English – Stories That Change the World

Stories have always changed the world.

They help us understand ourselves.

They help us understand others.

They challenge injustice, inspire hope and teach us how to live.

At St Bernard's RC Primary School, we believe that English is far more than learning to read, write and communicate.

It is about discovering the power of words.

Our English curriculum is built around one simple belief:

Stories change people.

Every carefully chosen text invites children to think deeply, ask important questions and reflect upon the person they are becoming.

Inspired by our Catholic faith and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, our English curriculum helps children recognise the dignity of every person, develop empathy for others and understand that their own words have the power to shape the world around them.

Intent

Our intention is to develop confident readers, thoughtful writers and articulate communicators who understand the extraordinary power of language to inform, inspire and transform lives.

We believe that every child deserves access to rich, ambitious literature that broadens horizons, develops imagination and encourages children to think deeply about themselves and the world around them.

Our English curriculum is built around Stories That Change the World.

Each class explores carefully selected texts that do far more than teach reading and writing skills. These stories invite children to wrestle with life's biggest questions:

• Who am I?
• What is courage?
• What makes a family?
• How should we treat others?
• What is justice?
• Why does hope matter?
• Who am I called to become?

These questions are explored through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, helping children understand that every person has dignity, everyone deserves justice and every individual has the responsibility to use their gifts in the service of others.

Alongside this, we aim to develop every child as a fluent reader, confident writer and effective communicator who can express their ideas with clarity, creativity and purpose.

Implementation

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum because we believe that confident readers become confident learners.

Children experience high-quality literature every day through whole-class reading, carefully structured reading lessons, shared stories, independent reading and regular opportunities to discuss, question and reflect upon what they have read.

Our novel-based curriculum is deliberately designed so that each text explores significant themes that connect with children's lives while reflecting the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Through stories, children encounter themes such as human dignity, compassion, justice, peace, stewardship, courage, forgiveness, equality and hope.

Every unit returns to a central Big Question, encouraging children to think deeply, discuss respectfully and recognise that great literature helps us understand both ourselves and others.

Reading lessons explicitly develop comprehension through our Reading Gems approach, enabling children to build vocabulary, retrieval, inference, prediction, explanation, summarising, comparison and critical thinking skills while developing an increasingly sophisticated appreciation of authors' craft.

Writing grows naturally from meaningful reading experiences. Children write for authentic purposes, exploring a wide range of genres while developing creativity, technical accuracy and confidence in expressing their own ideas.

Communication is woven throughout every lesson. Rich discussion, drama, storytelling, debate and oral rehearsal help children organise their thinking, develop ambitious vocabulary and become articulate speakers who value the opinions of others.

Systematic phonics, spelling, handwriting and grammar are taught explicitly, ensuring children develop the essential knowledge and skills that enable them to become fluent readers and successful writers. These foundations allow every child to participate fully in the rich literary experiences offered throughout the curriculum.

Across every classroom, children discover that words matter.

Words can comfort.

Words can challenge.

Words can unite.

Words can change the world.

Impact

The impact of our English curriculum is reflected not only in children's literacy, but in the people they become.

Children leave St Bernard's as confident readers who read with curiosity, enjoyment and understanding. They develop a genuine love of books and recognise reading as both a source of knowledge and a source of joy.

They become thoughtful writers who communicate with purpose, creativity and increasing technical accuracy. They understand that writing gives them a voice and that their words can influence, encourage and inspire others.

Children speak confidently, listen respectfully and engage thoughtfully with ideas that may be different from their own. They develop the vocabulary and confidence to discuss complex issues with maturity and empathy.

Through the stories they encounter, children deepen their understanding of human dignity, justice, compassion and service. They recognise the connections between literature, faith and the wider world, understanding that stories have always been powerful agents for change.

Most importantly, our children begin to see themselves within the story.

They discover that they too have a voice.

They too have gifts.

They too have the power to make a difference.

By the time they leave St Bernard's, our children know that stories do more than entertain.

Stories build understanding.

Stories develop compassion.

Stories inspire courage.

Stories change the world.

And perhaps most importantly of all...

Stories help us discover who God is calling us to become.

That is the purpose of English at St Bernard's.

This is how we continue becoming the school God wants us to be.

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Psalm 119:105