English
We follow the National Curriculum.
In Key Stages 1 and 2 there is a two year rolling programme which enables children to progress confidently with the same teacher, whilst meeting the objectives over two years
Key Stage 1
Daily phonic sessions follow the “Letters and Sounds” government guidebook and the Jolly Phonics programme. The school uses the “Nelson Grammar” guide and workbooks.
Once a week we carry out a handwriting session following the “Nelson Handwriting” guide. Cross-curricular writing is encouraged whenever possible and a sustained writing task is given once a week. Individual readers are listened to daily and books changed as appropriate. We use the Oxford Reading Tree.
Children are expected to read at home every evening as well as learn weekly spellings for a test the following week.
Key Stage 2 Years 3 & 4
At Lower Key Stage 2, lessons are divided into grammar, comprehension and writing with emphasis on weekly themes. Children read with their class teacher at least once a week to cover reading skills, text features and grammar used in a variety of books from the Oxford Reading Scheme.
Children are tested twice yearly for Comprehension, Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar.
Key Stage 2 Years 5 & 6
The scheme of work used covers aspects of narrative, non-fiction and poetry through a wide variety of extracts from well-known authors. Resources from the Scholastic scheme of work are supplemented by various others, depending on the needs of the individual children.
The timetable includes:
- 4 x 1 hour literacy lessons
- 1 x 1 hour comprehension
- 4 x 15 minutes spelling, sentence and grammar work
- 1 spelling test per week
Pupils are encouraged to read to their parents at least 5 times a week as part of their on-going homework.
Key Stage 3
There are currently two members of staff in the English department: Ms D. Jarrett teaches Years 7 and 8 while Mrs J. Brown teaches Years 9, 10 and 11.
There are three 70 minute lessons per week plus a 35 minute reading lesson for Years 7 and 8.
The teaching of English at Pattison College focuses on the development of reading across all age groups – students will study and learn to analyse a range of texts including fiction, non-fiction, poetry library as well as collections of books in classrooms and the children are given time to read independently.
Writing is the other component of studying English and students are supported in improving their skills across a range of different styles including diaries, newspaper articles, analytical essays and creative writing.
Texts studied as a whole class include:
- Study of 19th century novel by a recognised author
- Introduction to Shakespeare and study of extracts from ‘The Tempest’
- Poetry from Across the Centuries
- Language Skills
- Creative Writing
- Study of a modern novel
- Shakespeare re-visited and study of ‘Romeo and Juliet’
- 20th Century Poetry from Other Cultures
- Further development of Language Skills
- Writing in a variety of styles
- A wide range of poetry; both contemporary and from the English Literary Heritage
- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Boyne)
- Extracts from Shakespeare.
- Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck)
We apply a creative approach to the study of Language which generates independent writing, comprehension and analytical skills.
Key Stage 4
Taught by Mrs Brown.
At Key Stage 4 we aim to build upon the foundations laid in Years 7 – 9, to continue to develop language skills and to extend their enjoyment and appreciation of Literature.
At GCSE learners study English Literature and English Language for the OCR specification.
Learners study:
- Shakespeare
- Contemporary drama: An Inspector Calls (Priestley)
- Prose from the English Literary Heritage
- A wide range of poetry, both Contemporary and from the English Literary Heritage
Language study includes a range of media and non-fiction texts designed to stimulate critical and analytical skills. Pupils are encouraged to write creatively and imaginatively and to engage in a wide range of Speaking and Listening activities to prepare them for real-life situations.
In English it is never just about the examination. In addition, we offer a broad range of experienced to our pupils: we organise theatre trips and study days whenever appropriate and available.
Lessons
| Years 7 & 8: | 3 x 70 & minutes & 1 x 35 minute Library per week. |
| Year 9: | 3 x 70 minutes per week. |
| Year 10: | 2 x 70, 1 x 35 & 1 x 105 minutes per week. |
| Year 11: | 4 x 70 minutes per week. |
