Writing
“We know when children have been taught well because almost every child learns to write They have the skills, knowledge and enthusiasm for a lifelong joy of writing.”
Pie Corbett
At St Pius X, we recognise that writing is a central pillar of both education and society. A high-quality writing curriculum is a tool for empowerment, enabling our pupils to express themselves clearly, creatively and with confidence. Rooted in our mission to help every child discover their God-given potential, we aim for every pupil to secure the transcription and composition skills necessary to communicate with sophistication as they move through school and beyond.
Intent: Our Vision for Writing
Our curriculum is ambitious and systematic, designed to ensure that writing becomes a fluid, natural extension of a child’s thought process. Our intent is for all pupils to:
- Build Secure Foundations: Master the essential knowledge of spelling, handwriting and grammar to allow for creative freedom.
- Ensure Cumulative Progression: Follow a clear pathway from EYFS to Key Stage 2, enabling children to know more, remember more and apply more.
- Develop Technical and Creative Mastery: Balance the “mechanics” of writing with the “art” of authorial craft and expression.
- Foster Lifelong Enthusiasm: Cultivate a genuine love for writing through exposure to high-quality literature and purposeful outcomes.
Implementation: How We Teach
We deliver writing through the CUSP Writing Curriculum, an evidence-informed approach that places high-quality literature and explicit vocabulary instruction at the heart of learning.
Thinking Like Authors
Disciplinary skills are woven into our daily practice. We encourage pupils to:
- Analyze and Deconstruct: Exploring “Core Texts” to understand how professional authors use language and structure to impact the reader.
- Model and Rehearse: Engaging in guided practice and “Sentence Stacking” before moving toward independent, extended outcomes.
- Manipulate for Effect: Using Alan Peat Sentence Types across all year groups to purposefully vary sentence structure and enhance writing style.
A Rich Literary Spine
Our curriculum is enriched by:
- Diverse High-Quality Texts: Using literature that reflects a range of cultural experiences to deepen understanding of the world.
- Purposeful Links: Connecting writing tasks to wider curriculum subjects to ensure children are writing for real-world contexts.
- Explicit Vocabulary Instruction: Intentionally teaching “Tier 2” and “Tier 3” words to bridge the word gap and elevate expression.
Securing Foundational Skills
We believe that creative flair is unlocked only when foundational skills are automatic. We give sustained attention to the “mechanics” of writing to ensure every child has the stamina to succeed.
| Focus Area | Strategy & Approach |
| Transcription & Spelling | A cumulative and systematic approach to spelling that ensures accuracy and automaticity. |
| Handwriting (Letter-Join) | Using the Letter-Join programme to move from legibility in KS1 to fluid, consistent cursive in KS2. |
| Grammatical Precision | Consistent use of Alan Peat Sentence Types to reinforce sentence construction as a foundational “muscle.” |
| Drafting & Editing | Teaching children how to reflect on their work, using feedback to refine their “authorial voice.” |
Impact: Our Outcomes
Through our rigorous and inspiring Writing curriculum, pupils at St Pius X develop into articulate, capable and imaginative communicators.
- Confident Communicators: Our pupils graduate with the ability to adapt their writing style for any audience or purpose.
- Technically Proficient Writers: Students possess the stamina and transcriptional accuracy to succeed across the secondary curriculum.
- Creative Thinkers: Through our focus on authorial craft, pupils can manipulate language to express complex ideas and emotions.
- Empowered Individuals: Our children leave St Pius X with the “voice” they need to share their light and influence the world around them.
Our commitment to high-quality Writing ensures that every child understands that through the written word, they have the power to share their story and change their world.
