English
“Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible”. Barack Obama
“You can make anything by writing”. C.S Lewis
Purpose of study
English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others, and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.
Aims
The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:
- read easily, fluently and with good understanding
- develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
- use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
- are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate
At Merton Park we want all children to:
- foster a lifelong love of reading
- through their reading, have the opportunity to explore new ideas, visit new places, meet new characters and develop a better understanding of other cultures
- read for pleasure and with fluency
- be confident, fluent and competent readers
- build up their vocabulary so giving them the word power they need to become successful speakers and writers as well as confident readers
- develop a love of language
- see themselves as 'real writers' from the beginning, able to produce meaningful and useful work in a variety of different situations
- embed their writing skills across the curriculum
- communicate effectively in writing – and enjoy being able to express themselves in this way.
Curriculum documents
At Merton Park we ensure all children become confident speakers, writers and readers. Our aim is for all children to develop a love of language and to achieve this we make teaching inspiring and learning exciting.