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Literacy for Life

Literacy for Life at St Mary’s College

At St Mary’s College, Literacy for Life empowers students to access, understand and engage with a wide range of texts - not just for academic success, but to support them emotionally, socially, practically and professionally throughout their lives. We want our young people to leave us with both the skills and the compassion to build a world shaped by justice, love and peace.

Our Literacy for Life curriculum is more than a reading and writing programme- it is rooted in our Catholic ethos and our call to live out the values of Catholic Social Teaching. We believe that literacy is not just an academic skill but a tool for human dignity, for solidarity, for building peace and for creating a just society.

Why we teach Literacy for Life

Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbour in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. By engaging with powerful stories, thoughtful discussion, and critical reading strategies, students learn to listen, to empathise, and to use their voices for the common good.

In line with Catholic Social Teaching, Literacy for Life helps students to:

  • Recognise dignity - understanding that every person is valuable and deserves respect, no matter their background or circumstances.
  • Live in solidarity - seeing themselves as part of a human family, connected to and responsible for others.
  • Work for the common good - reflecting on how words and actions can build stronger, fairer communities.
  • Prioritise the option for the poor - exploring stories of injustice, prejudice and inequality so that they can stand alongside those whose voices are often unheard.
  • Promote peace - learning to use language with care and compassion, building dialogue rather than division.
  • Care for creation and environment - recognising through literature and discussion that we are responsible for the Earth and its future.
  • Value work and participation - developing the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing that allow them to participate fully in society.


Aims of Literacy for Life

Through this curriculum, pupils will:

  • Engage with texts that help them to develop compassion for themselves, others, and the wider world.
  • Build strong oracy skills through group discussions, whole-class dialogue, and presentations.
  • Apply forensic reading strategies to understand how language shapes meaning and impacts readers.
  • Develop a lifelong love of reading and an appreciation for voices that reflect a wide range of experiences.

What it looks like in practice

Our curriculum runs across both Years 7 and 8 and takes place for one lesson per week (delivered by English teachers) and is structured to build confidence and skill step by step.

  • Half Term 1 & 6 Valued Voices Strategies (introducing and revisiting the importance of listening, discussion, and respectful dialogue).
  • Half Terms 2–5 Core and Forensic Reading (engaging deeply with whole texts and carefully chosen extracts to practise close reading and critical thinking).


Year 7: A Journey of Discovery

  • Core Text: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
  • Context: Starting school, family dynamics, prejudice and Islamophobia
  • Forensic Reading: Exploring extracts and supplementary texts to practise AO2 analysis
  • Speaking & Listening: Group presentation / writing stories for children

Year 8: Finding Home

  • Core Text: The Bone Sparrow
  • Context: Refugee crisis and the search for belonging
  • Forensic Reading: Close analysis of extracts and supplementary texts to develop higher-level reading skills
  • Speaking & Listening: Paired presentation

Literacy, Faith and Values

The Literacy for Life curriculum not only reflects Catholic Social Teaching but also complements British Values, particularly respect, tolerance, and democracy. By reading about diverse experiences and perspectives, our students learn to respect difference, stand against injustice, and use their voices responsibly.


A Note to Parents and Carers

We understand that some parents may have questions about the Literacy for Life curriculum, especially as it includes sensitive themes such as prejudice, family dynamics, and the refugee crisis. These topics have been carefully chosen because they allow pupils to reflect on dignity, solidarity, and compassion - key values in both Catholic Social Teaching and modern society.

All texts are age-appropriate, taught in a supportive and structured way, and provide opportunities for a teacher led discussion where students can respectfully share their views respectfully. Our aim is always to nurture empathy, resilience and understanding, equipping students with the skills they need both academically and personally.

If you have any concerns or wish to discuss this curriculum further, please contact your relevant year team or Ms O. Bucknall, who will be happy to help.