Our English department recognises the need for a strong base in literacy and language skills for students to truly understand the world around them.
The English Learning Area’s focus is on developing the language and literacy skills of all students. We use the Western Australian Curriculum and SCSA courses of study to develop programs designed to engage our students in activities that extend their knowledge and understanding of the English language, texts and the world around us.
English aims to ensure that students:
Each year, the English Learning Area develops a program of incursions and excursions that aim to provide additional learning experiences beyond the classroom. These usually include performances by storytellers, poets and actors as well as workshops on writing and visual texts.
We aim to prepare our students to successfully participate in NAPLAN and OLNA with close attention to language skills. Our students are provided with individualised learning in the lead up to these important standardised tests.
In Years 7-10 students extend their understanding of how language works, exploring texts of various genres and formats including classics, contemporary literature, and popular culture. Students will learn the importance of narrative, themes, and historical and cultural context through engagement with novels, plays, films, articles, social media, myths and fables and more. Putting their knowledge into practice by producing their own written, digital and spoken texts.
A feature of the Year 7, 8 and 9 courses will be the preparation for NAPLAN testing conducted in the first semester of Years 7 and 9. This national testing allows teachers and the school to track student progress against the national averages.
For more information head to the School Curriculum Standard Authority’s website. See here.
English is a compulsory course in order for students to achieve their WACE. Our senior students can choose a General or ATAR pathway, with programs designed to prepare them for their futures beyond secondary school. We run a homework class every week to further support these students.
The English ATAR course focuses on developing students’ analytical, creative, and critical thinking and communication skills in all language modes, encouraging students to critically engage with texts from their contemporary world, the past, and from Australian and other cultures. Through close study and wide reading, viewing and listening, students develop the ability to analyse and evaluate the purpose, stylistic qualities and conventions of texts and to enjoy creating imaginative, interpretive, persuasive and analytical responses in a range of written, oral, multimodal and digital forms.
The English General course focuses on consolidating and refining the skills and knowledge needed by students to become competent, confident and engaged users of English in everyday, community, social, further education, training, and workplace contexts. The course is designed to provide students with the skills to succeed in a wide range of post-secondary pathways by developing their language, literacy and literary skills. Students comprehend, analyse, interpret, evaluate and create analytical, imaginative, interpretive and persuasive texts in a range of written, oral, multimodal and digital forms.
For more information head to the School Curriculum Standard Authority’s website. See here.