The most important underlying principle of a curriculum is to help children learn. Cornerstones believe that a successful curriculum is brought to life by high quality teaching, inspirational learning activities and opportunities to listen and plan for the developing interests and motivations of children.

It is delivered through a range of inspirational yet rigorous learning projects.

These are based on the National Curriculum, but bring learning together in new and exciting ways.

Each project combines different strands of learning so that children learn more holistically and start to challenge themselves and learn problem solving skills as they create truly fantastic learning opportunities.

Reading and writing form an integral element of the approach but it is important to us at St Gregory’s that all children flourish and experience and enjoy a range of learning. Personalising our curriculum within this and adding our own themes.

Learning is a journey and we strive to provide opportunities which will enable our children to enter into society with the necessary skills, experiences and responsibilities for later life.

That is why the Cornerstones Primary Curriculum is built upon a four stage teaching and learning philosophy…

During the Engage stage children will:-

  1. have memorable first-hand experiences – for example going on a visit outside the classroom or inviting a specialist visitor into the classroom
  2. have WOW experiences – Investigate and Discover
  3. be introduced in exciting ways to the new topic or theme
  4. begin initial research and set enquiry questions
  5. have lots of opportunity to make observations
  6. develop spoken language skills
  7. take part in sensory activities
  8. have a great deal of fun, allowing them to fully ‘engage’ with their new topic

During the Develop stage children will:-

  1. dig much deeper to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of a topic across the curriculum
  2. practice their newfound skills
  3. compose, make, do, build, investigate, explore, write for different purposes, read across the curriculum
  4. research their own questions and those posed by others
  5. follow new pathways of enquiry based on their own interests
  6. complete homework activities that support their learning in school

During the Innovate stage children will:-

  1. apply previous skills, knowledge and understanding in real life contexts
  2. be challenged with real or imagined problems and situations to solve using knowledge and skills from the earlier stages
  3. be inspired with imaginative and creative opportunities
  4. have time to re-visit skills, knowledge and understanding not grasped during the develop stage
  5. have the opportunity to take on different roles

During the Express stage children will:-

  1. become the performers, the experts, the informers
  2. share their achievements with others in many different ways…….parents, class mates and the community
  3. evaluate finished products/processes
  4. tie learning back to the beginning
  5. celebrate