National Curriculum for English

Posted by MarkAbney on June 13th, 2019

Our aim is to enable every student to acquire the skills to become a fluent and discerning reader, a confident writer, an effective speaker and listener and a lifelong learner.

The department's teaching is based on the programmes of study of the National Curriculum for English and the National Curriculum Attainment Targets for English. From the beginning of Year 7 great emphasis is placed on the value of extensive reading to stimulate imagination, an awareness of differing styles and a wide vocabulary.

The ability to write with clarity and accuracy is paramount, but we must also endeavour to ensure that students find custom essay help here. They are encouraged to acquire new vocabulary and experiment with different styles. Writing competitions are held within the school and students' work is entered for local and national competitions.

Trips and Visits

Students have the opportunity to take part in visits to see theatrical productions of texts being studied whenever possible. There is an annual visit to The Globe Theatre; this year a group of Year 10 students will see a production of “Much Ado About Nothing”. The Young Shakespeare Company has visited the school on several occasions to hold workshops and performances of “Romeo and Juliet” for Year 9, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for Year 8 and and “Macbeth” and “Much Ado About Nothing” for Year 10.

Productions and Competitions

There is a Year 7 club run by Year 11 students which produces a play at Christmas. Recent productions include "Peter Pan" and "The Wizard of Oz".
A Junior Drama Club produces a play for students at St. Winifred's School every year.
A musical is performed at the end of the spring term each year. Students from all years are encouraged to participate and often a third of the school is involved. Our last production was "Crazy for You".
The Senior Drama Club presents a play in July. Our last production was "The Importance of Being Earnest".
A Drama Competition for Years 7-8 is held at the end of the summer term, students being given one week (with a revised timetable) in which to devise and rehearse a play with a given theme. Certificates are awarded for achievement in a number of categories at the final presentation.
An individual Verse Speaking Competition is held in the autumn term, and a Poetry Writing Competition is held in the spring term.
Students are entered for external competitions (e.g. essay writing and poetry writing). Many of our students have their poems published in local collections.
As part of our provision for challenging the most able, Year 8 students have participated in the Hampshire Reading Challenge.