At the Gatwick School English Department, we aim for all students to be exposed to a wide variety of texts and topics to set them up with skills ready for their life beyond the classroom and school corridors. Through a broad, varied curriculum throughout their schooling, students will learn to analyse and evaluate the words and society around them, forming opinions, justifying ideas and concepts, and being exposed to challenging texts.
Throughout their time at The Gatwick School, we aim to give students the opportunity to explore historic speeches through time, comedic and tragic British Literary Heritage, and give exposure to a range of diverse literature, celebrating a multi-cultural heritage. English Provision at The Gatwick School, aims to equip students with the reading, writing and spoken communication skills to ensure they are next phase ready. Our lessons will demonstrate that we have exceedingly high expectations for student achievement, and we strive to inspire enthusiasm for reading and writing throughout the department. We aim to shape a curriculum for students which is consistently and progressively challenging.
Our curriculum aims to improve and develop students’ vocabulary, enabling them to understand the meaning of words and the oracy of words in all tiers (Beck and McKeown et al, 2002). The curriculum is shaped to be enjoyable and engaging for all students with aspirational texts utilised to their full effect, exposing students to be able to read, write and develop a love of literature, improving their reading for pleasure throughout the phase.
All students are expected to engage in reading as “involvement, participation and commitment to some set of activities” (Guthrie et al., 2012). Those teaching the subject have the expectation of all students to be committed to their learning, with teachers sharing their enthusiasm for the subject they teach.
We are committed to ensuring that the English curriculum we deliver is accessible to all students and enables students and teachers to explore texts which will excite, interest, and inspire them.
Lessons are clearly structured so students can see where their learning will take them into their future studies throughout their time at and beyond the school. Our curriculum intends to show a clear understanding as to how each topic links with the three core visions of TGS; chances, choices, culture.
In English, our most effective lessons are characterised by/look like/feel like/are defined by:
Clear learning objectives demonstrating what students will be achieving by the end of the lesson.
Clear starting activity for students which recaps and recalls knowledge.
Teacher led learning of new topics with clear models.
Student led learning which enables students to attempt putting their knowledge into practice.
Students engaged and focused on their learning.
Students can read segments of literature when prompted.
Teachers are circling the room, ensuring all students understand their learning.
Teachers are providing support for students with differentiated tasks.
Teachers are providing students with challenging and aspirational tasks.