Writing – St John's Church of England Academy

Writing Curriculum

Our Intent

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
John Keating

Intent
At St John’s, our aim is to support the development of writing in order that pupils can clearly and accurately communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas in a range of contexts, for a range of purposes and audiences through the written word. We strive to support the development of confident, enthusiastic writers who write to entertain, to inform and for their own pleasure.

With this in mind, writing is a crucial part of our curriculum; the teaching of writing can be discrete but is often cross-curricular and linked to wider learning. We want to develop writers who can edit and improve their own writing using appropriate grammar and vocabulary for effect so that they can communicate effectively and are prepared for the next phase of education.

Implementation
At St John’s, our writing, grammar, punctuation and spelling curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum. Lessons take place every day and we use the Talk4Writing approach throughout school which has strong links with reading comprehension, oracy, analytical thinking and organisational study skills (metacognition). It gives careful consideration to the sequence of lessons which build towards a piece of writing which showcases pupils’ acquired knowledge, skills and understanding.

The approach allows the study, recall and initial imitation of high-quality texts with a focus on organisation and language features. Grammar is taught within the context of the text. Through innovation and eventually invention of similar genres, teachers break the writing process down into manageable, explicitly taught chunks providing pupils with opportunities to practise skills in different contexts. The approach also places emphasis on planning and editing which are explicitly taught.

We pay careful attention to the cohorts and tailor our curriculum, choosing texts to drive the writing curriculum which motivate pupils to learn. We believe that if we establish a love for reading and expose pupils to high quality vocabulary, this will have a significant impact on their ability to become authors and develop their own, individualised style of writing. We believe that pupils who are provided a reason for writing demonstrate flair and effective writing composition, leading to high quality outcomes.

We endeavour to provide a ‘language rich’ environment and strive to raise the profile of reading with children, parents and carers. We have a wide range of texts displayed around our academy and within our classrooms, we explore ambitious vocabulary through reading, knowledge organisers and working walls. Displays include tier 2 and 3 vocabulary with the expectation that pupils will use this in their discussions and their recording, thereby broadening their range of academic vocabulary.

Impact:
By the time they leave us the vast majority of children write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. They have acquired a wide vocabulary and have a strong command of the written word. Our aim is for the vast majority to achieve ARE with some writing at greater depth and to have made at least good or better progress from their starting points. Most importantly, they speak positively about their writing and are well equipped for the rest of their education.

Progression in Writing

Writing Long Term Plan

Spelling End Points

Handwriting End Points

Writing End Points

Writing at St John’s

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St John's CE Academy Darlington

St John's CE Academy DarlingtonThursday, April 2nd, 2026 at 12:00pm

Due to popular demand, we are opening the Book Fair after school tonight from 3:20pm - 3:45pm.

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St John's CE Academy DarlingtonThursday, April 2nd, 2026 at 11:14am

GOODBYE AND THANKYOU

Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to extend my sincere thanks for the unwavering support, kindness, and trust you have shown over the past few years. It has been both an honour and a privilege to serve this remarkable community and to play a part in shaping the lives of your truly wonderful children.

As I have previously mentioned, my daily commute to Darlington is considerable, so when the opportunity arose to take on a similar role at a school much closer to home, it offered the prospect of a better work life balance. This was not a decision I made lightly, but one I felt I could not reasonably decline.

Reflecting on my time at St John’s fills me with immense pride and affection. I joined the school as Assistant Head in January 2014 and had the great honour of becoming Headteacher in 2021. Following in the footsteps of Miss Large was no small task; however, from the very beginning, you welcomed me with warmth and generosity, for which I will always be deeply grateful. Working alongside such dedicated staff, supportive families, and, above all, such inspiring children has been an absolute joy.

As the saying goes, all things must come to an end. While this chapter is closing, the memories and relationships I have formed here will remain with me always.

Mrs Rossington will take on the role of Acting Headteacher for the summer term, supported by Mrs Ferris as Acting Deputy Head. Having worked closely with both colleagues over a number of years, I have every confidence that the school will continue to thrive under their care, and it will very much be business as usual. The Trust is currently undertaking the process of appointing a permanent Headteacher for September 2026.

As we approach the Easter period, I would like to wish you and your families a joyful and peaceful holiday, along with every happiness and success in the years ahead. St John’s will forever hold a very special place in my heart, and I will miss you all dearly.

With sincere affection and gratitude,

Mr Ramsay

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St John's CE Academy DarlingtonWednesday, April 1st, 2026 at 8:21am

Year 2 had great fun collecting weather data with their very own homemade equipment last week. They developed some fantastic Geography skills!

Year 2 - Collecting Weather Data

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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St John's CE Academy DarlingtonTuesday, March 31st, 2026 at 8:47pm

Our amazing dancers dazzled at the Hippodrome on Monday night at the Darlington Dance Festival. They had a wonderful time performing on the big stage and impressed everyone with their talent!

Thank you to Mrs Penteney, Miss Hodgson and Miss Taylor for helping our girls shine even brighter! If you missed their performance, take a look at the video to see the fantastic routine they performed for the rest of school!