St Martin’s School Teaching and Learning Charter
Excellent learning in every classroom, for every learner, every day

Our Ambition
At St Martin’s School, we are committed to delivering consistently high-quality teaching.

Our Vision for Learning
A high-quality educational experience is fundamental to improve life chances. 

At St Martin’s, we create calm, caring and purposeful classrooms where teachers, students and support staff can thrive.

Our approach is evidence-informed, supports continuous teacher development, promotes consistency for learners, and respects professional autonomy and subject expertise.

In line with the Curriculum for Wales, we are committed to developing learners who are:

• Ambitious, capable learners ready to learn throughout their lives
• Enterprising, creative contributors ready to play a full part in life and work
• Ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the wider world
• Healthy, confident individuals ready to lead fulfilling lives

Our Pedagogical Framework

Our shared approach to teaching and learning at St Martin’s is rooted in four core areas:

Responsive Teaching

• Retrieval practice to strengthen memory
• Regular checking for understanding
• Adaptive teaching that responds to learner needs

Explicit Instruction

• Clear, structured explanations
• Effective modelling and scaffolding
• Guided practice to build confidence and independence

Classroom Culture

• Strong routines that maximise learning time
• High expectations for behaviour and effort
• Positive relationships that support engagement and wellbeing

Independent Learning

• Explicit teaching of learning strategies and metacognition
• Opportunities for independent practice and problem-solving
• Gradual removal of scaffolds to build autonomy
• Students reflect on, monitor and improve their own learning
• Developing resilience, responsibility and ownership of learning

These principles are embodied in our Five Teaching and Learning Pillars:

1. High Expectations – We believe every learner can succeed and should be challenged to reach their full potential.
2. Clear Learning Intentions – Learners understand what they are learning, why it matters, and what success looks like.
3. Modelling – Teachers make expert thinking visible, showing learners how to succeed.
4. Formative Assessment – Ongoing assessment informs teaching and helps learners understand their next steps.
5. Differentiation – Learning is accessible and challenging for all, ensuring progress for every learner.

Cross-Curricular Skills

We develop essential skills in every lesson:

• Literacy – Speaking, reading, writing and listening with clarity and confidence
• Numeracy – Applying mathematical skills to solve real-life problems
• Digital Competence – Using technology confidently, creatively and responsibly
• Cymraeg (Welsh Language) – Developing confidence to use Welsh in everyday and meaningful contexts across the curriculum

Skills and knowledge are interconnected. Every lesson contributes to the development of these essential life skills, supporting all learners to succeed.

A Culture of Professional Learning
We are committed to supporting all staff to improve their practice. At St Martin’s, staff can expect:

• Time and space to reflect and develop
• A clear and manageable focus for teaching and learning
• Supportive coaching and professional dialogue
• Opportunities to rehearse, refine and embed practice
• A culture that prioritises development over judgement

Our Learning Forum enables teachers to trial new approaches, evaluate impact, and share effective practice across the school, strengthening collective expertise

Our Commitment

At St Martin’s School, we are united in our commitment to:

• Support every teacher to develop and succeed
• Challenge every learner to achieve their best
• Deliver excellence in every classroom

Through this shared approach, we ensure that all students leave St Martin’s as confident communicators, effective problem-solvers and responsible citizens, fully prepared for further education, work and life.