Department ethos, Intentions and Objectives

We want to inspire and incentivise young people to take responsibility for the learning of language so that they not only leave school with qualifications, but also with a sense of identity; a love of learning and the ability to communicate effectively socially, politically and personally – through…

• an interesting and engaging curriculum that teaches, develops and embeds knowledge and skills;
• schemes of work that are designed to promote progression, coherence and continuity, supporting whole-school aims and ensuring that learning builds systematically on prior knowledge and experiences;
• functional skills examinations that allow learners to practise focusing in exam conditions and which provide achievable success at different stages along their journeys;
• professional, friendly and inspiring staff who are excellent at creating warm and welcoming learning environments and building positive relationships with learners;
• celebration of learners’ work and achievements verbally, in books and on the walls in displays;
• opportunities for young people to take ownership of their learning by making choices in lessons, being encouraged to use whatever medium they like and by being flexible in approaches to resources, lesson delivery and recording of work.
• enrichment opportunities such as visits, projects and wider reading that help learners make meaningful connections between the classroom and the wider world, deepening their cultural understanding and appreciation of language in real-life contexts.

Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. it is a bulwark against poverty and a building block of development. Literacy is a platform for democratisation and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Literacy is a basic human right. It is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can reach their full potential.” Kofi Annan

Rationale

Literacy is the currency through which progress is bought. Mastery of reading, writing and speaking and listening underpins success in every area of life. Developing an effective literacy skillset is, therefore, fundamental to advancement, and achievement directly correlated to success in all areas of the curriculum.

At iCollege, we are committed to empowering our young people and helping them develop the ability to learn independently by encouraging them to read and write for a wide range of purposes, and to speak clearly and confidently to a wide range of audiences. This will, in turn, impact their self-esteem, aspiration, motivation, behaviour and attainment.

Our young people are all with us for good reason and are, in general, complex in terms of need. Learners with high ability may not be able to focus for a variety of reasons and many have missed large amounts of time at school, and have had many negative experiences with adults in their lives. We accept them when they arrive, whatever their background or presentation. Our priority is to build relationships and trust so that they can come to a place where they are able to learn. This requires patience, perseverance, alternative methods and engaging subject matter. It can also take time.

In English, we strive to help the young people want to learn – to get excited about language and how it works. We use a variety of approaches, depending on the individual including lots of back and forth talk, small steps, plenty of scaffolding and visual aids. Our curriculum is varied and engaging and is designed to provide our young people with communication skills for life, not just for now.

Through literature, discussion and creative expression, our curriculum also promotes spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, encouraging learners to explore values, identity and the world around them. By nurturing curiosity, empathy and self-expression, we help students understand themselves and others — building the confidence and cultural capital they need to thrive in modern Britain.