ENGLISH

Subject Lead Statement

I would like to introduce myself as Mrs C. Mountford, the English Subject Lead here at Alexandra Junior School. As English underpins every aspect of the curriculum, it plays a vital role in your child’s everyday learning and development. Our children need to be confident speakers, attentive listeners, fluent readers and purposeful writers with regular opportunities to practise and apply these skills across all areas of the curriculum. 

The teaching of English has never been more important and I am committed to ensuring that our children leave Alexandra equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be literate citizens in an ever-changing, fast-paced world. I strive to support every child to leave our school as a reader who writes and a writer who reads, fostering a lifelong love of language as they move on to the next stage of their education and beyond. 

At the heart of our English curriculum is a strong emphasis on reading, vocabulary development and spoken language. We use carefully selected and adapted texts to ensure that all children can access high-quality literature at a level that supports their understanding, confidence and progress. Through rich discussion, purposeful talk and opportunities to articulate ideas aloud, children are encouraged to think deeply, express themselves clearly and build meaning together. These approaches are integral to developing comprehension, writing skills and confidence across the curriculum. 

Reading for pleasure is a central priority at Alexandra Junior School. We believe that children who enjoy reading are more likely to succeed academically and develop a wider understanding of the world around them. We actively promote reading for pleasure through a range of initiatives and are proud to work alongside the National Literacy Trust to support children’s engagement with reading, vocabulary and literacy beyond the classroom. With the generous support of our local Rotary Club, we have been able to further enrich our reading provision, ensuring children have access to a wide range of high-quality books beyond the school’s reading scheme for families to enjoy together at home. 

One of the great pleasures of my role is reading your child’s writing and witnessing the progress they make throughout their journey at Alexandra Junior School. It is a privilege to share this work with visitors to our school and to celebrate the high standards our children achieve. I also moderate reading and writing standards within the New Guild Trust and work closely with Mrs S. Davies to review progress and explore strategic and innovative approaches to English teaching. Working collaboratively with these professionals, alongside the leadership team at Alexandra Junior School, ensures continued development, shared accountability and a clear vision for high-quality English teaching and learning across the school.