English

At St Mary’s, we believe that all children are entitled to a broad and balanced English curriculum that allows them to maximise their learning potential; preparing them for the application of English skills across the whole curriculum and life beyond education. Our English curriculum promotes language development which enables our children to communicate effectively, seeing language as a source of pleasure and enjoyment and using it to develop powers of imagination and creativity. Children at St Mary’s will use their English skills to communicate and work effectively with others, developing as independent learners.

 ​Our Aims

• To provide a language rich environment that promotes a culture of reading and writing
• To develop in pupils a love of books and high-quality literature that will not only support their learning across the curriculum, but will also extend beyond the classroom environment
• To explicitly teach reading skills throughout our school that continually develop children’s understanding and enjoyment of texts
• To teach children the craft of writing in order to develop the confidence and skills to write well for a range of purposes and audiences
• To teach the basics well – spelling, grammar, handwriting and punctuation
• To foster in pupils the confidence, desire and ability to express their views and opinions, both orally and in writing
• To value and celebrate diversity in culture and language