Our CSPA Curriculum
INTENT
At Chalfont St Peter C of E Academy (CSPA), our curriculum is ambitious, enriching and nurturing, designed to raise achievement and inspire a lifelong love of learning. Rooted in our Christian vision and the promise of John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” our curriculum empowers every pupil to flourish academically, socially and spiritually. We intentionally cultivate resilience, curiosity and a growth mindset, ensuring that all pupils, including those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, have equitable access to a broad and balanced education that prepares them for future success and meaningful lives.
Our vision, values and drivers connect to underpin our curriculum design and approach to teaching and learning. We strive to promote and embed our CSPA and British values into the children’s four-year journey so they develop as happy, resilient and motivated learners.
Our strong sense of community is a driver for positive relationships, inclusivity and successful learning. CSPA is a school where staff, governors, parents and pupils work collaboratively and take great pride in our school. Pupils are supported and challenged to reach their full potential whilst developing their own independence and initiative to show enterprise, leadership and ingenuity. Our CSPA family lives life to the full, brings joy and inspires success.
Teachers passionately teach our curriculum with the children’s personal development, individuality, wellbeing and academic progress as paramount. We plan inspiring learning experiences which ignite curiosity and a love of learning. Our curriculum is carefully planned to stimulate the children’s creativity and reflect their cultural capital, allowing all pupils to thrive and flourish.
The CSPA curriculum consistently highlights the impact of a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset and encourages our children’s capacity to learn. Teachers teach skills for effective communication and children rapidly learn the benefits of working collaboratively. Teachers create safe learning atmospheres where pupils are happy to take risks and view mistakes as opportunities to learn. As a result, they become empowered as learners and resilient to challenge.
Our CSPA curriculum is relevant, broad and balanced, promoting all pupils’ emotional, social, spiritual and academic needs. It is sequential and progressive. Connections and links across the curriculum help children to revisit knowledge and build on prior learning. Children have the time for reflection and there is a strong emphasis on not only building on the knowledge, understanding and skills within each topic but also why the chosen learning programme is important to the here and now.
The CSPA curriculum design encourages pupils to recognise and identify with their learning behaviours using our CSPA Rainbow. They grow in confidence, knowing their strengths, talents and areas for development. Our curriculum is fully inclusive and accepting of difference, developing both the children’s personal morals and levels of respect. Children are given endless opportunities to master their full potential.
Our CSPA Curriculum aims to:
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Provide a broad and balanced education for all children that is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively sufficient knowledge for skills and future learning and employment
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Enable pupils to develop knowledge, understand concepts and acquire skills, and be able to choose and apply these in relevant situations
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Support pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
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Support pupils’ physical development and responsibility for their own health, and enable them to be active.
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Promote a positive attitude towards learning
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Ensure inclusive learning for all pupils, with high expectations for every pupil and appropriate levels of challenge and support
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Have high academic ambition for all pupils
These curriculum aims are underpinned by our values:
Our value of generosity encourages students to share their gifts, time, and talents, recognising that learning is enriched when it is used to serve and uplift those around us. Through opportunities for collaboration and contribution, students develop a spirit of giving and responsibility.
Compassion lies at the heart of our approach, guiding us to nurture a culture where every individual feels valued, supported, and understood. We aim to foster empathy and kindness, ensuring students grow into people who respond to others with care and humanity.
With respect, we create an environment where diversity is celebrated and every voice matters. Our curriculum promotes mutual understanding, active listening, and the recognition of the dignity of all people, both within and beyond our school community.
Our commitment to faithfulness reflects our dedication to living out our shared beliefs and values with consistency and trust. We aim to develop students who are grounded, reflective, and able to act with integrity, remaining true to themselves and their responsibilities.
The value of justice shapes our curriculum aims by encouraging students to think critically about fairness, equality, and the world around them. We empower learners to become active citizens who seek to make a positive difference and stand up for what is right.
Courage inspires students to embrace challenges, take risks, and persevere in their learning. We support young people to grow in confidence, resilience, and moral strength, enabling them to lead with conviction and hope.
Together, these values provide the foundation for a curriculum that develops not only knowledgeable and skilled learners, but also compassionate, courageous, and principled individuals, ready to contribute meaningfully to society.
IMPLEMENTATION
Our curriculum implementation is driven by the desire to bring joy and inspire success, reflecting Jesus’ call for life in abundance. Lessons are carefully sequenced and coherently planned to build on prior knowledge and skills, enabling pupils to make strong connections across subjects. This approach nurtures flourishing learners who are confident to take risks, embrace challenges and learn from mistakes in a safe, supportive environment. Our Christian ethos underpins our teaching practices, ensuring that spiritual development is intrinsic and pupils’ personal values align with generosity, compassion, respect, justice, faithfulness and courage.
Our curriculum is organised as whole school curriculum maps, pupil learning journeys, subject overviews and medium-term planning.
Our curriculum is planned and assessed against the National Curriculum, which provides an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills. It comprises three core subjects: English, Mathematics and Science and the foundation subjects: Art and Design, Computing, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Music and Physical Education. In addition, RE is taught across the school as a core subject and French is also taught to all year groups.
IMPACT
We evaluate the impact of our curriculum not only by academic outcomes but by how well pupils embody our vision of living life to the full. Pupils develop as joyful, resilient and principled individuals who demonstrate strong moral character and the capacity to contribute positively to society. Our assessment and feedback practices support this holistic growth, ensuring pupils understand their progress and areas for development. The curriculum’s success is reflected in pupils’ readiness for the next stage of education and their ability to flourish beyond school.
CSPA children achieve well by developing knowledge and skills as they progress through the school. This is reflected in the results that are achieved at the end of Key Stage 2 where achievement is consistently above national and Buckinghamshire averages. Pupils make progress from their own starting points.
Teachers and leaders use the school’s assessment information, both formative and summative, to support judgements on the impact our curriculum is having. Teachers provide effective and timely feedback both verbally and in writing to highlight strengths. We use ‘Book Looks’ to demonstrate the successful curriculum journey pupils make and pupil voice reinforces the children’s knowledge, understanding and positive attitude.
CSPA pupils fully recognise and understand their own learning behaviours and what constitutes an effective learner. As a result, pupils know how to use their learning and how to apply it in different contexts. Learning environments are industrious, exciting and there is a real ‘buzz’ in every classroom.
At the end of their four-year journey, CSPA pupils move on to their next stage of education fully prepared, confident and equipped to tackle any future experiences and challenges.