Our Curriculum Rationale

Our writing curriculum is ambitious, inclusive, and carefully sequenced to ensure that all pupils, regardless of starting point, develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to write fluently and effectively. It is rooted in the explicit teaching of fundamental writing skills, with a strong emphasis on sentence structure, grammar, and purposeful composition.

We recognise that writing is a complex process that requires secure foundational knowledge, repeated practice, and high-quality models. Therefore, our curriculum is designed to revisit key concepts regularly, ensuring that learning is embedded over time and accessible to all pupils, including those in mixed-age classes.

Curriculum Intent

Our intent is to develop confident, fluent writers who:

• Have a secure understanding of sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation.
• Can write clearly and coherently for a range of purposes and audiences.
• Understand how to improve their writing through drafting and editing.
• Can analyse high-quality model texts and apply key features to their own writing.
• Develop increasing independence and ownership of their writing.

The curriculum is designed to close gaps, build knowledge systematically, and ensure that all pupils make strong progress from their individual starting points.

Curriculum Implementation

Curriculum Design and Sequencing

Writing units are built around carefully constructed, model texts that model strong composition, grammar, and structure. These texts support clear progression through school, with increasing complexity in both content and language.

Key writing concepts are revisited frequently. Teachers present learning as if pupils are encountering it for the first time, ensuring that knowledge is secure and accessible for all learners, including those in mixed-age classes or with gaps in prior learning.

Teaching and Learning

• Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure are taught explicitly and systematically.
• Teachers model high-quality writing and demonstrate how to construct effective sentences and paragraphs.
• Pupils analyse model texts to identify key compositional and grammatical features.
• Repetition and retrieval are used to secure knowledge and build fluency.

Practice and Application

Pupils regularly:

• Practise writing sentences and extended pieces using taught structures.
• Identify grammatical features in model texts.
• Apply their learning to a range of writing purposes and genres.

Drafting and Editing

Writing is taught as a process. Pupils are explicitly taught how to:

• Re-read and evaluate their work.
• Edit for grammar, vocabulary, and clarity.
• Improve structure and impact for the reader.

This approach develops resilience, reflection, and pride in written work.

Assessment and Feedback

Rubrics are used to clarify expectations and support pupils in understanding what successful writing looks like. These enable pupils to:

• Self-assess their work.
• Identify strengths and next steps.
• Make targeted improvements.

As pupils progress, they become increasingly independent in using rubrics and analysing model texts to inform their writing choices.

Curriculum Impact

The impact of our writing curriculum is evident in the quality, accuracy, and fluency of pupils’ writing across the school.

Pupils:

• Demonstrate secure foundational knowledge of grammar and sentence structure.
• Write with increasing confidence, clarity, and purpose.
• Apply writing skills consistently across subjects.
• Use drafting and editing to improve their work independently.
• Show growing analytical skills when studying model texts.

By the time pupils leave our school, they are confident writers who can communicate effectively, understand the writing process, and apply their skills across a range of contexts.

Inclusion and High Expectations

Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive and ambitious. Teaching approaches ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND or in mixed-age classes, can access learning and make strong progress. High expectations are maintained through clear modelling, structured support, and a consistent focus on quality.

Ongoing Review

The writing curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains ambitious, well-sequenced, and responsive to pupils’ needs. Staff use assessment, pupil outcomes, and professional reflection to refine teaching approaches and maintain high standards.