English
The English Department is the central department in any
school. This subject is lead by an English graduate and
is taught by subject specialists from Years 5 onwards.
The aim of the English Department is to develop and
foster confident and competent readers and writers. We
hope to instil a love of language and literature into
our pupils so that, as they develop the skills to read
independently, they will read for pleasure as well as
part of their schoolwork.
Literacy is an essential skill within nearly all
subjects and it is imperative the children develop the
necessary skills. To ensure they do, we set weekly
spelling tests across all the year groups, encourage
children to read every day, and teach grammar and
writing techniques in an engaging and practical context.
In addition to the regular compositions and
comprehensions, the children also study a range of texts
from novels to poetry, to plays and non-fiction. These
texts are selected from the latest contemporary
masterpieces, as well as the classics of children’s
literature and will suit the abilities and interests of
the different groups. It is, therefore, not always
possible to announce in advance what the texts will be;
however, if you would like to find out what is being
considered, or what has been selected, please do not
hesitate to ask. To encourage the development of a
reading culture the Havelock Library is open throughout the day and
children are encouraged to use it during their free
time. Drama plays a significant par in the life of the
school and the links between the English Department and
Performing Arts Department are very strong. |
