Dear Parents,

It seems that some parents have received misinformation regarding the changes to English is taught in the school. We would like to set the record straight and explain clearly the new system in English and the advantages it will have for your child.

Firstly we are very proud of the level of English our students gain when leaving primary school. Their overall level is equal or better than children in the UK. To further develop this good base, all children in Years 7, 8 and 9 are now being taught English Language as first language learners. This will mean they will be challenged appropriately by differentiation and supported where needed by an additional teacher in the classroom.

Prior to this only one class of students were taught as first language learners. It meant the vast majority of our students were not given the opportunity to learn as first language learners of English. It may have been that your child deserved to learn as a first language learner, but there was no room in that class. Now all students get the opportunity to be challenged and succeed to their fullest. There will be no cap on the number of students who can be placed in the top group in a class.

The class will still be set by using Differentiation.
 “Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Whether teachers differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, the use of ongoing assessment and flexible grouping makes this a successful approach to instruction”
Carol Ann Tomlinson

Our English staff are trained in Differentiated teaching and the focus for Professional Development this year is Assessment for Learning and Differentiation for all staff across the school. We are committed to ensuring the best for all students at all levels and AfL and Differentiation are considered best practice for teaching worldwide.

Secondly, we have from this year changed our Year 10/11 course from IGCSE to GCSE English Language. This is in part as many top universities in the UK are no longer accepting IGCSE English Language. We want to give every child the opportunity of gaining the best level they can. By teaching all students as first language learners of English, they will be better prepared to succeed at years 10 and 11. If students have only ever been taught as second language learners, this makes it a challenge for them to succeed in English at years 10 and 11.

Our results in the past in both Year 9 Checkpoint and Year 11 IGCSE English have not been outstanding and so this has been done to improve and enhance the English programme in the school. We are following best practice from around the world and from top schools in the UK. We ask parents to please allow this programme to run and support us in delivering a better education for your children.

Thank you.

Helen Swan
Principal