English
Our Mission
In our school’s Mission Statement, our 3 aims are to:
- Have a sense of responsibility and take an active part in serving our world;
- Have a growing understanding of Gospel Values and gather together in prayer and worship;
- Have a passion for learning and an enjoyment for discovery.
“Hand in Hand, in the image of Jesus, we grow together and celebrate who we are.”
English lessons at St Aidan’s develops pupils’ abilities within an integrated programme of Speaking & Listening, Reading & Writing. Pupils are given opportunities to develop their use, knowledge and understanding of spoken and written English within a broad and balanced curriculum, with opportunities to consolidate and reinforce taught literacy skills. They learn how English both reflects and shapes our history, and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
At St Aidan’s we strive to ensure that students leave our school:
- Expressing their ideas effectively through speech and listening with understanding;
- Using their developing imagination, inventiveness and critical awareness;
- As enthusiastic, responsive and independent readers, with a love of reading and a desire to read for enjoyment;
- Reading and using a wide variety of non-¬-fiction materials to develop the skills required for critical analysis of newspapers, magazines and the internet etc.;
- Having participated in a range of drama activities including role play and improvisation as well as scripted drama;
- With the ability to listen carefully and to respond to various stimuli, expressing themselves confidently and clearly;
- With the necessary skills to write for a variety of purposes, understanding a range of text types and genres using the written word to develop, organise and communicate ideas;
- With the necessary skills to speak, write and read Standard English;
- With an interest in words and their meanings, developing a growing vocabulary in spoken and written forms;
- Having a suitable technical vocabulary to articulate their responses;
- Develop legible handwriting both joined up and printed styles and use when appropriate.
- Autonomous and equipped for lifelong learning with a sound grasp of Metacognition, thus taking responsibility for their own future progress.
Meet The Subject Coordinator
Mrs A. Wood
English Coordinator
My passion / personal experiences with English
As English Subject Leader, I am committed to fostering a love of language, literature, and communication in every child. Having graduated with a degree in English before qualifying as a teacher, I have always held a strong connection to the subject and enjoyed the lessons throughout my own education, developing a keen appreciation for the power of words. I have to admit, I’m a bit of a stickler for grammar - but all in the name of helping children use language clearly and confidently!
Experiences in our school
I take great joy in sharing my love of reading with pupils, inspiring them to explore a wide range of texts and discover the pleasure and escapism that books can bring. Writing is equally important to me; I enjoy supporting staff to teach children how to express themselves creatively, giving them the tools and confidence to develop their own unique voice. Alongside reading and writing, I place a strong emphasis on oracy, recognising that spoken language underpins all aspects of English and is essential in building confidence, reasoning, and communication skills.
Hope and goals in English
As C.S. Lewis once said, “We read to know we are not alone.” This belief sits at the heart of my approach to English teaching—nurturing a lifelong love of language while empowering children to connect, express, and succeed.
New Title
Phonics & Early Reading
Reading
Writing
In this section, you will find all documents related to the teaching of writing at St Aidan’s.
In this section, you can see how speaking and listening progresses at St Aidan’s.
