English

Oakfield provides a great many opportunities for pupils to develop their English skills.

Our Specialist English Team:

Mrs M Roynon NPQLL (Head of English) , Mrs J Milkins (Librarian), Miss T Daval , Mrs K Bryan, Mr D Colman, Ms E Green, 

Alice Clackson, Alison Ingram, Mrs R Stacey, Miss A Thomas and Mr N Ward

 

Our Goals for Every Pupil in Our Academy

(What we want pupils to learn by the time they leave us in Year 8)

Writing: by the time pupils leave our school in Year 8, they will be able to use their imagination and creativity to plan, draft, compose and edit their own writing based on their experiences and literature that they read. Above all, we aim for all pupils to be able to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.

Reading: our pupils will become lifelong readers, enriched by the pleasure of exploring diverse literary worlds fostered by their experiences at our school. We recognise that the ability to read, both for information gathering and for pleasure, is the fundamental key that unlocks life-long learning. Pupils will be able to develop their spelling, punctuation and grammar knowledge and improve their accuracy by learning a range of strategies that they employ precisely. 

Expectations are for all pupils:

1. Work out unfamiliar words quickly – including new vocabulary and names.

2. Read familiar words speedily – that is, words they have been taught.

3. Read texts - including the words they have been taught – fluently.

Please note: these are the expectations for the lowest 20% of pupils. Other pupils should be well in advance of this.

English Year 5

In Year 5, pupils are inspired by a range of different texts which develop both their reading and writing skills. In narrative forms, for example, we investigate texts which challenge our view on people, friendship and our own place within the community as well as looking at stories through the medium of poetry. A range of non-fiction forms are developed in writing including formal letters to the first schools, persuasive debates and instructions. Every year, the pupils have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a whole class novel which is used as a springboard for various writing skills in addition to developing reading comprehension. Reading is supported through our Accelerated Reading programme which runs through the four years at Oakfield. The teaching of grammar and spelling is addressed through both discreet lessons and as an integrated element when reading or writing is the focus. Opportunities to develop confidence in speaking to an audience are run though our annual ‘Poetry Slam’ Competition where students write and perform their own poetry.

English Year 6

The learning in Year 6 builds on the skills and knowledge developed in Year 5 across all areas of English. Pupils build up a portfolio of a range of writing in preparation for SATs which includes explanation texts, biographies, short stories which include developed character and setting descriptions, formal reports and letters. As in Year 5, reading skills are taught through whole class dedicated guided reading sessions as well as exam preparation for the SATs paper. Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling are also taught alongside the reading and writing genre focus along with discreet lessons being delivered.

English Year 7

When moving into Year 7, Pupils are given the opportunity to develop their skills through creative activities and experience a broad range of challenging texts. Pupils are encouraged to analyse text and begin to structure their understanding in writing.  Class novels are enjoyed by all pupils and used as a stimulus for a range of writing and comprehension skills development. In Year 7, pupils study the life and works of Shakespeare looking at language, performance and the context of our greatest playwright. Short story writing is also developed through a selection of suspense short stories.

English Year 8

Throughout Year 8, knowledge and skills continue to be developed with independence and challenge continuing to be of great importance. As well as developing understanding of poetry and experiencing it within context, pupils have an opportunity to look at the books from a socio-political perspective and explore a Shakespeare text through film and theme. Both reading and writing are taught in parallel throughout KS3 with future GSCE skills at the centre of all lesson planning.

World Book Day:

Every year, we celebrate National World Book Week by a whole school extravaganza of events.  Pupils can participate in a range of competitions such as: dress as your favourite book character, extreme reading photos and shoe-box dioramas. Each year, this special day will evolve around a theme, such as Fantasy or Sci-Fi, giving each pupil an insight into each chosen genre.

Oakfield is an Accelerated Reader School:

At its heart, Accelerated Reader is simple.  A pupil reads a book, takes an online quiz, and gets immediate feedback. Pupils respond to regular feedback and are motivated to make progress with their reading skills.  Accelerated Reader gives teachers the information they need to monitor pupils’ reading practice and make informed decisions to guide their future learning.  A comprehensive set of reports reveals how much a pupil has been reading, at what level of complexity, and how well they have understood what they have read. Vocabulary growth and literacy skills are also measured, giving teachers and parents an insight into how well pupils have responded to reading schemes and class instruction.