Curriculum Information
At St Margaret's Academy, we are committed to providing a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum that supports every child’s learning and reflects the community we serve. We publish information about the curriculum taught in each year group and subject, including Religious Education (RE), so that parents and carers can clearly understand what their child is learning.
Our Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) policy is available on the website and has been developed in consultation with parents and carers to ensure it meets the needs of our pupils.
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education and, where appropriate, aspects of Relationships and Sex Education. Further information and guidance on this process are available on request.
Details of our curriculum, including phonics and reading schemes used in Key Stage 1 and our music development provision, are outlined within each subject area of this website.
If you would like any further information about the curriculum, including content, teaching approaches, or your rights as a parent or carer, please contact the school office or speak to your child’s class teacher, who will be happy to help.
Whole School Curriculum Overview 2025-2026.pdf
Reception Curriculum Overview for Parents 2025 2026.pdf
Reception Planning Rationale.pdf
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.
-
The well-being of pupils, families and staff is always a priority.
-
We prioritise early reading and speech and language development. Further language and vocabulary work across all years is woven throughout the curriculum.
-
Teachers seek to inspire and engage, and promote enquiry and imagination so that pupils at all abilities can achieve.
-
Learning is planned to take advantage of local opportunities such as the beach and local artists, as well as national events.
-
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.
-
We develop curiosity about the locality and the world beyond Torbay. We provide opportunities to contribute to the local and global community.