St Cyprians Greek Orthodox Primary Academy – English Curriculum Intent

Intent

At St. Cyprian’s Greek Orthodox Primary Academy, we are dedicated to nurturing a love of reading and writing within a diverse school community. We aim to empower our students to become confident and fluent readers, capable of comprehending a wide range of texts, and to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively through their writing. Our primary intent is to ensure that every child can read fluently, with confidence and enjoyment by the end of their primary school journey. We firmly believe in the potential of all our students and are committed to not placing limits on their reading and writing abilities. Furthermore, we acknowledge the vital role of parents and carers in supporting their children's language development and strive to foster a strong home-school partnership to enhance the skills taught in school.

Implementation

Reading:

Diverse Texts: Our school features an extensive library and inviting book areas in all classrooms, offering a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including favourite picture books and texts designed to engage young minds with rich language and diverse content.

Whole Class and Group Teaching: We employ a variety of teaching methods, including whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one lessons, ensuring that all children have access to age-appropriate skills and knowledge as specified in the National Curriculum.

Phonics - Read Write Inc: In Early Years and Key Stage 1, we utilise the Read Write Inc phonics scheme for targeted phonics instruction, grouping pupils according to their abilities, and providing additional support for children who require intervention.

Home Reading: We encourage all pupils to read at home daily, practising the skills learned at school to enhance fluency and comprehension.

Writing:

Communication Skills: We aim to develop our pupils' writing abilities, focusing on clear communication of knowledge, ideas, and emotions. We encourage vocabulary expansion, grammar proficiency, and the application of spelling patterns and rules learned throughout primary school.

Writing for Context: Our pupils learn to adapt their writing style and language for various contexts, purposes, and audiences. We emphasise the importance of presentation, fostering a sense of pride in the quality of written work.

Editing and Refinement: We guide children to independently identify areas for improvement in their writing, encouraging them to edit and refine their work during and after the writing process.

Spelling and Grammar: We teach spelling rules according to the English National Curriculum, linking phonics from Read Write Inc to spelling in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Spelling tests and correction opportunities are provided to reinforce learning. Grammar and punctuation skills are integrated into writing genres or taught as standalone lessons, as needed.

Curriculum:

Structured Curriculum: We have a structured curriculum for both reading and writing, ensuring progression in word reading skills, comprehension, and writing genres. This includes exposure to classical authors such as Shakespeare and contemporary fiction to broaden literary experiences.

Impact

At St. Cyprian’s Greek Orthodox Primary Academy, our English curriculum is designed to leave a lasting impact on our pupils' language development and literacy skills. We take pride in witnessing the outcomes of our approach to English, and the impact can be observed in several key areas:

Our pupils develop a genuine love for reading, spanning a wide range of genres and types of literature.

Pupils of all abilities excel in reading and writing, thanks to tailored instruction that meets their individual needs.

Pupils acquire a rich and extensive vocabulary, enhancing their capacity to express themselves creatively and clearly in their writing.

Our pupils can adeptly adapt their writing style to suit different contexts and audiences, fostering effective communication skills.

Pupils leave our school with a strong foundation in spelling, confidently applying rules and patterns to ensure precision in their written work.

Parents and caregivers are well-informed about how to support their children's development, actively participating in their child's academic journey.

Our commitment to inclusive education ensures substantial progress for students of diverse backgrounds and abilities, promoting academic equity for all.