English at St Mary's

At St Mary’s, we define English as the study of reading, writing, speaking and listening, including oracy. These connected disciplines help children make sense of the world, express their ideas and understand the experiences of others.

Our central aim is to immerse children in fiction, non-fiction and poetry that they can learn from, develop an appreciation of and enjoy. We want every child to experience the pleasure of a compelling story, the discovery of new knowledge and the power of carefully chosen words.

Our diverse school community brings a wealth of languages, cultures and experiences to this learning. We value these starting points and build children’s command of English so that they can participate confidently in school and beyond.

Reading

 We want children to become fluent, thoughtful readers who choose to read for themselves.

Teaching develops accurate word reading, fluency and comprehension. Through carefully selected texts, children encounter ambitious vocabulary and explore characters, ideas and authors’ choices. Teachers model expressive reading and support pupils to explain their interpretations using evidence.

Fiction opens up imagined worlds and different perspectives. Non-fiction builds knowledge and curiosity. Poetry introduces children to the possibilities of rhythm, sound and language.

Alongside explicit teaching, we make space for the enjoyment of books: listening to stories, sharing recommendations and discovering personal interests.

Writing

 We teach children to write clearly, accurately and with imagination, adapting their choices to their purpose and audience.

Reading provides models of effective writing. Teachers demonstrate how writers make decisions, guide shared practice and support children towards independence.

Pupils develop ideas through discussion and oral rehearsal before planning, drafting and revising their work. Spelling, handwriting, grammar and punctuation receive explicit attention so that children can communicate their meaning effectively.

We want children to see themselves as writers whose words can inform, entertain, persuade and move a reader.

Speaking, listening and oracy

 Every child’s voice matters. We teach children how to express themselves and how to listen with attention, curiosity and respect.

Oracy means developing the skills to communicate effectively through spoken language. Children learn both to talk and through talk. They practise explaining their thinking, asking questions, building on another person’s contribution and disagreeing respectfully.

Conversation, storytelling, discussion, debate and performance provide opportunities to develop these skills. Teachers model vocabulary and sentence structures, with support that enables pupils at different stages of language development to contribute meaningfully.

English across the curriculum

English enables learning in every subject. Whether children are explaining a scientific observation, interpreting a historical source or presenting an argument, they draw on their reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Our ambition is for every child to leave St Mary’s able to communicate with confidence, read with understanding and pleasure and recognise the value of their own voice.

Reading and Writing Spine

 Enrichment opportunities to extend English