Curriculum

At CJS we believe that reading is a skill for life which is essential for all other forms of learning. Our aim is to equip each and every one of our pupils with a love of reading and a secure set of reading skills. Our Class Reading Champions check the other children’s reading records, encourage everyone to read widely and for pleasure and celebrate those reading regularly in class through certificates and badges.

At CJS, we teach our children to read in a number of ways

-Roots, which teaches strategies for reading to develop decoding, fluency and comprehension

-Shared reading, where the teacher models strategies needed for successful reading

-Guided reading, where children practise the new skills they have learnt alongside a teacher

All pupils are expected to read for at least 10 minutes at home, every day. Home reading is rewarded through the collection of stamps which earn certificates and badges. We believe this is so important that any children who do not read at home will need to catch up in school.

There are many strands to the English curriculum including reading fluency, reading comprehension, writing, grammar, spelling, handwriting, oracy, drama, debate and verbal presentations. There are specific lessons focussed on teaching the skills of reading fluency, reading comprehension, spelling and handwriting. These skills are then applied during English lessons as well as other subjects across the curriculum.

At CJS, we teach English through a Novel Study approach, which provides children with a wide range of rich and challenging texts. We aim to create a sense of awe, wonder and curiosity about books while teaching all aspects of the English curriculum.

We teach maths in a variety of ways to engage children and help them consolidate their learning. We use Maths No Problem scheme to support the children's lessons. This scheme follows a teaching cycle of direct instruction, guided practice, partner teaching and independent tasks.

Click on the picture below to view the Maths No Problem videos discussed at the recent Maths workshop.

We encourage children in all lessons to use practical equipment (concrete representation), before making drawings and diagrams to show their understanding (pictorial representation). When children are confident in their understanding they record their calculations in written form for example 12 x 2 = 24 (abstract representation).

This cycle of teaching and learning ensures children are secure with their Maths understanding (mastery curriculum).

We have introduced 'Mathletics' which is an online program. This allows children to complete homework linked to their learning at school in a fun and safe environment.

What is Project Based Learning (PBL)?

Based on authentic, real world enquiry and links with the community and ‘professional’ experts
Work is in depth, based around an essential question
Outcomes are expected to be the highest (professional!) standard
Progression of skills is tracked and monitored via a rubric, which children should have access to
All final outcomes are exhibited

Why teach the new curriculum this way?

Engaging and challenging at all levels
The children learn real world skills
Cross curricular learning
Collaborative group work goes hand in hand with the principles of cooperative learning
Learning to learn skills (4cs)
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Creativity
- Collaboration

Please click on link below to find out more about PBL at Catherine Junior School

Project Based Learning (PBL)

We are committed to ensure all children study R.E., in preparation for later life. This encourages a tolerance of all religions and promotes British Values.

R.E. is taught as a ‘stand-alone’ subject.
We teach from the 2015 Leicester syllabus, which has been approved by all religious groups in Leicester.
Additionally, each year the children take part in a celebration assembly performed in front of the whole school and to parents. The assemblies stem from one of the four main religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism.