At Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, personal development is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in nurturing the whole child, ensuring they grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually. To achieve this, we use a carefully blended curriculum that combines two primary resources: SCARF (PSHE) and Ten Ten (RSE).
By weaving these distinct programmes together and anchoring them in our Gospel Virtues, we create a cohesive, values-driven framework. This approach empowers our children to navigate the modern world with confidence, resilience, and deep compassion for others.
The Building Blocks of Our Curriculum
Our blended curriculum uses the unique strengths of each programme to provide a comprehensive personal development journey.
- SCARF (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship): Provided by Coram Life Education, this framework forms the bedrock of our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic) education. It gives children practical, real-world tools to understand physical and mental health, learn how to stay safe, and develop strong relationship skills.
- Ten Ten (Life to the Full): This programme delivers our Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). Rooted in a Christian understanding of the human person, it teaches children about dynamic relationships, physical growth, and emotional well-being through the beautiful lens of God's love and purpose for us.
- Gospel Virtues: The golden thread that connects both programmes. Virtues such as love, faith, hope, justice, and forgiveness are not just taught as abstract concepts. They are lived values that guide how we treat ourselves and others every single day supported through our Prayer and Liturgy and Religious Education Curriclum.
How the Blend Works in Practice
Rather than teaching these elements in isolation, we map SCARF and Ten Ten topically so they complement and reinforce one another.
1. Developing Healthy Relationships
While SCARF teaches the mechanics of a good friendship—such as active listening, sharing, and resolving conflict—Ten Ten elevates this by exploring the deeper, spiritual nature of human connection. Together, they teach children to value others as unique individuals made in the image of God, directly practicing the Gospel Virtues of respect, kindness, and charity.
2. Emotional Well-being and Mental Health
SCARF provides children with emotional literacy, helping them identify feelings and build emotional resilience. Ten Ten contextualises these feelings, reassuring children of their inherent worth and teaching them to find peace and purpose through prayer and reflection. This dual approach fosters the virtues of patience, hope, and humility.
3. Keeping Safe and Valuing the Body
In SCARF modules, children learn concrete safety rules, online safety, and how to make healthy choices regarding diet and medicine. Ten Ten deepens this understanding by teaching that our bodies are a gift to be cherished and protected. This combined teaching instils a sense of temperance and prudence in their daily choices.
The Impact on Our Children
By blending life skills with spiritual wisdom, our curriculum ensures that personal development is deeply meaningful. Our children do not just learn what to do to be safe and healthy; they understand why their choices matter on a human and spiritual level.
We are proud to nurture articulate, respectful, and resilient young people who leave our school equipped to live out the Gospel Virtues in their local communities and the wider world.