The Curriculum at St Margaret’s Academy
Vision
We want ourselves and the children in our care to be successful, resilient and inquisitive learners who are happy and well-equipped to participate positively in the community and wider society.
Values
Our school values (kindness, respect, responsibility and aspiration) are an essential point of reference on all of our journeys. British values (democracy, rule of law, liberty and respect) play an equally important role.
School Context
The school is situated in the English Riveria, a UNESCO designated Global Geopark, only 1 of 7 in the UK and only 1 of 147 in the world (download and play the presentation at the bottom of the page, Torbay). While we live and work in this area of outstanding beauty we have some local challenges around families being able to take advantage of these opportunities. The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on children's speech, language and social development. Children are predominately from a white British background and therefore have less experience of mixing with other faiths and cultures than other children in the United Kingdom. We have supportive parents who report that their children enjoy school, feel safe and are taught well.
Curriculum Intent
Because of our context:
Because of our context, underpinning everything we do is our work on attachment and relationships. Social and emotional learning is integral to all that we do. We engage closely in a partnership with all our families.
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The well-being of pupils, families and staff is always a priority.
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We prioritise early reading and speech and language development. Further language and vocabulary work across all years is woven throughout the curriculum.
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Teachers seek to inspire and engage, and promote enquiry and imagination so that pupils at all abilities can achieve.
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Learning is planned to take advantage of local opportunities such as the beach and local artists, as well as national events.
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We support all our pupils to develop the skills they need in order to learn for themselves, to enjoy this learning and to help them achieve their full potential.
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We develop curiosity about the locality and the world beyond Torbay. We provide opportunities to contribute to the local and global community.