The English Faculty at Queensbury is a dynamic department dedicated to raising standards. As teachers of English, we understand that English is fundamental to every student’s progress in school and in life. We are also acutely aware that literacy skills and self-esteem often go hand in hand and so we encourage and nurture a love of reading. Students build on and develop their curiosity and empathy through exploring captivating texts tailored to their interests. We aim to pass on a love of language and literature and are passionate about offering enrichment opportunities to broaden our students’ experience and understanding of the world around them.
During their school journey students follow a pathway carefully designed to meet their needs and to ensure they receive a broad and balanced curriculum. In English lessons we aim to:
- Develop students’ creativity and functional literacy skills at KS3.
- Nurture students’ reading, writing and communication at KS4 so that they achieve the very best formal qualifications they can; from Pre-Entry Level Units to higher level GCSEs.
- Embed life-skills at KS5 so that our students are confident, functional communicators. They explore opportunities within the wider community so they are ready to make a valued contribution when they leave Queensbury School.
| KS5 | Intent (Why are we doing it) | Implement (How we are going to do it) | Impact (What we want to see and develop) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | We develop functional communication and core literacy skills. We also explore opportunities within the community so that our students are ready to make a valued contribution when they leave Queensbury School. Students study pre-entry and entry level AQA Step Up units | We follow a semi-formal curriculum including structured and unstructured play to help develop students’ creativity and social skills and confidence. We use signing and communicate in print to ensure access to the curriculum as well as a range of high interest and engaging resources. Students enjoy a rich and varied syllabus linked to real life contexts. Regular and stimulating trips and community access also help develop the students’ confidence and communication skills. | Our vision is for students to complete sixth form having grown in confidence as individuals. Our aim is for students to be able to: • Have a set of functional communication skills which allow them to complete everyday tasks and living safely and with some independence • Have a basic grasp of literacy and are able to read signs and symbols as well as recognising their own name and begin able to record personal information. |
| Explorer | We aim to embed life-skills so that our students are confident, functional communicators. They explore opportunities within the wider community so they are ready to make a valued contribution when they leave Queensbury School and so they have the key literacy skills to be successful as young adults. Students will complete entry level or level one units in AQA Step Up focussing on developing core literacy. | Students follow the AQA Step Up units. We use inspiring texts, matching interest age with reading age; tailored to the needs of the students. We engage students’ natural curiosity through the power of empathy, storytelling and lively debates on current issues and build on functional communication skills. Enrichment opportunities are central to bringing topics to life and students access the community to enrich their experiences whilst building and developing their core communication and literacy skills. | Our vision is for students to complete sixth form with: • An appreciation of reading for pleasure. • Having an interest in current affairs issues that affect them and their wider community. • An awareness of how to write and speak to communicate meaning and to be functional and active in life. • A functional level of communication to access further opportunities • Key basic skills in reading, writing and speaking to build on and develop in further education and or employment. |
| Navigator | We embed life-skills, and functional communication so that our students are confident and successful communicators. They explore opportunities within the wider community so they are ready to make a valued contribution when they leave Queensbury School and are able to access a wide range of opportunities to secure success be that from further education or employment. Some students will have the opportunity to retake English GCSE, others will undertake AQA Step Up units at levels 1 and 2 to build on their core literacy. | Students complete AQA Step Up units aimed at developing their core and functional communication skills. They will focus on embedding skills they will need to access the community and to be successful and independent young adults. The units they complete will allow them to develop their understanding of the world around them and the opportunities they can access and to have the confidence and skills to make their communication effective and meaningful. | Our vision is for students to complete sixth form with: • An appreciation of reading for pleasure. • Having an interest in current affairs- issues that affect them and their wider community. • A clear awareness of how to write and speak to communicate meaning and to access opportunities • Critical reading and analytical skills to build during further study in college and or to use to access employment. |