Staff to contact: P Begley

Students will develop a positive sense of identity, take responsibility for their own actions, be respectful, display empathy, and be engaged in their learning. They will be curious, confident, creative and critical thinkers and become increasingly resilient learners who take risks in their learning.

English involves the study, use, and enjoyment of the English language and its literature. The focus of English

teaching and learning is on understanding, using, and creating oral, written, and visual texts of increasing complexity. By engaging with text based activities students build their skills and sophistication in speaking and listening, reading and writing, viewing and presenting.

The New Zealand Curriculum (2007) Pg 18

English Year 7 & 8

In English students can read with understanding. They can communicate developed, thoughtful ideas both orally, visually and in writing which supports the attributes of the Middle Years Profile.

These skills in Y7 & 8 are developed using a variety of teaching strategies. The skills of speaking and listening, reading and writing, viewing and presenting are all taught as part of an integrated curriculum.

Students are encouraged to select library books for personal reading both at home and school.

Developing knowledge of writing forms and texts structures for given purpose is a focus in writing at this level.

ESA - English with Social Applications Year 9

English and Social Studies are taught in a blended curriculum at Year 9. Students develop the skills of speaking/listening, reading/writing, viewing/presenting at Level 4-5 of the English / Social Studies curriculum and supporting the attributes of the Middle Years Profile.

Students will develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to participate in and better understand the local, national and global communities in which they live and work. Students are encouraged to engage critically with societal issues and develop an understanding of the function, structure and organisation of societies along with an appreciation of the differing values, viewpoints and perspectives using a wide range of contexts from the past, present and future from both New Zealand and beyond.

This blended course uses the context of literature and the real world to provide opportunities for students to develop these understandings and the skills of critical thinking, to appreciate the world around them.

The development of their personal interest reading will contribute to students building their unique sense of identity and their awareness and appreciation of the relationships between people and the universal connections between us all. Students are expected to continue their personal reading as part of their home learning.

English Year 10

English is taught as a separate subject but making links where possible to Social Sciences supporting the Middle Years Profile. Students continue to develop the skills of speaking and listening, reading and writing, viewing and presenting at Level 5 of the curriculum building to Level 6. Students continue to develop their skills of critical thinking and examine texts to understand the power of language. They will use these understandings to respond in depth to visual and written texts. There are opportunities to develop both creative and formal writing skills.

The development of students’ appreciation of literature through personal reading contributes to students developing a sense of identity and their awareness and understanding of the world. Students are encouraged to continue with personal reading at home.