School Curriculum

Introduction

'The breadth of learning experiences is good. Opportunities for enrichment are excellent. The accommodation and resources are very good overall.'

'The emphasis on learning is challenging, stimulating and fun…the school has gone much further than many schools in providing coherent learning experiences for pupils linking two or three subjects together.'

'This is a very vibrant school with a real focus on learning and a very exciting place to visit with lots of extra curricular activities.'

There is a real buzz of activity in St. John's, pupils enjoy their learning. Our Accelerated Learning strategies mean pupils share ' The Big Picture' - the reason for their learning , they understand where it fits into real life and their future.

English

English is taught:

• in mixed ability classes Years 3,4,5,6
• weekly extended writing sessions in all classes
• Guided reading is taught in each class first session
• There is a wide range of reading age related books plus free readers
• In well resourced library for use as a borrowing library as well as class resource
• as a cross curricular activity in a range of other subjects
• through our daily reading skills support programme
• in Additional and Further Literacy Support programmes
• in more able workshops
• Writers club
• Choral speaking opportunities

Maths

Maths is taught:

• In mixed ability classes for Year 3.
• in ability sets for Years 4, 5, 6
• as a cross curricular activity in a range of other subjects through our daily maths skills support programme
• in Springboard and Booster support programmes
• in more able workshops

Science

Science

• Science is taught in mixed ability classes.
• Science is predominantly linked to investigative research and real life problem solving.
• We are part of Richmond Borough's Scientific Edge initiative for 2007.
• We work with leading Secondary Schools in the Borough.

Other Subjects

ICT

ICT is taught in mixed ability classes in the classroom and the ICT suite. We currently run a Thursday lunchtime Technokids computer club.

PHSE

PHSE covers Every child matters, physical social citizenship and health education. We have been awarded Healthy Schools status.

Religious Education

Religious Education follows the London Diocesan scheme and guidelines for teaching Christianity and knowledge of other world faiths.

History

History includes external visits and visitors.

Geography

Geography includes external visits and a year 6 residential on the Isle of Wight.

Music

St John's currently has the largest junior orchestra. We run a choir club. We took part in a music festival at the Royal Albert Hall. We entered our choir in the Joseph competition.

Drama

We took part in Richmond's Dramatic Edge initiative. Mrs Sawyer runs a weekly Drama Club.

Design Technology

Design and Technology includes food technology. We run a Cooking Club and a Gardening club.

Physical Education

St John's has been awarded Active Mark Gold Status. We have taken part in Richmond's Competitive Edge initiative. St John's won the Small Schools Borough Sports Shield in July 2007. We run a range of sports clubs.

Modern Foreign Languages

French is taught throughout the school we currently run a Japanese Club and a Spanish Club.