Welcome to the Oak Bank English Department
Our English Department at Oak Bank is dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of reading, engaging students with a diverse and personalised curriculum, supporting achievable outcomes, and preparing pupils for their future beyond education.
Our Approach
Broad, Ambitious, and Grounded
Our curriculum adheres closely to the National Curriculum, ensuring that all students have access to a challenging academic program. From Key Stage 2 through to Key Stage 5, we inspire a passion for English through imaginative lesson plans that incorporate drama, group activities, purposeful writing, and kinesthetic tasks. We empower our learners to excel in reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling, and speaking and listening skills. Our diverse selection of texts challenges stereotypes and introduces students to classic and contemporary literature in creative and engaging ways.
Knowledge Rich
Recognising that some students start with negative perceptions of English or significant gaps in their education, our team employs innovative teaching methods to build trust and confidence. We champion writing and reading across all subjects, celebrating achievements through competitions and other events. Our curriculum includes a variety of text types—such as song lyrics, letters, short stories, speeches, and blogs—that encourage critical thinking and vocabulary expansion. Grammar instruction is comprehensive, supporting students at every level to refine their language skills and master literary techniques.
Intelligently Planned: Our curriculum is intelligently sequenced to build long-term knowledge and skills. We carefully integrate plays, poetry, historical biographies, and classics across different genres to ensure holistic literacy development. By offering alternative texts and personalised interventions, we support students in achieving their individual learning goals, particularly those starting with limited literacy skills upon entry.
Culturally Rich: Diversity and inclusivity are central to our curriculum. We celebrate cultural diversity through texts that explore race, sexuality, and disability, fostering a broader understanding of global society. Our inclusive approach ensures that all students, including those with EHCP needs or specific cultural interests, find relevance and engagement in their English studies.
Reading-Focused: Promoting a love of reading is at the heart of our English Department. We encourage reading for pleasure across all subjects, celebrating individual interests through magazines, song lyrics, blogs, and more. Our holistic approach to reading is supported by school-wide initiatives like ASPIRE nominations, competitions, and awards, fostering a positive reading culture that enhances academic achievement.
Context-Specific: Recognizing varied student needs, our English Department provides tailored support to ensure every student, regardless of readiness or prior literacy challenges, can access and excel in the full curriculum. Through personalised interventions, small group settings, and targeted support, we empower students to build confidence and skills essential for their academic journey.
Values-Driven: Oak Bank instils values of respect, kindness, and excellence in our students. Our ASPIRE values underpin classroom activities, promoting adaptability, resilience, and social responsibility. We cultivate an environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to achieve their full potential in English and beyond.
Underpinned by Rules
We uphold the Oak Bank behaviour policy, fostering an environment where respect, responsibility, and safety are paramount. Our English department ensures that students feel supported and valued, encouraging open dialogue and mutual respect in discussing diverse viewpoints.
Reading Across the Curriculum
Knowledge-Rich: As a SEND school, Oak Bank’s approach to reading ensures that all pupils acquire core and powerful knowledge tailored to their individual learning styles and needs. We integrate a variety of reading activities across subjects, fostering a culture where reading is accessible and enjoyable for every student.
Intelligently Planned: Our reading curriculum is intelligently planned to develop long-term literacy skills and support cross-curricular learning. Through assessments, personalised learning plans, and effective phonics programs like SoundsWrite, we address diverse learning needs and promote reading success from foundational levels to advanced comprehension.
Culturally Rich: We embrace cultural diversity through a wide range of reading materials that reflect diverse backgrounds and perspectives. From LGBTQ+ selections to culturally diverse texts, we ensure that our reading curriculum broadens students’ horizons and fosters inclusivity across all key stages and support units.
Reading-Focused: At Oak Bank, reading for pleasure is embedded throughout our curriculum. We create dedicated reading spaces in classrooms, offer diverse reading materials tailored to student interests, and celebrate reading achievements through competitions and awards. Our holistic approach to reading enhances students’ enjoyment and engagement in learning.
Context-Specific: Recognizing the unique needs of students transitioning between key stages or requiring additional literacy support, our reading approach is context-specific. We provide targeted interventions, regular assessments, and ongoing training for staff to ensure consistent support and effective reading strategies tailored to individual student needs.
Values-Driven: Values of respect, kindness, and excellence guide our approach to reading across the curriculum. We promote a supportive environment where students embrace differences, demonstrate empathy, and build confidence in their reading abilities, fostering a positive school culture centred on literacy.
Underpinned by Rules: Respect, responsibility, and safety are integral to our reading initiatives. We uphold these principles through structured reading programs, inclusive practices, and supportive interventions that empower students to overcome challenges and succeed in their reading journeys.
