At St. Mark’s CE Primary School, we have looked at the outcomes from the 2022/2023 academic year and progress for all of our pupils. We have consulted staff and pupils on what is good about our school and what we most need to improve on. Based on the outcomes of our discussions and analysis, we have developed plans to address the following priorities for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Priority 1
To improve outcomes in mathematics.
To continue to embed a Singaporean approach to mathematics in EYFS.

• Continue to embed a Singaporean approach to mathematics in Nursery and Reception.
• Develop staff subject knowledge and understanding of a mastery based approach to mathematics.
• Develop staff understanding of how to use concrete resources (across all topics) effectively to ensure pupils understand and can communicate their key learning.
• Ensure all work provides challenge to enable pupils to make even stronger progress.

Priority 2
To design and implement an effective Modern Foreign Language curriculum that meets the needs of all learners.

• Ensure high quality teaching and learning in a Modern Foreign Language (Spanish).
• Improve staff subject knowledge so they are able to teach Spanish lessons effectively.
• Knowledge, skills and understanding in Spanish are successfully built upon over time.
• Pupils can effectively use their prior knowledge, skills and understanding to enhance the quality of their work.

Priority 3
To improve outcomes in writing, focusing on provision for all learners.

• Develop staff knowledge and understanding in teaching the updated Pie Corbett Talk for Writing process.
• Update staff knowledge and understanding in teaching the RWI Spelling programme.
• Develop a rigorous approach to the teaching of letter formation in EYFS/KS1.
• Develop a consistent expectation for handwriting teaching throughout KS2 in handwriting and RWI spelling lessons.

Priority 4
To enhance teaching and learning in the Geography and History curricula.

• Improve the quality of teaching and learning in Geography and History
• Improve staff subject knowledge when teaching Geography and History.
• Knowledge, skills and understanding in both subjects are successfully built upon over time.
• Pupils can effectively use their prior knowledge, skills and understanding to enhance the quality of their work in both subjects.

Priority 5
Teachers to effectively evaluate the attainment/progress of individual and groups of pupils, correctly identifying gaps in learning. Ensure teaching is adapted to meet and challenge the needs of all learners.

• Ensure that teachers are effectively evaluating the attainment and progress of pupils in classes through AfL strategies.
• Classroom provision is carefully adapted to meet and challenge the needs of all learners.
• Knowledge, skills and understanding of pupils across all curricula are successfully built upon over time through careful planning and adaptation.
• Pupils can effectively use their prior knowledge, skills and understanding to enhance the quality of their work in all subjects.

The following are the school’s key Christian Distinctiveness priorities for the 2023-2024 academic year:

Priority 1
To enhance pupils’ understanding of the ‘Spiritual Pathways’ to develop a greater understanding of how they can connect with God.

• Pupils will further develop an understanding of each spiritual pathway.
• Pupils can articulate how the spiritual pathways relate to them personally or others in the community or the wider world.

Priority 2
To continue to develop and build on existing relationships with St Mark’s Church to support Christian Distinctiveness in school and within the local community.

• Pupils get a broad and varied experience of linking with the Church community.
• School can contribute to the development of the Church community.
• Children gain more knowledge and understanding of the Church as a place of worship.
• Pupils develop their understanding of how Christians worship in Church.

Priority 3
To further cultivate courageous advocacy to empower pupils to make a positive difference for themselves, others and the world around them.

• Empower the pupils to make changes for themselves, others and the world around them.
• Build confidence and collaboration in making a difference to others.

Priority 4
To continue to expand pupils’ knowledge, understanding and experiences of different places of worship and people of faith or non-religious belief, through regular visits and visitors linking to the curriculum.

• Pupils get the opportunity to experience visits to a range of different places of worship.
• Enhance pupils knowledge and understanding of different faiths, places of worship or non-religious beliefs.
• Pupils have the opportunity to speak to and meet people of no faith with non-religious beliefs.

Priority 5
To further develop the RE curriculum in the EYFS setting ensuring a clear progression in learning from Nursery to Reception.

• Learning is recapped and built upon from Nursery to Reception.
• Pupils who join in Reception get the opportunity to catch up on previous learning taught at Nursery.

Please come and talk to us if you have any questions and ideas. Thank you for your continued support.