Statement of Intent 

At St Michael with St John, we believe that English is at the heart of every child's education. Through reading, writing, speaking and listening, we equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to communicate effectively, think critically and succeed across the curriculum and beyond.

As the majority of our pupils speak English as an additional language, language acquisition is central to our English curriculum. We provide a language-rich environment where children develop ambitious vocabulary, secure grammatical knowledge and the confidence to express themselves clearly, both orally and in writing.

Our English curriculum is delivered through the Ready Steady Write programme by Literacy Counts, which uses high-quality, vocabulary-rich texts to inspire purposeful and engaging writing. Carefully sequenced learning enables pupils to develop their understanding of language, apply increasingly sophisticated writing skills and write with accuracy, creativity and confidence for a range of audiences and purposes.

Beginning in the Early Years, pupils build strong foundations in communication, phonics, reading and writing. As they progress through the school, they develop the ability to compose, edit and evaluate their writing, drawing upon rich vocabulary and a secure understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling. Opportunities to apply English across the wider curriculum enable pupils to consolidate their learning and communicate effectively in a range of meaningful contexts.

Our Christian vision, rooted in the belief that 'with God all things are possible', and our school values of Nurture, Inspire, Achieve underpin every aspect of our English curriculum. We nurture confident communicators, inspire children through high-quality literature and meaningful learning experiences, and empower every pupil to achieve their full potential as articulate speakers, enthusiastic readers and capable writers.