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In the first three years of
student’s
time in this school we teach according to the National Curriculum for English,
Key Stage 3. However, in order to
ensure that they build on their work in their primary schools, we have
introduced the Framework for the teaching of English, which is part of the KS3
National Strategy. Year 7 students
will therefore recognise features of the Literacy Hour in their English lessons.
In this way we will make sure that they make the most of their skills in
speaking and listening, reading and writing and that they widen
their understanding of language. |
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Speaking and Listening
It
is very important that students can communicate orally.
Just as important is the skill that must go hand in hand with that –
listening. All classes will spend a
lot time discussing, even arguing, about the work they are doing, because that
is the way that work is done in the adult world and we want to prepare our
students for it. They will also
undertake more formal speech tasks designed to make their use of Standard
English more effective. Some
speaking activities will take the form of role plays and drama.
Reading
We believe that reading is an
important skill for students to have, as well as of course a great pleasure.
Consequently, they will undertake a wide range of reading tasks.
Class readers are books that we believe to be well worth reading for
their own sakes and also as a source of discussion and written activities. They are chosen from the work of modern and established
authors. Other books, chosen from
the school library or other sources, will be read in small groups or
individually.
Writing
This takes many forms in English
lessons, for example stories, plays, articles, descriptions, poems,
explanations, reports, letters and diaries.
Writing is done in exercise books. At
least one piece of work from each unit is copied up on the file paper and kept
in folders, as a record of attainment/effort and progress.
Students will be taught to draft
their writing to make it appropriate for its purpose and the audience that will
read it. They will also be expected
to edit their writing thoroughly for errors of spelling, punctuation,
paragraphing and expression before writing the finished version.
Understanding
Language
We want students to understand the many
differences between spoken and written language, between different dialects of
English (including Standard English) and between different styles of writing, so
that they will be able to work effectively in as many different situations as
possible. We want them to
appreciate the factors which cause language to change over time.
Anything else?
Yes.
We want students to enjoy English – to share the pleasure we get from
books and writing and all the other activities, which use the English language.
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