English
Our Vision and Approach in English
We believe that English should be driven by a passion for reading , learning and exploring the wider world through some of the most thought-provoking texts in the English language, both past and present. We want pupils to be able to express their thoughts and ideas on these texts through their spoken and written language, giving them the confidence to excel in the modern world. We believe that the study of writer, as well as their themes and ideas, gives our young people the power to communicate and will help to build confident young leaders of the future. We are committed to preparing all students for learning success, empowering them to achieve their full potential, through quality first teaching which inspires, challenges and motivates. In English, the curriculum is designed to expose children to a wide range of literature and to give them the opportunity to learn new skills, linked to understanding of language, as well as the wider understanding of the human condition. This is a fundamental element in learning and teaching English. The focus of the curriculum is on deepening children’s understanding of key English skills of comprehension, analysis, comparison and evaluation, as well as the key ideas behind literature texts and transactional texts.
What our students will learn
Our curriculum is sequenced to cover a series of topics across the academic year to give students a full experience of a range of cultures, ideas and forms of literature. Our intention is to ensure that our students are well-read and are given the knowledge and information needed to challenge ideas, to make arguments and to explore different points of view. In addition, students are encouraged to read and write for pleasure. The breakdown of topics covered across the year groups is detailed in the grid above. Please note this is subject to change as we adapt our curriculum to meet the needs of our students.
How you can support your child’s learning in English:
• Students will have a knowledge organiser for each of their schemes of learning. Students can use these to test themselves on the core content throughout the term.
• Question your child on what they have learnt, how well they understand the content and how confidently they can articulate the topic that they are learning in school
• In addition to the use of knowledge organisers, students should carry out extra research.
• Seneca is a revision resource that your child can sign up to and can be facilitated by their class teacher. They can complete short revision sessions and complete quizzes at the end of their learning.
• Please encourage your child to read. Evidence shows that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.
Websites you can visit:
https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/