Aims
We believe that English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to write and speak fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils, therefore, who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum 2014. It aims to ensure that all pupils:
Speaking and Listening
Children’s ability to speak and listen is fundamental to their learning and thinking in school and to their language and social development. Richness and variety of talk is also of key importance for all children if they are to develop confidence and a repertoire of talk for different purposes and audiences. Links between oral and written language need to be encouraged and consistently built on and children for who English is an additional language need to have opportunities to work with good role models.
Reading
The programmes of study for reading at key stages 1 and 2 consist of two dimensions:
Therefore, it is essential that teaching focuses on developing pupils’ competence in both dimensions.
Writing
The programmes of study for writing at Key Stages 1 and 2 are constructed similarly to those for reading; teaching develops pupils’ competence in both transcription and composition. In addition, pupils are taught how to plan, revise and evaluate their writing.
Spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation
Pupils are taught to control their speaking and writing consciously and to use Standard English. They are also taught to use the elements of spelling, grammar and punctuation and learn the correct grammatical terms in English that are integrated within teaching.
Curriculum enrichment
English is linked to other subjects in an integral way, as it is the medium through which pupils learn. We recognise that the principles of teaching English can be applied to the teaching of other subjects across the curriculum e.g. through presentations, group discussions, using writing frames, reading for information, communicating and computing.
Opportunities are regularly available across the key stages for pupils to utilise, demonstrate and further develop their skills by: completing cross-curricular projects; taking part in presentations, class assemblies, school productions and year group rich learning outcomes; and contributing to the school newsletter. Additional events such as visits from theatre companies and authors, book fairs and book weeks also help to inspire and enthuse pupils.