Curriculum

In St. Mary’s, we are committed to providing pupils with rich and diverse learning experiences and opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom.

At each Key Stage, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum.

KEY STAGE 3 OVERVIEW

Igniting Curiosity: The Key Stage 3 Journey

The transition to St. Mary’s marks the beginning of an exciting educational journey. Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to be broad and rigorous, allowing pupils to sample a wide range of disciplines before specialising.

We focus on 'Learning how to Learn'—helping pupils develop the thinking skills, digital literacy, and personal capabilities required to become independent, inquisitive scholars. We don't just teach subjects; we teach adaptability.

The Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Core Foundations: English, Mathematics, Religious Education.
Global Perspectives: Geography, History, Learning for Life and Work, Careers.
Languages: French, Irish, Spanish.
Creative & Expressive: Art and Design, Drama, Music.
STEM: Science, Technology and Design, Digital Technology.
Physical & Practical: Home Economics, Physical Education.

KEY STAGE 4 OVERVIEW

Defining Your Path: Key Stage 4

As our students transition into young adulthood, they are empowered to chart their own educational course. Key Stage 4 offers a tailored curriculum that skilfully blends robust academic foundations with the freedom of personal choice. Our core mission is to unlock opportunities, ensuring that whether a student's passion lies in the arts, sciences, or languages, our diverse pathways prepare them for the complexities of the 21st-century world. This academic drive is seamlessly integrated with exceptional pastoral care, providing every student with unwavering support as they navigate public examinations.

What Our Pupils Experience:

Choice: A curriculum tailored to individual strengths and career aspirations.
Support: Dedicated mentoring to guide decision-making and wellbeing.
Preparation: Developing the work ethic and resilience required for adult life.

The Kay Stage 4 Curriculum

The Core: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science
The Professional: Business Studies, Digital Technology (Multimedia/Programming), Child Development, Home Economics, Technology and Design, Physical Education, Further Mathematics.
The Creative: Moving Image Arts, Music, Drama, Art & Design.
The Global: French, Spanish, Irish, History, Geography, Religious Education, Learning for Life and Work, Careers.

KEY STAGE 5 OVERVIEW

Preparing for life beyond St. Mary’s: Sixth Form

Sixth Form at St. Mary’s is the bridge between school and university or professional life. We treat our Year 13 and 14 students as young professionals, offering them an environment of greater independence, specialised study, and leadership responsibility.

Our Curriculum Enrichment Programme goes beyond the grades, providing co-curricular experiences, from leading aspects of school life to academic Olympiad, that make our students stand out.

We pride ourselves on a seamless transition. Whether moving up from Year 12 or joining us from another school, every student receives personalised career guidance and academic mentoring to adjust to the demands of A-Level study.

Enrichment & Leadership

Professional Skills: Public Speaking Competitions, Medical/Scientific Olympiads, Engineering Challenges

Cultural Leadership: Senior Choir, Orchestra, Club Mhuire, Traditional Groups.
Service & Mentoring: Pope John Paul II Award, Student Leadership Team, Prefect Roles.
Health & Wellbeing: Senior Sports Teams, Fitness & Conditioning, GAA Academy.

SIXTH FORM OVERVIEW

Shaping Your Future: Sixth Form Pathways

Our comprehensive A-Level curriculum in Year 13 and Year 14 is designed to equip students with the specialist knowledge and skills for their chosen university degree or professional career:

Creative & Digital Arts

Art and Design
Drama and Theatre Studies
Moving Image Arts
Music
Digital Technology
Product Design

Scientific & Engineering Disciplines

Biology
Chemistry
Engineering
Mathematics
Physics
Technology

Humanities & Global Perspectives

Economics
Geography
Government and Politics
History
Religious Education
French
Irish
Spanish
English Literature

Health, Social & Applied Sciences

Health and Social Care
Nutrition and Food Science
Physical Education
Sport

Business & Enterprise

Business Studies
Software Systems Development

THINKING SKILLS AND PERSONAL CAPABILITIES

In St. Mary’s, we aim to equip pupils with the skills and capabilities that will enable them to become independent, reflective, lifelong learners. As a school, we are committed to engaging pupils in active learning contexts across all areas of the curriculum so that they may develop:

personal and interpersonal skills;
apabilities and dispositions; and
the ability to think both creatively and critically.

IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES, WE AIM TO:

develop pupils’ appreciation of the learning process rather than focusing only on the products of learning;
develop pupils as active, independent learners rather than passive absorbers of information;
enable pupils to go beyond the mere recall of information to develop deeper understanding of topics;
create positive dispositions and habits for learning;
provide pupils with a new range of criteria against which they can evaluate their progress in learning;
develop pupils’ understanding of the transferability of their skills and capabilities; and
encourage pupils to take ownership of their learning and to recognise the role of the teacher as a facilitator in the learning process.

In summary, we want our pupils to learn how to learn.

In the Northern Ireland Curriculum, Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities have been divided into five strands:

Managing Information;
Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making;
Being Creative;
Working with Others; and
Self-Management.

In St. Mary’s, opportunities for pupils to develop Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities are incorporated into programmes of study in each subject area. Throughout Key Stage 3, each subject area will assess and report once on pupils’ progress in at least one of the five strands of the Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities Framework. The information will be included in the End of Year Report for Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10.

REPORTING ON THINKING SKILLS AND PERSONAL CAPABILITIES

YEAR 8

SUBJECT	THINKING SKILLS AND PERSONAL CAPABILITIES
Home Economics	Being Creative (Experimenting) Managing Information (Planning)
PE	Self-Management (Managing Progress)
Science	Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making (Examining Evidence)

YEAR 9

SUBJECT	THINKING SKILLS AND PERSONAL CAPABILITIES
History	Working with Others (Empathising and Taking Responsibility)
Geography	Managing Information (Finding Information, Sourcing, Selecting Information)
RE	Self- Management (Managing Tasks, Reviewing)
Technology	Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making (Adapting, Taking Responsibility) Being Creative (Building Ideas, Making Ideas Real, Challenging)

YEAR 10

SUBJECT	THINKING SKILLS AND PERSONAL CAPABILITIES
Music	Self-Managment (Managing Time, Seeking Advice)
Art	Being Creative (Challenging, Trying New Things)
Modern Foreign Languages	Managing Information (Recording, Presenting) Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making (Questioning)
Drama	Working with Others (Reaching Agreement, Evaluating)