English
Our English Curriculum has been sequenced and mapped deliberately and coherently. Through ensuring we cover the National Curriculum we aim to teach high quality, well thought out and knowledge rich lessons that demonstrate progression.
Intent
At Rectory Church of England School, our English curriculum is designed to develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion and prepare our learners for life as aspirational, creative and valued members of the community. We inspire an appreciation of our rich and varied literary heritage and aim to develop a culture of habitual reading amongst our learners. We aim to ensure that our children have read a wide and diverse range of texts and genres to enable them to be well-rounded literary learners. We nurture a culture where children take pride in their writing, producing work that is imaginative and adapted accordingly for a specific purpose or audience. We inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and to use discussion to communicate and further their learning in all areas of the curriculum.
We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in Literacy, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high quality education across the curriculum. We whole-heartedly promote high standards of literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.’ (National Curriculum 2014).
We aim to ensure that all pupils:
Read easily, fluently and with good understanding
Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
Use discussion to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
Be competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
Implementation
At Rectory Church of England Primary School, we implement our English curriculum through the Pathway to Write scheme, a high-quality, text-based programme that ensures consistency, progression, and depth across all year groups. This approach enables us to deliver a rich and engaging English curriculum that develops pupils’ skills in reading, writing, grammar, and spoken language in a cohesive and purposeful way.
Each unit is built around a carefully selected, high-quality text that provides a meaningful context for learning. These texts are diverse, inclusive, and thematically rich, allowing pupils to explore a wide range of genres, cultures, and perspectives.
Key features of our implementation include:
📚 Text-led learning: Each unit begins with an engaging stimulus text, which forms the foundation for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and writing outcomes.
✍️ Progressive writing skills: Pupils are taught to plan, draft, edit, and publish writing for a range of purposes and audiences, with grammar and punctuation skills embedded contextually.
🔁 Spiral curriculum: Key skills are revisited and built upon over time, ensuring secure understanding and mastery.
🗣️ Oracy and discussion: Speaking and listening are integral to each unit, with opportunities for debate, drama, and oral rehearsal to deepen understanding and build confidence.
📈 Assessment for learning: Each unit includes clear objectives, model texts, and success criteria, allowing teachers to assess progress and provide targeted support.
🧠 Cross-curricular links: Where appropriate, units are linked to wider curriculum themes, enriching learning and reinforcing knowledge across subjects.
Impact
At Rectory Church of England Primary School, the impact of our English curriculum—delivered through the Pathway to Write scheme—is evident in the confidence, creativity, and communication skills our pupils demonstrate across all areas of learning.
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils:
📚 Read fluently and with understanding, showing enjoyment and engagement with a wide range of texts
✍️ Write with increasing accuracy, creativity, and purpose, adapting their style for different audiences and contexts
🧠 Apply a rich vocabulary and secure understanding of grammar and punctuation in their writing
🗣️ Speak clearly and confidently, participating in discussions, debates, and presentations with growing assurance
🔁 Demonstrate progression in key literacy skills through regular opportunities to revisit and deepen learning
The Pathway to Write programme ensures that pupils are exposed to high-quality texts and structured learning sequences that build knowledge and skills over time. Regular assessment, including formative feedback and end-of-unit outcomes, allows teachers to monitor progress and address gaps effectively.
Pupil voice, book scrutiny, and lesson observations show that children:
Take pride in their written work
Are motivated by the texts and topics explored
Can articulate their learning and reflect on their progress
Ultimately, our English curriculum equips pupils with the literacy skills, confidence, and love of language they need to succeed in secondary education and beyond, and to become thoughtful, articulate members of society.
Key Documents
