Curriculum

St Joseph’s has a responsibility to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all children and we aim to give every child the opportunity to experience success in learning and to achieve as high a standard as possible. The NI Curriculum aims to empower children to develop their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives.

St Joseph’s have implemented the new NI Curriculum throughout the school. Although ten new Areas for Learning are set out separately below, teachers will, where appropriate, integrate learning across the six areas to make relevant connections for children. Teachers will have flexibility to select from within the learning areas those aspects they consider appropriate to the ability and interests of their pupils. The areas are:

1. Language and Literacy
2. Mathematics and Numeracy
3. The Arts (Including Art, Drama and Music)
4. The World Around Us (Focusing on developing the knowledge, skills and understanding in Geography, History, Science and Technology)
5. Personal Development and Mutual Understanding
6. Physical Education

At the heart of the curriculum lies an explicit emphasis on the development of skills and capabilities for lifelong learning. Through opportunities to engage in active learning, children should progressively develop the following skills:

• Communication
• Mathematical
• ICT
• Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision-Making
• Self Management
• Working with Others
• Managing Information
• Being Creative