Subjects
Here at St Francis Xavier we teach a wide range
of subjects:
Art
A pottery specialist - one of the many visitors who come to teach new skills Children
have opportunity to develop their creativity and imagination by
exploring the visual, tactile and sensory qualities of materials
and processes.
The children are able to experience different ways
of working and develop their skills in drawing, paint, colour and
collage, sculpture and relief and printing and textiles. The children
are able to use a range of tools, techniques and media allowing
them to become more confident at communicating what they see, feel
and think.
Design and Technology
Viking Long Boat project in DT Children
will have opportunity to investigate products and how they work.
They will think about what products are used for and the needs of
people who use them. Children will learn how to use their imagination
and talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making.
The children will learn how to use a range of tools
correctly and safely. They will learn how to plan and evaluate their
work.
Literacy
At St Francis Xavier we love to read! We have made excellent progress in English at our school and our results are continually above the national
average, significantly so in recent years.
We use the Jolly Phonics scheme to provide our children with an excellent grounding in letter sounds and phonics.
Weekly 'big writing' gives all of our children the opportunity to produce sustained texts on a
regular basis. We systematically teach the basics of vocabulary, punctuation, sentence openings and punctuation
in order to help our children become wonderful writers.
Reading is very important and everyone has their own reading book. There is daily guided reading in class
as well as regular one to one reading. We are constantly replenishing our book stocks with new supplies and
we also have a fully stocked, up to date, digitally catalogued library.
Speaking and listening, drama and visual literacy are all vital parts of our rich curriculum and all children
have the opportunity to learn in a variety of ways.
Geography
Geography
develops knowledge of places and environments throughout the world,
an understanding of maps, and a range of investigative and problem
solving skills both inside and outside the classroom. Geography
raises children awareness of the environment around them, how it
changes and what they can do to care for it and keep it beautiful.
Geography tales place one hour a week every other
half term in every year group, alternating with History.
Year 2 take part in the Big Spring Clean |
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Investigating renewable energy sources |
History
History
stimulates pupils' curiosity about the past in Britain and
the wider world. Pupils consider how the past influences the present,
what past societies were like, how they organised their politics
and what beliefs and cultures influenced peoples actions.
As they
do this, pupils develop a chronological framework for their knowledge
of significant events and people. They see the diversity of human
experience, and understand more about themselves as individuals
and members of society. What they learn can influence their decisions
about personal choice, attitudes and values.
Children have the opportunity to learn about a
wide range of peoples and
places through their study of history at St Francis Xavier. Each
year the
school celebrates important days in history such as Remembrance
Day and
D-Day, both of which were a huge success last year. All pupils are
also made aware of Black History through their study of relevant
topics
or
individuals in the first autumn half term.
The Tudors |
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Battle Re-enactment |
Information and Communication Technology
Our ICT Suite At St Francis Xavier we regard the use of ICT as an integral part of everyday teaching and learning. As well
as having a state of the art ICT suite, all classrooms have interactive whiteboards and laptops linked by a
secure wireless network.
ICT is used across the curriculum to enhance lessons and fully engage pupils in their day to day learning.
Every class also has two ICT lessons each week during which pupils are taught ICT skills, such as how to make
a PowerPoint presentation, or how to create a Blog on the Internet. These skills are then applied and assessed
in other curriculum areas throughout the year.
In our after-school ICT club, groups have the opportunity to make their own films using our Digital Blue video
cameras and editing software.
Mathematics
 At
St Francis Xavier we want children to know, understand and enjoy
mathematical concepts, skills, facts, relationships and strategies;
and to be able to apply and communicate what they have learnt and
achieved.
We aim to achieve this through a variety of methods
and activities, including written and practical work, as well as
real life problem solving and using ICT programmes. We follow the
National Numeracy Strategy.
Modern Foreign Languages
 Pupils across KS2 learn how to speak
and understand French. Pupils are also taught about the geography of France, as well as the customs, people
and culture there.
We run a successful languages after school club in which pupils are able to practice their French and learn
new phrases.
Music
Year 5 compose music on Apple Mac computers Throughout
school we aim to give each child the opportunity to enjoy and develop
an enthusiastic interest in music. The aspects of listening, performing,
composing and appraising are crucial to a balanced musical experience.
Activities cover listening to and studying music
of all kinds, including that of other times and other cultures,
both for pleasure and combined with other areas of the curriculum.
Children have the opportunity to sing, play instruments,
perform for each other and an audience. Music is used as an accompaniment
to worship and for special occasions, religious or otherwise. Opportunities
to receive instrumental tuition is also available.
SYM perform a woodwind concert |
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Year 4 guitar concert |
Physical Education
Lee Sharpe coaching football in PE lessons Physical
Education develops pupils' physical competence and confidence. Physical
education provides opportunities for pupils to be creative and promotes
positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles.
Physical Education takes place twice a week in every
class, each lesson being an hour long. Children take at some point
throughout their Primary education take part in Games, Dance, Gymnastics,
Dance, Athletics, Outdoor Pursuits and Swimming ensuring every aspect
of the National Curriculum is covered.
PSHE and Citizenship
Seatbelt Safety Workshop The aims of the PSHE and Citizenship is to help
children develop confidence and responsibility. We help them to
make the most of their abilities and prepare them to play an active
role as citizen. We encourage them to develop a healthy, safer lifestyle
and good relationships whilst respecting the differences between
people. We do this by providing children with a range of activities
and opportunities within school:
- Playground buddies - each half term three children
from each year group are selected to act as 'playground buddies'
to ensure that all children have someone to play with at playtime
and lunchtime.
- School Council - two children from each year
group are elected by their peers to become School Councillors.
These children meet up with Mr Hinton on a regular basis following
discussion with their class to discuss issues relating to school
life.
- Circle Time - we offer a wide range of Circle
Time activities to promote children's self-esteem.
- Walk to School Week 24th May - children were
encouraged to walk to school to promote a healthier lifestyle
and ease congestion surrounding the school. They were rewarded
with stickers and certificates.
- Cycling Proficiency - Year 6 children have recently
participated in the Cycling Proficiency Scheme to enable them
to become safe cyclists.
Religious Education
At our school we follow the Birmingham Diocesan
Strategy. It makes learning about our Faith lively, interactive
and relevant.
Bible stories are used to help us consider how
we should live our lives.
Some of the activities we engage in are role play,
hot seating, creating our own hymns, poems and stories. We make
storyboards, acrostic poems and wordsearches. We use the internet,
we visit places of worship, we invite people to speak about their
faith.
The teaching of RE must be fun and engaging in
order that the children's faith deepens and is passed on to future
generations.
Reception's work on The Mass |
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Year 5 wrote their own versions of the psalm 'The Lord is my Shepherd' |
Science
Pond dipping for minibeasts In science we aim to offer the children opportunities
which help develop the children's knowledge and understanding
of important scientific ideas, processes and skills and relate
these to their
everyday experiences.
They are given opportunity to carry out scientific
experiments and record and interpret the information they obtain.
We do this through teaching a range of topics - ourselves, plants,
forces, changes, as recommended by QCA.
We build on the knowledge
skills and understanding
taught the previous year to ensure progression through the subject.
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