English at Aldwickbury is taught by a skilled and passionate team who inspire pupils from their very first days in Pre-Prep through to their final weeks in Year 8. The curriculum is rich, varied and designed to help pupils read widely, write confidently and express themselves clearly. Reading is a strong focus at Aldwickbury, as it underpins communication and supports success across all areas of learning.
Our specialist teachers ignite a passion for English in pupils. Whether imagining scenes in ‘The Gruffalo’ or exploring objects to inspire vivid descriptive writing, pupils are engaged in exciting lessons that build their skills and creativity. They encounter a wide range of age-appropriate texts and use them as a springboard to write in different genres and styles. Pupils are encouraged to share, perform and give feedback on each other’s work, helping them grow in confidence.
Beyond the classroom, the department works closely with the Library to run events that spark a lasting interest in reading and writing. These activities include author visits, writing workshops, poetry slams, battle of the books and regular book clubs, including the half-termly Headmaster’s Book Club.
By the time they leave Aldwickbury, pupils are confident readers and writers, ready for their senior school of choice and beyond.
“Leaders prioritise children’s communication and language development in the early years. Children effectively communicate and interact with clarity.
Communication skills continue to advance as pupils progress through the school, culminating in older pupils who are proficient writers across multiple genres. They read challenging texts with accuracy and appropriate intonation.”
ISI Inspection 2025
English Curriculum Overview
The overview below provides a glimpse into our English curriculum at Aldwickbury, showing part of the rich and varied curriculum that pupils enjoy.
Reading and Phonics
- Introduction to letters and sounds through Jolly Phonics (Phases 2-5)
- Building to read consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, digraphs and simple word textbooks
- Advance through the reading scheme while developing decoding, retelling, inference, retrieval and prediction skills
Writing, Grammar and Spelling
- Develop fine motor skills, pencil control and letter formation
- Blend and segment CVC words
- Capital letters, full stops and sentence structure
- Begin using adjectives, verbs, nouns and conjunctions
- Introduce question and exclamation marks
Reading
- Continue guided reading with targeted oral questioning
- Explore written comprehension tasks using retrieval, inference and vocabulary
- Take part in weekly small group reading sessions
Writing, Grammar and Spelling
- Learn a wider range of grammatical concepts and apply them in writing
- Write in a variety of text types with scaffolding and support
- Develop paragraph structure and whole text organisation
- Focus on spellings
Reading
- Maintain a strong focus on reading in class and library sessions
- Build comprehension by using quotes as evidence
- Deepen analytical skills through structured responses
Writing, Grammar and Spelling
- Apply spelling and grammar skills with greater independence
- Develop confidence to write with less support
- Apply previous learning to a broader range of writing tasks
Reading
- Consolidate Point, Evidence and Explanation (PEE) responses
- Write from different perspectives
- Begin extended, GCSE-style responses to complex texts
Writing, Grammar and Spelling
- Write a range of fiction and non-fiction with growing independence
- Refine techniques and adapt writing for different purposes
- Take ownership of writing and apply skills from previous years
Reading as a Foundation for Learning
At Aldwickbury, reading is central to the English curriculum and plays a vital role to achieving academic success. Through reading, pupils build vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking skills that support learning across every subject. As they move into the senior years, they begin preparing for GCSE-style tasks to ensure they are ready for the expectations of their senior school of choice. By the time they leave, pupils are confident, articulate and well equipped for the next stage of their education.
Make an Enquiry
To find out more about Aldwickbury School, please fill in our enquiry form. Our Admissions Team will be in touch, answer your questions and guide you through the admissions process.
