English

Mrs Krystle Hewitson

Mrs Hewitson is our English Subject Lead

 'I love English at St. Teresa’s because there is always something to learn and your opinion is always heard. It’s an amazing subject which thanks to the teachers I have learnt to love and enjoy’ – Year 6 pupil 

 At St. Teresa’s we believe that English and communication are key life skills. English is at the heart of all children’s learning. Through the English curriculum, we help children to become lifelong learners. They develop skills and knowledge that will enable them to communicate effectively and creatively through spoken and written language for a variety of purposes.  

In our school, reading is a strength within our curriculum. Our children develop a love of reading and a passion for the written word. Our Early Reading and Phonics work in Early Years and Key Stage One underpins the development of our children as ‘Readers’. We are committed to providing vocabulary rich reading material and high-quality texts across the curriculum. It is our intention that by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently and with confidence, across all genres, including fiction and non-fiction. Through their reading journey, our children develop knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live; establish an appreciation and love of reading; gain knowledge across the curriculum; and develop their comprehension skills. 

 When teaching Writing, our children have access to high quality texts from which they can develop their own skills to be able to plan, revise and evaluate in their own individual style. To be able to do this effectively, pupils will focus on developing their love of writing whilst gaining a wide range of skills as outlined in the National Curriculum and beyond. They will also develop an awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Our pupils leave our school being able to write confidently for a range of purposes using embedded skills, which add flair and individuality to their writing.  

Speaking and listening skills are key to the overall development of our children at St. Teresa’s. We encourage all pupils to verbalise their thinking and express their opinions in a reflective, articulate and considerate way. Opportunities for the development of their skills are varied through work in class, worship and whole school events such as drama productions, celebrations and assemblies.