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1 week ago

Thursday 5th March is World Book Day. Our annual celebration of books and reading will take place in the school library with a small informal event at lunchtime. There will also be a short story read to pupils in 4-6 minute sections at the beginning of each lesson.World Book Day was created in 1995 and we have been marking the event in the school library for the last 15 or so years.Evidence from the Book Trust shows that reading for pleasure has many benefits, from overcoming disadvantage, developing improved mental wellbeing, relationships and social skills, supporting and improving attainment in education, developing creativity and empathy. (Further information: files.booktrust.org.uk/docs/documents/BookTrusts-Benefits-of-Reading.pdf?v=1743075166)We aim to promote reading for pleasure here, by allowing choice of reading, whilst also giving pupils time set aside to read. Marking events such as National Poetry Day and World Books Day reinforce this by providing a fun way to engage with and talk about reading, sharing our favourite books or even making suggestions for the library.Tomorrow, £1 book tokens will be given to those who want them. They can be used in part payment for a new book or in exchange for the official WBD £1 books from local bookshops. We will also have a few available in the library.Pupils may also like to enter the Book token design competition with good book token prizes for both the school and the pupil. Entry forms avalable from the library – closing date (to allow time to be sent off for official date of 27th) is Friday 20th March) (Further info and entry form: www.worldbookday.com/competitions/design-a-national-book-token-competition-2026/)
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English

Staff

Mrs J. Hunter (PT)
Ms E. Grieve
Ms C. McCulloch
Mr M. McGeary

Department

The department consists of four classrooms on the ground floor of the school, in close proximity to the Library. We have a fifth room which combines the functions of staff base, study area for Advanced Higher pupils, and breakout space for supported pupils.

Courses

Course Choice

BGE

English S3

Senior Phase (S4-6)

English N4 N5

English H

English AH

BGE S1-S3

S1

In their first year with us, pupils study short units which introduce them to a variety of genres, including poetry, drama, film, and short stories. They will be expected to take part in talking and listening activities, as well as producing writing of their own in the creative and discursive/persuasive genres.

S2

The genres studied in first year are revisited in S2, at greater length and in greater depth. Extended work on drama, film, and poetry is undertaken, and the skills of critical analysis are developed. A unit on journalism is designed to coincide with BBC News Day in March, and the year finishes with the study of a novel.

S3 English

When pupils enter S3, they make choices from nine optional courses, choosing three per pupil which will be covered between August and Christmas. Although the courses take very different approaches to a variety of subjects, all pupils will be developing the same range of skills, across the same curricular areas. The year ends with two extended units, one on drama and one on a novel, which consolidate skills across the English curriculum in preparation for S3 exams.

S3 Drama

In S1 and S2, pupils have taken practical drama as part of their English course. In S3, for the first time, pupils are able to opt for Drama as a discrete subject. Work will include focus and concentration, improvisation, scripted work, and elements of performance. Pupils will develop an understanding of how to interpret a script, develop a character, and considerations of staging a performance.

Senior Phase S4-S6 (SQA)

National 3 English	National 5 English
National 3 Literacy	National 5 Literacy
National 4 English	Higher English
National 4 Literacy	Advanced Higher English

Ethos

As a subject where the concept of the “right answer” is hard to pin down, we value open-mindedness, and we aim to develop in pupils the ability to draw on evidence to make a case with confidence. In addition to the communication skills inherent in the study of English, the skills of flexibility and analysis are ones that are infinitely transferable, not only to the world of work, but to life in general. The more we learn, through texts, of the experiences of others, the more we are able to understand our own.

Extra-curricular

Activities on offer by the Department vary depending on demand from pupils. In addition to the usual study opportunities outwith class time, we can offer support with debating, with drama, with reading, and with advocating for a cause.

Links

Stromness Academy Online Newspaper – Young Reporter 2024

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