Quality of Education
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Our Curriculum
At St Thomas More Catholic High School, our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive, and rooted in the values of Catholic Social Teachings. It is designed to ensure that all pupils flourish academically, socially, and spiritually, becoming compassionate and responsible citizens who contribute positively to society.
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is carefully planned to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all learners despite their starting points. The curriculum is expertly designed at each stage to enable pupils to develop secure, deep and fluent knowledge which paves the way for future learning. It is underpinned by the principles of Catholic Social Teachings and Curriculum areas understand that our curriculum delivery is for the Common Good – ensuring that all are included and grow in Christ’s mission, maintaining an equality for all pupils throughout their academic journey.
Our curriculum aims to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills, and understanding across all subjects, while nurturing their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. It prepares them for life beyond school, equipping them with the values and competencies needed to thrive in modern Britain and the global community.
Curriculum Implementation
Our curriculum is delivered by expert teachers who are committed to high-quality teaching and learning. Lessons are well-sequenced and build on prior knowledge, ensuring that pupils know more and remember more over time.
We use a range of teaching strategies and assessment methods to support progress and identify gaps in learning. This is documented as the ‘STM Way for Teaching and Learning’ and gives a consistent approach across all classrooms to enable an equity of education for all. Our curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and those who are disadvantaged, ensuring equity of access and opportunity. Teachers explain new content clearly, connecting new information with what pupils already know and revisit important content and concepts regularly so that pupils learn them securely and remember them.
Staff have regular opportunities for CPDF (Continuing Professional Development and Formation) to address the curriculum and the delivery of it, drawing on current educational research and the practice of others to continually improve their expertise.
The whole school curriculum is broad and balanced through RE, I AM (RSHE (Relationships, Sex & Health Education)), Reading and Languages alongside English, Maths and Science with Performance, Technology and Humanities subjects throughout KS3 and studied further at KS4. Pupils have a carefully chosen option programme where they can explore their interests and talents. Pupils will have achieved the best academic standards for their capability and understand their responsibility through Catholic Social Teachings, allowing them to flourish into their chosen vocational pathway and adult life.
Reading is a priority at all levels at St Thomas More Catholic High School. Every teacher understands the importance of the language and vocabulary, both spoken and written, specific to the subjects they teach and explicitly teach these.
Curriculum Impact
The impact of our curriculum is reflected in the outcomes our pupils achieve and the people they become. Pupils leave St Thomas More Catholic High School with a secure body of knowledge, strong academic qualifications, and a deep understanding of their responsibilities to others and the world around them.
We evaluate the impact of our curriculum through pupil progress data, engagement, behaviour, and our quality assurance processes. Pupils’ progress, as shown in national tests and examinations over time, is well above national averages.
Each curriculum area has a robust yearly Curriculum Review conducted by our Senior Leadership Team and external subject experts. Actions from these reviews are written into Growth Plans to ensure that best practice and improvements are constantly striven for. Our pupils are confident, articulate, and compassionate individuals who live out the values of the Gospel and make a positive difference in their communities. They develop rich knowledge and understanding across subjects, preparing them well for their next steps.
Experienced Curriculum
The curriculum is designed around a 50, one-hour, two-week timetable. This is consistently under review so that it meets the needs of all our pupils and maximises their opportunities and learning. We teach a broad, balanced and deep curriculum across all five years from Year 7 to Year 11. We work with primary schools and post 16 providers to ensure that the learning provides a continuum with the learning of these local providers.
At KS3 our curriculum is carefully matched to the national curriculum and ensures that all pupils gain their full entitlement of knowledge and skills. All pupils study a minimum of one language for all five years and an additional Language is available for the more able linguists at KS3 and is an option at KS4. Our EAL (English Additional Language) pupils also have the opportunity to succeed in their home language. Pupils are encouraged to develop a love of learning and to increase their ability to be independent learners.
All pupils study core subjects for all five years. Core subjects include Religious Education, English (Literature and Language), Mathematics, Science (Dual Award or Separate Sciences), Language, I AM, and Physical Education.
In Year 9, pupils opt to take forward two choices from Fine Art, Drama, Health and Social Care, Business Studies, Geography, History, Second Language, Technology, Music, Sport, IT and Computer Science. When pupils move into Year 10, they then embark on their GCSE course of study. During the options process, pupils and families are given guidance and support to help them make informed choices.
