Our aim is to make English enjoyable as a subject and to provide resources and specialist teaching expertise that will enable all students to maximize their full potential in the three areas of language development: speaking and listening (attainment target 1) reading (attainment target 2) and writing (attainment target 3).
The English Curriculum Area enjoys a supportive, stimulating and positive environment where learners feel valued, motivated, informed about their own progress and are proactively involved in reviewing and evaluating their individual achievements. We seek to enhance confidence and encourage optimistic expectations of students, respecting the individual - whatever their academic ability.
Students will improve oral and written skills, experiencing a wide range of learning styles from specialist teachers and develop their ability to read for different purposes – for information, research, cultural study or personal enjoyment. There is scope for students’ personal growth as learners, through active participation in class lessons and homework, which provides students with the ability to communicate effectively and with confidence, both orally and in writing, in a variety of styles and situations.
All students are encouraged to express personal and informed opinions through discussion, role-play and improvisation. The importance of improving writing skills for different purposes and audiences is encouraged, as is the need for accuracy in spelling, punctuation, grammar and paragraphing in our comprehensive Schemes of Work. The use of tape recorders and video equipment is encouraged in drama and speaking and listening work. All Key Stage 3 students have access to the English ICT suite on a ‘rolling programme’, as the use of word processing and the internet as a research tool play a vital role in the English curriculum.
Our aim is to make English a lively, entertaining and thought-provoking subject, accessing information and texts which will enable students to develop their opinions positively. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of listening attentively, questioning rationally and coherently and respecting the views and ideas of others in a written and oral context.