If you have any questions regarding the curriculum we teach, please contact the school office directly and the office staff will pass your enquiry on to the relevant Curriculum Leader.

Picture News

Did you know that each week all classes throughout the school use the resource Picture News?

Picture News is teaching resource which selects a current news story, turns it into a vibrant poster with a thought provoking question. Each class also receive lesson plans and discussion points to explore this current news story in depth and has clear links with British Values, selecting one value to focus on each week.   

Democracy Week 

Our annual visit to the Mayor's Parlour is always a rewarding and enjoyable trip. The School Council have the opportunity to learn more about the Mayor's role in the community and to find out more about what democracy is and involves.

British Values

St Michael’s have devised a curriculum to focus their pupils to explore ‘What it means to be British’.

We encourage children to;

• describe their own identities and the groups that they feel they belong to;

• recognise different identities and experiences;

• appreciate that identity consists of many factors;

• recognise that each person’s identity is unique and can change; and

• begin to understand the idea of stereotypes.

What are British Values?

Democracy – What do we teach at St Michaels?

Our children are always listened to by an adult and are taught to listen carefully and with concern for each other, respecting the right for every individual to have opinions and voices heard.  Children also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our school council.  The elections of the school council members are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.

In our curriculum we;

• provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services

• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process

• Include in the curriculum information the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain

• Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school

• Organise visits to the local council and Parliament

• Hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view

• Help pupils to express their views

• Teach pupils how public services operate and how they are held to account

• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged

Rule of law – what do we teach at St Michael’s?

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are constantly reinforced, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through Collective Worship. Our children are taught the value and reason behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibility that this involves are the consequences when laws are broken.  Visits from authorities such as the Police, Fire Service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help to reinforce this message.

In our Curriculum we;

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair

• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong

• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made

• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals

• Include visits from the police in the curriculum

• Teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws

• Develop restorative justice approaches to resolve conflicts

Individual liberty – what do we teach at St Michael’s?

Within school, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.  As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education.  This can be clearly seen in our e-safety and PSHCE lessons.

In our Curriculum we;

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights

• Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence

• Challenge stereotypes

• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture

• Follow the UNICEF rights respecting schools agenda

Respect and tolerance – what do we do at St Michaels?

Mutual Respect

Respect is one of our chosen school values and is part of our school ethos and behaviour policy.  The children have been part of discussions related to what respect means and how it is shown.  Additional support is provided for individual children to develop self-esteem and to practise strategies they can employ to help improve their respect of others.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

We develop children’s understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies, topic work around celebrations.  We also study world faith units as part of our R.E. curriculum.  Through this our pupils gain an understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.

In our Curriculum we;

• Promote respect for individual differences

• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life

• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour

• Organise visits to places of worship

• Develop links with faith communities

• Develop critical personal thinking skills

• Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faiths

Throughout our taught curriculum, children undertake a range of history topics about the development of Britain through different periods.  Through collective worship, the sharing of stories, images, events, music and expectations we promote not only the Church values, school values but British values as a whole.

St Michael's pupils Tyler True, Debbie Gregory, Matthew Molyneaux and Cliah Taylor were proud to lead out National Teams at the World Short Mat Bowling Championships held at the LSV. ATSA schools were welcomed enthusiastically by officials and competitors. They were pictured with the organising body and the Mayor of Wigan who opened the Championships by delivering the first bowl. The previous afternoon, St Michael's had taken part in the ATSA Short Mat Bowling Festival organised by Trust In Leigh. Well done to our team who played excellent bowls to the delight of spectators.