Curriculum Intent

At Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, we place Christ at the heart of all we do. Inspired by our school motto, “We welcome everyone into our community to live, love and learn together in the light and example of Jesus Christ,” our curriculum is designed to be inclusive, nurturing and aspirational.

We believe that every child is made in the image and likeness of God and is uniquely gifted with the potential to flourish. Our aim is to provide a curriculum that supports children to grow in faith, character and academic achievement. Through strong relationships, we create a safe and joyful space where every child feels valued, supported and known.

Rooted in Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching, our curriculum promotes the holistic development of each child - spiritually, morally, socially, culturally and intellectually. It is underpinned by three guiding principles:

• Living: nurturing virtuous individuals who grow in love, compassion and integrity;

• Loving: fostering a deep sense of belonging, acceptance and mutual respect;

• Learning: ensuring that all pupils develop a love of learning and achieve their God-given potential.

Our curriculum is intentionally broad, balanced and ambitious. It is designed to:

• Promote high aspirations for all pupils, regardless of their starting points;

• Be inclusive and accessible, allowing all children to succeed and thrive;

• Connect learning meaningfully to children’s lives and the wider world;

• Cultivate curiosity, creativity and critical thinking through enriched experiences;

• Encourage children to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

By the time our children leave Our Lady of Fatima, we want them to be resilient, respectful, faith-filled individuals who are ready to contribute positively to society, live out the Gospel values, and use their gifts to serve others.

Curriculum Implementation

To bring our intent to life, we implement a curriculum that is carefully sequenced, inclusive, and enriched with high-quality experiences. We recognise that children learn best when they are known, loved, and supported.

Key features of our implementation approach include:

• A well-sequenced and knowledge-rich curriculum, which builds upon what children already know and helps them to make connections across subjects.

• A focus on vocabulary and communication, ensuring all pupils are equipped to articulate their thinking confidently.

• Faith-based learning, where the Catholic Pupil Profile and Gospel values are embedded across the curriculum and daily life.

• Engaging and inclusive pedagogy, influenced by Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, to support strong retention and progress for all learners.

• Professional development, ensuring staff have the knowledge and tools to deliver high-quality, accurate and effective teaching across all subjects.

• Enrichment and wider opportunities, from school trips and community links to expressive arts, music, and sporting experiences.

• Celebration of all achievements, academic and personal, through weekly “Gifts of God” assemblies and recognition of children’s out-of-school successes.

We also use a multi-agency approach to ensure that the needs of our most vulnerable learners are met with compassion and expertise. Our partnerships with the parish, families and external services are central to our inclusive ethos.

Curriculum Impact

At Our Lady of Fatima, we understand that impact goes beyond academic outcomes. We aim to equip children with the knowledge, character and confidence they need to flourish throughout life.

Our impact is seen in:

• Children who know more and remember more, with clear progress from their starting points;

• A deep and secure body of knowledge that prepares them well for KS3 and beyond;

• Children who are faith-filled, kind and resilient, ready to make a positive contribution to the world;

• A strong culture of aspiration and achievement, where all talents are celebrated;

• Pupils who leave us with a love of reading, a joy for learning, and a deep sense of belonging.

By the end of their journey at Our Lady of Fatima, our children are confident, compassionate, and ready to live out their faith in action—striving always to live, love and learn together in the light and example of Jesus Christ.