St. Catharine’s English Curriculum

In English, we nurture a love of reading, writing, and communication. Our pupils become fluent readers, confident writers, and articulate speakers, ready to succeed in school and beyond.

English is at the heart of our curriculum. It underpins all learning and equips our pupils with the skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond. We are committed to developing children who are fluent readers, confident writers, and articulate speakers, through a rich, ambitious, and inclusive approach to English.

From the very beginning, we prioritise reading as the foundation for success. Through a systematic synthetic phonics approach, pupils quickly learn to decode with accuracy and fluency. Carefully matched reading books, daily practice, and swift intervention ensure that every child is supported to keep up and thrive. As pupils progress, they are taught to read with increasing fluency and understanding, exploring a wide range of high-quality texts that broaden their knowledge, develop vocabulary, and inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Writing is taught through a clear and structured approach that builds confidence and independence over time. Pupils learn how to construct and develop sentences before moving on to extended writing, supported by high-quality model texts and explicit teaching of grammar and vocabulary. Writing opportunities are purposeful and meaningful, allowing pupils to write for a range of audiences and across the curriculum. Careful scaffolding, alongside opportunities to edit and improve, ensures all pupils can succeed and take pride in their work.

We place a strong emphasis on handwriting. Pupils are taught to form letters correctly from the outset and are given regular opportunities to practise and refine their handwriting. A consistent whole-school approach ensures high expectations for presentation, helping pupils to develop fluency, legibility, and pride in their work so they can write with increasing ease and confidence.

Spoken language is woven throughout our curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to express their ideas clearly, use ambitious vocabulary, and engage in meaningful discussion. This focus on oracy strengthens both reading and writing, enabling pupils to communicate effectively in a range of contexts.

By the time pupils leave our school, they are confident, capable communicators who enjoy reading, write with purpose and accuracy, and speak with clarity and confidence. They are well prepared for the next stage of their education and equipped with the essential skills for the future.

Click the links below to view our English rationale, outlining our approach to early reading, reading, and writing.