St Mary’s: Our Vision for Writing Excellence

At St Mary’s, we believe that every child, regardless of background or ability, should become an effective and enthusiastic writer. We empower our pupils to write with grammatical accuracy, appropriate purpose and a sophisticated awareness of their reader. Rooted in our mission to help every child discover their God-given potential, we equip them with a “voice on paper” that will serve them today, tomorrow and in the future.

Intent: Ambition for Every Writer

Our writing curriculum is evidence-informed and deliberately structured to move pupils from foundational mark-making to sophisticated authorial craft. Our intent is for all pupils to:

  • Master Transcription: Secure handwriting and spelling automaticity so that cognitive load can be directed toward creativity.

  • Write with Versatility: Develop the stamina and confidence to write at length across a broad range of genres and subjects.

  • Bridge Theory and Practice: Use the CUSP curriculum to move from “learning about” grammar to “applying” it with style and precision.

  • Foster Global Communicators: Ensure every child graduates with the literacy skills required to navigate and influence the world around them.

Implementation: The Journey of a Writer

Early Years: Laying the Physical & Oral Foundations

The journey begins with the body. We recognize that children must move and talk before they can write.

  • Physicality First: Before refining handwriting, children develop gross motor control through climbing, crawling, and whole-body movements. This builds the core strength necessary for later fine motor precision.

  • Oral Precursors: Our language-rich environment prioritizes purposeful social interaction. We utilize play-based “talk for writing” strategies, ensuring children can articulate their ideas orally before they ever pick up a pencil.

  • Phonetic Bridging: Phonics teaching provides the essential bridge to mark-making, as teachers model the transition from sounds to words and simple sentences.

Key Stages 1 & 2: The CUSP Framework

From Year 1 to Year 6, we utilize the CUSP Curriculum to ensure a cumulative and ambitious progression.

  • Systematic Retrieval: Key grammar, punctuation and vocabulary are revisited through spaced practice to ensure they are embedded in long-term memory.

  • Sentence Architecture: Using Alan Peat Sentence Types, pupils move from simple construction to complex, multi-clause structures. This “sentence-stacking” approach allows children to experiment with sophisticated authorial effects.

  • The Literature Spine: High-quality “Core Texts” serve as the catalyst for writing, providing pupils with aspirational models of authorial craft.

Securing Technical Mastery

We believe that presentation and accuracy are the hallmarks of a proud writer. We provide a rigorous framework for the “mechanics” of the craft.

Focus Area Strategy & Approach
Handwriting (Letter-Join) A clear progression from pre-cursive in Year 1 to a fluid, fully cursive style in Year 2 and beyond.
Fluency & Tools Pupils are taught to use pencils, pens, and digital interfaces (keyboards/touchscreens) to ensure they are digitally literate and motivated.
Integrated Curriculum Writing is not in a vacuum; it is woven into History, Geography, and Science, allowing pupils to “write like experts” in every subject.
Feedback & Refinement Daily opportunities to rehearse, draft, and edit ensure that children view writing as a process of constant refinement.

Impact: Our Outcomes

Through this rigorously sequenced approach, pupils at St Mary’s become confident, capable and creative writers.

  • Technically Proficient: Our pupils possess the transcriptional accuracy and grammatical muscle to succeed across the secondary curriculum.

  • Articulate & Flair-filled: Through our focus on Alan Peat structures and CUSP literature, students write with an individual “voice” for a specific purpose.

  • Purposeful Communicators: Our students understand that writing is a tool for influence. They leave school equipped to communicate their ideas with precision and imagination.

  • Empowered Individuals: By securing the ability to write at length and with confidence, our children are ready to share their story with the world.

At St Mary’s, we ensure that every child understands that the pen is a tool for discovery, expression, and change.

National curriculum in England