Curriculum

All children at St Margaret's Junior School follow the national curriculum. This means that they follow nationally agreed programmes of study in English, mathematics, science, ICT, art, music, PE, history, geography and design technology. In addition they must study personal, social and health education, for which there is non-statutory guidance, and Religious Education., which is determined by the Medway Locally Agreed Syllabus. Our pupils are also introduced to some European languages; usually French. Spanish or German is taught to pupils likely to be involved in pupil exchanges to our partner schools in Germany and Tenerife.
During your child’s time in the Junior School all areas of the national curriculum are covered. English (literacy) and mathematics (numeracy) are taught each day. In years 4, 5 & 6 the children are organised into ability sets for these subjects. The groupings are continuously under review in order to maintain the best education for your child. Your child may have a different teacher for these subjects and may move from one class to another for the subject. This process enables each child to develop personal organisational skills and greater independence. It also provides an invaluable preparation for secondary school.
In the first year (Year 3) your child will spend most of his or her time with one teacher. The arrangements for grouping classes, whether by broad ability banding or by mixed ability, is currently under review.
The teacher who is responsible for your child’s registration each day (ie his or her class teacher) usually teaches the rest of the curriculum, except where a year group uses the specialist skills of its teachers to teach some subjects to all classes. Subjects are taught separately and all work is differentiated to ensure that all children make the best progress.
Each subject has its own policy and scheme of work. These can be found on our web site and are available for information at the school.
Progress through the different levels of the national curriculum is carefully monitored and reported to parents. We report progress in English and mathematics each term and report on all subjects in detail once a year.
In Year 6 pupils are given the end of Key Stage 2 National Tests in English, mathematics and science.
Sex education takes place within the context of the National Curriculum for Science. It is also taught explicitly in Year 6 where lessons are within a moral framework, which promotes the importance of family life. Parents are informed when sex education will be taught and have the right to withdraw their child from those lessons. We are happy for parents to view the content of these programmes prior to delivery.