The English Curriculum is constantly reviewed in order to use the methods and materials best suited to the development of literacy skills for boys at The Beacon.

Staff Training

In 2006/7 we spent our departmental inset time reviewing the Writing Curriculum and tracing the development of creative and discursive writing skills from Year 1 to Year 8. This was a fascinating study and one which aided us in making sure that we are covering all the requisite skills and practice at each Key Level.

In 2007/8 the department produced a cohesive Word Study programme from Reception to Year 8. We reviewed the way in which we build children’s understanding of spelling and the methods by which we promote the importance of a wide ‘working’ vocabulary. We also traced the impact of exposure to phonics on the boys’ ability to assimilate reading strategies in the Lower and Middle Schools.

In 2008/9 we have been working on the Reading programme throughout the school. The Lower School has been recording the improved progress of boys who have assimilated written language through the phonics programme and we are waiting to trace this development in the Middle School as these boys reach Year 3 in September 2009. In the Middle School we have instituted Guided Reading groups in each class and trained the boys to lead their groups in targeted questioning as they read the set texts. These specific questions are helpful in all the language rich subjects and are improving the boys' reading comprehension across the curriculum. In the summer term we will be continuing our training in delivering the phonics programme throughout the Middle School from September 2009. 

Ongoing practice

We continue to foster the enjoyment of literature by sharing poetry and novels in class, and by watching some of the many excellent film dramatizations of classic children’s literature. We invite published authors to visit the school and discuss their writing with particular classes. We have theatre trips to build the boys’ understanding of how writing can be used in a dramatic sense and we encourage the boys to improve their language skills through drama activities at school.

Writing skills are developed within a well structured curriculum that takes the best aspects from the National Curriculum and allows us the freedom to pursue areas of learning that are tailored to specific students or classes. We are lucky to enjoy an extremely well resourced school and writing skills are regularly enhanced by the boys’ use of computers and associated technology. Boys who are enthusiastic about writing join our Junior or Senior Writers’ Clubs: both are well attended.

English is taught in sets from Year 6 and appropriate support is given to children who need it throughout the school, particularly those with learning difficulties and the highest attainers. We regularly assess children, to identify their needs and to plan appropriate teaching.

Jan Jennings
Head of English