Our Approach to Learning
At St Thomas More, we want all students to develop a love of learning and to enjoy every aspect of the taught curriculum. We believe that learning should be inspiring, challenging, and purposeful. With this in mind, we ensure that all students experience consistency and quality in their lessons through well-structured schemes of work, delivered by passionate and skilled teachers.
Students at St Thomas More enjoy their lessons and thrive on challenges — they want to learn, improve, and succeed.
Our curriculum is built upon a shared understanding of the key principles that support effective learning and academic excellence. To achieve this, we use a common curriculum language across all subjects so that students and staff can discuss, reflect on, and understand the learning process.
The key terms that shape our approach are:
- Key Concepts – The big ideas that underpin each subject’s curriculum. These provide the structure and sequence of learning, ensuring students have a strong foundation for future study.
- Crucial Learning – The most important knowledge and skills students must secure at specific points in the curriculum. Crucial learning informs assessment and feedback, helping students to understand their progress and next steps.
- Make It Stick – Our shared approach to retrieval practice and interleaved learning. This ensures that knowledge is remembered and built upon over time.
- Performance Strand – The explicit teaching of exam strategies and techniques that prepare students for success in formal assessments.
This common language of learning supports all students to understand their own progress and to take increasing ownership of their learning journey. We want every student at St Thomas More to become a confident, motivated, and independent learner who is prepared for lifelong success.
