English

“Literacy skills are used highly effectively and pupils speak, listen, write and read with confidence and enjoyment. They are articulate and self-assured in expression, using subject-specific vocabulary extremely well in many subjects."

                                                           ISI Inspection June 2008

We use English to communicate in both written and spoken form. We use language to build our view and opinion of the world and our community. We continue to learn, develop and enhance our knowledge and understanding of English throughout our lives.

We use the Renewed Primary Framework and Literacy Strategy as a basis for our English curriculum although our pupils work at a much higher level than Government expectations.

English is taught daily with work appropriately differentiated to match all abilities.

In Forms 5 and 6, pupils are taught by the specialist English teacher. Pupils work hard to prepare for challenges ahead including the 11+ examination, Common Entrance and Scholarships.

 Our aim is that all our pupils will be able to:

• Speak clearly and confidently in any situation.
• Read and write with confidence, fluency and understanding;
• Be able to use and apply a range of reading skills to monitor their reading and correct their own mistakes;
• Understand and use their knowledge of phonics and spelling to read and spell accurately;
• Have fluent and legible handwriting;
• Have an interest in words and their meanings and develop a growing vocabulary;
• Know, understand and be able to write in a range of genres in fiction, poetry and understand and be familiar with some of the ways in which narratives are structured through ideas such as setting, character and plot;
• Understand, use and write a range of non-fiction texts;
• Plan, draft and revise their own writing;
• Have access to suitable technical vocabulary through which to understand and discuss their reading and writing;
• Be interested in books, read with enjoyment and evaluate and justify their preferences;
• Through reading and writing, develop their powers of inventiveness and critical awareness.

The Library is an important part of the English Curriculum. This year saw the introduction of our new Micro Librarian computerised library system. Hours were spent cataloguing, colour coding and re-arranging the bookshelves. Every child and adult in the school now has their own library card with personal barcode.

Our Library has a wide selection of text to choose from, which cater for all tastes: fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We have also set up a large Reference section to allow individual research by the children. This enhances their research skills rather than relying solely on the internet. The children are timetabled for library sessions where they can choose books and are taught about the Dewey system.

Our Librarian assisted by our Form 6 librarians make sure that the library is open every break and lunchtime. Our Pre-Prep also visit our local library for story sessions.

Children as Authors

The Children are encouraged to enter writing competitions on a regular basis. A large number of pupils have had their work published in Poetry Books and recently in a book of fifty word Sagas.

English Speaking Board

As part of the curriculum Form 4 and 5 have the opportunity to sit the E.S.B.Exams. There are 4 parts to the exam: Show and Tell / Structured Talk; Poetry or Drama - Memorised Own Choice; Reading to others; Listening and Responding within a group. The exam allows the children to have the confidence and skill to be able to communicate learning through the spoken word.