At St Mary’s, we intend our English curriculum to develop a genuine love of reading, writing and discussion in all of our children. We believe that nurturing a culture where children love to read, take pride in their writing and have the confidence in the art of speaking and listening is key in allowing them to flourish and enjoy life in all its fullness.

We believe that reading for pleasure is an entitlement of every child. We aim to foster a love of books and reading in all of our children, by providing a curriculum that inspires an appreciation of the rich and varied literature (both old and new) available to them.

We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture of respect, where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts. We want to inspire our children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and to use discussion to develop friendships, as well as communicate and further their learning.

We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in English skills is crucial to a high quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as members of society.