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Secondary

English

Our students sometimes wonder ‘why is English so important?’ We know that, as the language of global communication, English is fundamental to the success of our students, however many of them arrive at TMBSS disengaged, with gaps in their learning and unidentified difficulties in literacy.

Our service aim is to ensure that our students are ‘world ready’ and so in English, we work to reengage students in the subject and to address any literacy deficit that may exist. Our students develop the functional literacy skills they need to participate fully in society. We promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping students with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

Literacy is crucial to students’ learning in subjects across the curriculum and despite the fact that students’ knowledge, skills, understanding and ability vary tremendously, all students study English and are expected to take formal qualifications, appropriate to their ability.

Key Stage 3

Students are unlikely to attend TMBSS for full key stages and so will not necessarily cover the full breadth of the National Curriculum during their placement. They are usually taught as a ‘Key Stage Three cohort’ rather than in year groups, and follow a three-year rolling programme with three thematic units delivered per academic year (from Sept 2021). These are longer than previously, but provide multiple opportunities for a genuinely diverse range of genres and text-types within individual units of work. Each unit of work is highly differentiated to accommodate the varied and complex needs of the students and to engage the interest of all learners.

Key Stage 4

All students will be expected to work towards the completion of formal qualifications, although this will be dependent upon several factors.

Where students attend TMBSS following permanent exclusion from their mainstream school, they will typically complete work that is preparation for an English Language GCSE. This may not be tailored to particular specification at this stage, due to their pending return to mainstream. This work will however, work to close identified gaps in learning, re-engage students in the subject and build their confidence, all in preparation for a successful transition.

The majority of KS4 students who have extended placements or arrive late in Y11 will work towards the AQA GCSE English Language qualification. There are also opportunities for students to complete the AQA English Literature course, however, this will be dependent on their time constraints, level of attainment and prior study. This will be decided on an individual basis. Students will be advised on the appropriate level of award.

Qualifications available include:

· OCR Entry Level Certificate in English at Entry Levels 1-3

· AQA GCSE English Language

· AQA GCSE English Literature

Students may sit examinations though alternative exam boards in some circumstances.

Poetry Project

Refugee poem video

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Students from Bridgnorth and Ludlow centres videoed themselves reading the poem 'Refugees' by Brian Bilston. We made masks to hide behind that were made up of faces of people with different gender, race and age. The poem says 'these haggard faces could belong to you or me should life have dealt a different hand' and we felt that this was a really good way to show that refugees could be anyone.

Hopefully this page has all the information you need, if you require further information speak to the Centre Manager for your centre who will be able to answer any queries.

Useful links and documents