English
Intent
At St Philip’s, we believe communication lies at the heart of learning. Through an ambitious, carefully sequenced English curriculum, we aim to develop confident readers, articulate speakers and skilled writers who are equipped with the knowledge, vocabulary and communication skills needed to thrive in school and beyond.
High-quality literature is central to our curriculum, inspiring curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of reading. We want every child to see themselves as a reader and writer, using language confidently to communicate their ideas, opinions and emotions.
Guided by our Christian vision, pupils explore themes of identity, dignity, justice, compassion and hope through carefully chosen texts, helping them develop empathy, resilience and respect for others.
We aim for every child to:
- read fluently for pleasure and purpose;
- communicate effectively using a rich and ambitious vocabulary;
- write confidently, accurately and creatively for a range of audiences and purposes;
- develop fluent handwriting that supports written composition;
- become confident speakers and attentive listeners; and
- leave St Philip’s fully prepared for the next stage of their education.
Following the National Curriculum, our English curriculum is carefully sequenced from the Early Years to Year 6. Through our Read to Write approach, using Pathways to Read and Pathways to Write, pupils engage with high-quality literature that inspires and informs their own writing.
Implementation
Early Reading and Phonics
Early reading is prioritised in EYFS and Key Stage 1 through Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS). Children receive daily phonics teaching, decodable books matched to their stage, regular assessment and timely intervention. Phonics is consistently modelled across reading, writing and spelling to secure understanding of the alphabetic code.
Reading
Reading is taught through a layered approach that develops fluency, comprehension and a love of reading. Using Pathways to Read alongside independent reading, story time, curriculum reading and well-stocked class libraries, pupils learn to retrieve information, infer meaning, explain vocabulary, analyse authorial intent and justify opinions using evidence. High-quality, diverse texts broaden pupils’ understanding of the world and foster reading for pleasure.
Writing
Writing is taught through Pathways to Write, with high-quality literature providing the stimulus for purposeful writing. Pupils explore model texts, develop vocabulary and grammar, and move from shared and guided writing towards independent application. Teachers model the writing process explicitly, enabling pupils to write confidently, creatively and effectively for a range of audiences and purposes while developing resilience and independence as writers.
Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation
Spelling progresses from phonics into Key Stage 2 through Pathways to Spell. Grammar and punctuation are taught both discretely and within writing lessons so that pupils understand how language choices create meaning and impact. Children develop secure knowledge of spelling patterns, grammar, sentence construction, punctuation and editing strategies.
Handwriting
Handwriting is taught consistently through Letter-join, with the aim of developing fluent, automatic handwriting that supports composition. Pupils progress from correct letter formation to joined cursive script through regular practice, consistent modelling and high expectations for presentation. Additional support is provided where needed.
Speaking and Listening
Oracy is central to the English curriculum. Pupils regularly discuss texts, explain their thinking, justify opinions, present ideas and participate in collaborative learning. These opportunities develop confidence, communication skills and effective listening.
Learning Environment
Classrooms provide vocabulary-rich environments that promote independence and support learning. Working walls, modelled examples, sentence stems and high-quality exemplars act as active learning tools that enable pupils to apply and refine their reading and writing skills.
Assessment
Assessment is ongoing and informs teaching. Teachers use formative assessment, questioning, phonics checks, reading fluency assessments, writing moderation, spelling assessments and national assessments where appropriate to identify pupils who require additional support or challenge.
Impact
The impact of our English curriculum is seen in pupils who are confident, enthusiastic and effective communicators. They become fluent readers who read with understanding and enjoyment, and skilled writers who communicate clearly, accurately and creatively for a range of audiences and purposes. Pupils develop secure spelling, grammar and punctuation knowledge, write with fluent joined handwriting, and speak confidently while listening respectfully to others.
The effectiveness of the curriculum is evaluated through assessment, lesson observations, learning walks, book scrutinies, pupil voice, moderation, phonics outcomes and statutory assessments. This ensures consistently high-quality teaching and strong progress for all pupils from their individual starting points.
As a result, pupils leave St Philip’s as confident communicators, enthusiastic readers and independent writers who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.
