn more. In the delivery of the curriculum, we therefore promote traditional teacher-led instruction. Teachers are the experts and share their knowledge and expertise with pupils, modelling, explaining, questioning and helping to embed ideas in their long term memory.

‘If nothing has been retained in long-term memory, nothing has been learned.’

Kirschner, Sweller and Clark

‘Higher-order thinking is knowledge-based: The almost universal feature of reliable higher-order thinking about any subject or problem is the possession of a broad, well-integrated base of background knowledge relevant to the subject’.  ​
E D Hirsch

LOWER SCHOOL (YEARS 7-8)

The Lower school follow foundation courses which cover a significant breadth and depth within a subject area.

Core & English Baccalaureate Subjects

Divinity
English
Mathematics
Science
French/Spanish
History
Geography

In addition, pupils who struggle the most in terms of literacy or numeracy will follow a Direct Instruction course. This is for pupils are will be unlikely to access the curriculum at GCSE. It replaces, temporarily, Humanities and MFL.

Additional subjects that all pupils study

Art
​Computer Science
​Design Technology
Drama
Food Technology
Music
Physical Education
Dance

(Some pupils will also undertake a Direct Instruction Course to address reading or numeracy issues)

UPPER SCHOOL (YEARS 9-11)

In the upper school pupils continue to follow the five-year curriculum set out from the beginning of Year 7. It is at this point that they will specialise in a set of subjects that will lead them to their full GCSE courses by the end of Year 11. Most pupils will study the English Baccalaureate subjects.

English Baccalaureate subjects

Divinity
English
Mathematics
Science
French/Spanish
History
Geography

Options Subjects

Art
Business Studies
​Computer Science
​Construction*
Dance
Design Technology
Drama
Food Technology
Health and Social Care*
Music
Physical Education
Travel and Tourism*
Enhanced Learning* (Additional English & Maths support)

*Some pupils have an alternative Pathways to GCSE. This pathway is designed for pupils who will struggle to study 10 full GCSEs.

ENRICHMENT

Along-side the formal curriculum, pupils have a variety of extra-curricular opportunities in school. These cover areas such as Spiritual life, PSHE, sport, the arts, cultural experiences and so on. These are delivered in the following ways:

  • Assemblies
  • Outside Speakers
  • One off event days
  • Personal tuition
  • Clubs
  • Educational visits

If you have any questions regarding any aspect of the curriculum please contact Mrs R Thompson, Vice Principal.