English Subject Leader - Mrs Livingston
Our learning Intent
At St James' Catholic Primary School, we understand that a high standard of English is a key life skill, and we aim to equip pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word. Through the English curriculum, we will help children develop the skills and knowledge needed to communicate effectively and creatively, enabling them to access all areas of the curriculum and become lifelong learners. We promote the importance of reading for pleasure, and the key role this plays in children’s cultural, emotional, intellectual and social development. We place quality children’s literature at the heart of our English curriculum, and strive to develop children’s love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.
Our English curriculum aims 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, and understanding of grammatical structure for reading, writing and spoken language
- experience and appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- write accurately, coherently and imaginatively, adapting their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
- use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
- are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”
― JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!