How is English taught at this school?

INTENT

At Stoke Damerel Primary Academy, every Writing lesson builds on knowledge, skills and understanding from previous lessons and prior learning. Lessons are taught in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly enough for all pupils to acquire the intended knowledge and skills. Lessons follow a recognisable sequence that is inspired by the Power of Reading (CLPE) to move learning forward. Wherever relevant, cross-curricular links are built upon and revised. Reading is a focus to ensure all children can access all areas of writing. All children, including the most disadvantaged pupils, the most able pupils and pupils with SEND receive the same challenge within the same broad curriculum. Children develop their vocabulary and knowledge daily, and are encouraged to be ambitious and articulate. Children’s long-term memory is developed through the use of flashbacks and learning reviews to ensure they remember the key facts, patterns and skills for each unit of learning.

IMPLEMENTATION

All lessons are planned using high quality and appropriate resources, using excellent subject knowledge, inspired by the Power of Reading (CLPE). Children are equipped to speak and write fluently, accurately and coherently. All lessons contain challenging, relevant vocabulary to extend children’s word banks. Writers at Stoke Damerel are taught to note connections, similarities and differences between units of study and develop the correct use of literary terms. Teachers employ a wide range of AfL strategies to support all learners and check pupils’ understanding (used to identify and correct misconceptions and to inform future teaching). Teachers use assessment to help pupils embed and use knowledge fluently.

IMPACT

At SDPA, well-constructed and well-taught Reading, Writing and Mathematics lessons lead to good results because those results reflect what children have learned. All learning builds towards age-related expectations with adaptive teaching provisions in place to support and challenge all pupils to develop depth of knowledge. Children will be able to speak and write with fluency, coherence and accuracy to communicate their ideas. Exposure to a range of high-quality texts develop pupils culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. While most evidence for core subjects is recorded in exercise books, all pupils will be able to present their understanding, skills, opinions and learning through speaking, computing, a variety of artistic media as well as writing. We believe that the core subjects are the roots to strong growth in all aspects of life, and are given the due priority that they deserve.