Chetwynde School, Croslands, Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0NY

01229 824210

info@chetwynde.cumbria.sch.uk

Chetwynde School

Respect, Responsibility, Resilience

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English

 

Vision & Values:

It is often argued that studying literature allows us to analyse the human condition: what it means to be human and the issues surrounding our lives (birth, death, growth, emotionality, aspiration and conflict, for example). This, and the ability to empathise with others, is at the heart of our teaching and Chetwynde English Department believe every child has the right to a broad and balanced curriculum to explore such issues.

At the heart of a thriving school should be the commitment to reading for enjoyment; thus we have Drop Everything And Read time daily for all Key Stage 3 students. Chetwynde English Department is proud of its teachers’ passion and commitment to the subject. We are all avid readers and share this passion with our pupils.  We believe in extending students’ learning outside the classroom, to ensure that English does not become a series of standard tests, but an exciting, imaginative and thriving world into which we can all be immersed.

Equally, writing is at the heart of society and being able to express our views clearly in different styles is essential for successful citizens. Therefore we aim for all students to confidently promote their views through the written and spoken word in any situation.  Moreover, we encourage students to share and value each other’s writing both in class and beyond.  We regularly take part in national competitions and encourage all students to apply, no matter what their academic ability.

Effective communication is taught and built upon through our carefully chosen curriculum. Oracy is woven through each unit of work. 

 

 

British values, including those of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs are embedded throughout the English curriculum.

Many of our texts have democracy, the rule of law, mutual respect and tolerance at their heart. These issues are explored through each year group studying a Shakespeare text, novels, non-fiction and poetry.  Teachers explicitly explore such ideas, alongside how historical context affects the way we read texts in the modern-day.  Combining the abstract with the modern often allows students to explore societal issues and address these difficult concepts with confidence.

Furthermore, we believe our classrooms support such values in the way we work together. Democracy is provided through the way we structure our rooms to enable all to have a voice.  This is further developed through our use of peer assessment and choice in homework/ classroom texts where appropriate.  We thus aim to promote freedom and independent learning in and out of the English classroom.  Furthermore, our Accelerated Reading programme allows a real choice for students to read material that interests and engages them.  Pupils’ choices are accepted and they are encouraged to share their ideas in many ways.

The social, cultural and historical context of written texts allows us to examine the rule of law and tolerance in a measured and detached way. Tolerance can be addressed in many texts and having the space to explore this in a safe environment is massively beneficial to many students.  Using a variety of texts that show how others have treated tolerance and respect means we can benefit from others’ thoughts and understand how certain choices affect others.

By studying English literature (including that written by famous British people) students develop an awareness of how writers have influenced (and been influenced) by the nation in which we live. Moreover, we can examine issues of respect and tolerance through such texts and explore how these have changed over time.

These values are engendered in our daily teaching and learning, by showing respect for different viewpoints and ideas, as well as in the ability to work well together both individually and in groups.

 

KS3 

Chetwynde pupils read a wide variety of carefully chosen texts, throughout the three year KS3 curriculum. We develop cultural capital, through exposure to a range of culturally, knowledge and vocabulary rich texts. 

 

Year 7 Pupils explore many genres and text types. Pupils consider the effect of the writers’ choices, and then use these skills to create their own writing within the genre. Pupils will use many reading strategies, to access the texts that they will study, in turn, developing their skills, confidence and passion to become a life-long reader. 

Year 8 Pupils develop in confidence, through analysing writers’ viewpoints and perspectives, as well as exploring challenging text types and ideas, to develop their cultural capital. Pupils study texts from a variety of social, historical and cultural viewpoints.

Year 9 Pupils master the skill of critical thinking and analysis. Pupils will be exposed to sophisticated texts, and will take part in discussions, that will allow for their personal and critical viewpoints to be heard.

Accelerated Reader 

Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor pupil's independent reading practice.  Pupils can choose a book, from our library - the heart of our school -  and then complete the comprehension quiz. The program will give feedback to both student and teacher and is useful to set targets and gauge progress.

 

  • Every year 7, 8 and 9 pupil reads for a minimum of 20 minutes EVERY DAY
  • Our beautiful and fully stocked library, at the heart of the school, offers pupils a full range of texts
  • KS3 pupils have Guided Reading lessons/ Accelerated Reading lessons, once every two weeks, to quiz on the books that they have read, to support learning, spelling and understanding

KS4

KS4 pupils will study the AQA two year GCSE curriculum, culminating in their final GCSE exams.

AQA English Language: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700

AQA English Literature: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702

Pupils will study the compulsory elements of GSCE Literature: Shakespeare; Modern Text; 19th Century; Love and Relationships Anthology and Unseen Poetry.

Pupils will study the compulsory elements of GCSE Language: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing and Writers’ Viewpoints and Opinions.

Pupils are provided with many opportunities to support their learning, beyond the classroom, and are given opportunities to watch a live-streamed performance of the chosen Shakespeare play, every KS4 pupil has 60 minutes of English intervention every week, during form times and there are English master classes held, as an extra-curricular club.

Pupils are fortunate to have the benefit of having GCSE examiners working in the department; this allows for exam and examiner master-classes, throughout the duration of their GCSE English studies

 

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum.

The greatest impact of reading is evidenced between children who read every day, between the ages of 10 and 16. Children who read books regularly from the ages of 10-16 gained higher GCSE results in ALL subjects at the end of secondary education. Reading was found to be more important for children’s cognitive development at secondary school than the influence of their parents.

 

  • Every year 7, 8 and 9 pupil reads for a minimum of 20 minutes EVERY DAY
  • Our beautiful and fully stocked library, at the heart of the school, offers pupils a full range of texts
  • KS3 pupils have Guided Reading lessons/ Accelerated lessons once every fortnight, to quiz on the books that they have read, to support learning, spelling and understanding