English

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The English Department at James Gillespie’s is committed to promoting a life-long love of reading, as well as critical thinking and social awareness.  Personal reading is actively encouraged in each year group, through library periods and personal reading time in class.

The curriculum across all year groups offers the opportunity to engage with novels, short stories, non-fiction articles, film, documentaries, plays and poetry.  Texts will be explored through group activities as well as individual work, and students will practise textual analysis, as well as critical essays.  Discussion, listening and presentation skills are an integral part of the pupils’ experiences in English.  Students also have opportunities to use their imagination and to produce their own creative pieces, developing skills in style and structure.

Classes are mixed ability in all year groups.

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Broad General Education

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Pupils in S1-S3 undertake a common course that exposes them to all the experiences and outcomes in English and Literacy as set out by Education Scotland, developing skills in Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening.  A range of texts will be used to facilitate the broadening of pupils’ literacy skills including:  Shakespeare, Classic and Contemporary Fiction, Poetry, Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction, Film, Audio Clips and Still Images.

English assessment reflects Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes, and pupils are encouraged to set targets to plan for their success. All students receive regular feedback either oral or written and be given the opportunity to develop their self and peer assessment skills. Reading for Understanding/Analysis/Evaluation assessments are given each year to identify areas of strength and development. Good work folders are used to collect best pieces of work and are carried on from one year to the next to continue the Literacy journey.  All folios for the Nat 5 award are completed in S3.

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