The Primary School Curriculum outlines the contents of children’s learning - the what and how of children’s learning - for children’s first eight years in school, from junior infants to sixth class. The curriculum aims to:
- develop each child’s potential to the full
- encourage a love of learning
- help children develop skills they will use all their lives.
The curriculum is presented in seven areas, some of which are further subdivided into subjects. These are:
- Language: Gaeilge and English
- Mathematics
- Social, environmental and scientific education (SESE): history, geography and science
- Arts education: visual arts, music and drama
- Physical education
- Social, personal and health education (SPHE)
- Religious or ethical education is the responsibility of the different school patron bodies.
Assessment
Assessment in Saint Mary's is about building a picture over time of a child’s learning progress across the curriculum. The teacher uses different ways to gather evidence about how and what the child learns on an ongoing basis. Children in Saint Mary's are also given many opportunities throughout each school year to self assess their work and self-reflect on their learning and peer assess the work of their classmates. This information is used to celebrate the child’s current learning, and to help make decisions about the next steps for future learning.