The English Lead is Mrs Hallett

At Pirehill First School, we place English at the very heart of our curriculum. Literacy is all around us and underpins every aspect of learning, making it essential that our pupils develop the knowledge, language and skills they need to thrive. We believe that competence in reading, writing and spoken language is not only key to academic success, but also to building self-esteem, independence and resilience so that children are prepared to grow and adapt in an ever-changing world. As Phil Beadle wrote, “Literacy is the road to human progress and the means through which every child can realise his or her full potential.”

English is taught daily through a high-quality, text-based approach that inspires children to read widely, discover and use rich, ambitious vocabulary and to write with confidence and purpose. Grammar and punctuation is taught in context so that it is both meaningful and embedded, while handwriting and spelling are taught discretely to develop accuracy and fluency.

The English curriculum is carefully structured ensuring that our children exposed to a wide variety of genres enabling them to write with a clear focus on audience and purpose, with opportunities to plan, rehearse, draft and refine their ideas to produce high-quality outcomes. Speaking and listening are also prioritised, with children encouraged to engage in meaningful conversation, debate and discussion both in class and through whole-school opportunities.