Writing
At St Peter's, we believe that writing is a powerful tool for communication, creativity and self-expression. Our writing curriculum is designed to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and vocabulary needed to write confidently and effectively for a range of audiences and purposes, both within school and beyond.
Writing is closely linked to our thematic curriculum, providing meaningful contexts and authentic purposes for writing across a wide range of subjects. Through their thematic learning, pupils draw upon rich knowledge from history, geography, science and other curriculum areas, enabling them to write with greater accuracy, depth and understanding. We believe that children write best when they have something meaningful to say and a secure knowledge base from which to draw.
Our writing curriculum follows a structured reading-to-writing cycle, typically delivered over a two-week sequence. High-quality texts sit at the heart of this process, providing pupils with opportunities to explore vocabulary, language features, text structures and authorial techniques before applying these within their own writing. Through discussion, modelled writing and shared writing, children learn how successful writers craft texts before composing independently.
Four key elements sit at the heart of our writing curriculum:
- Transcription – developing accurate spelling, handwriting and punctuation so that the mechanical aspects of writing become increasingly automatic.
- Composition – generating, organising and developing ideas into coherent sentences, paragraphs and complete texts.
- Spoken Language – using discussion, oral rehearsal, drama and vocabulary exploration to help children articulate ideas before writing.
- Sentence Structure – securing strong sentence construction and grammatical accuracy, providing the foundations for increasingly sophisticated writing.
In line with the National Curriculum, pupils learn to write for a range of purposes, including narrative, explanation, persuasion, discussion and information texts. They develop their understanding of composition, grammar, punctuation and spelling, while learning how to plan, draft, edit and improve their work. We place a strong emphasis on the quality of writing rather than the quantity, encouraging pupils to make deliberate choices about vocabulary, sentence structure and authorial voice.
Our teaching is underpinned by explicit modelling, shared writing and regular opportunities for practice and feedback. Our writing curriculum develops pupils into confident and effective communicators. Children learn to write for a range of audiences and purposes through exposure to high-quality literature and carefully planned writing opportunities. Grammar, punctuation and transcription skills are taught alongside creativity, enabling pupils to develop their own authorial voice while applying the conventions of written English accurately.
Handwriting is taught progressively, spelling patterns and conventions are revisited systematically, and high expectations are maintained across all curriculum areas. This whole-school approach helps children build confidence, fluency and independence as writers. Weekly lessons using Letter-join, a comprehensive, curriculum-aligned handwriting scheme that combines interactive digital lessons with targeted print resources, ensures pupils master comfortable, legible, and automatic handwriting.
By developing skilled, passionate writers who can communicate clearly, creatively and purposefully, we equip pupils with the literacy knowledge and cultural capital needed to flourish in secondary school and beyond.
Click here to see our Writing overview: UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Click here to see our handwriting overview: UPDATE IN PROGRESS
"Let your conversation be always full of grace."
Colossians 4:6