English at Heath Mount is always an adventure. We broadly follow the expectations of the National Curriculum, whilst also taking advantage of our small class sizes and specialist teachers to provide engaging learning experiences. During their time at Heath Mount, young minds are encouraged to read widely and critically, whilst studying a diverse range of topics that see English both as an art and as the main tool for effective communication.
Pupils in Years 3-6 follow a topic-based curriculum with embedded reading, writing, presentation and speaking and listening tasks. Pupil progress is monitored through continual assessment and once-termly progress checks where reading and writing is reviewed against national standards. Pupils are encouraged to engage with great writing as a starting point for their own creativity and are guided in finding their own individual voice. Underpinning all of this is an expectation that pupils take ownership of their work, with a strong focus on the importance of accuracy in reading and writing.
The curriculum for pupils in Year 7 and 8 continues to explore a range of topics. In these upper years, our focus is broad. We introduce pupils to the key literary periods and ideas that will anchor their studies as they head towards GCSE and beyond. From getting to grips with the language of Beowulf to using real-life documents to build a case for the defence in our Titanic unit, pupils in Year 7 and 8 are encouraged to value their individual voice whilst thoughtfully engaging with the voices of others.
To see the English Curriculum map for the Summer Term please Click Here
Reading
At Heath Mount, we know that a strong reading habit is the key to academic success. The school is home to three libraries; one located in each of the three school buildings. Our central library, the Beaton Library, occupies a large space in the centre of our main building. It was redesigned in 2022 and is a popular spot for pupils looking for a place to work quietly or to discover a great new book. Our librarian is available to all pupils to support reading.
Reading is monitored by the English department. Pupils in Pre-Prep and Lower School have reading records. Pupils in the Main School build up their reading miles by working through our Bronze, Silver and Gold Reading Levels. In the Upper School, we help the pupils to maintain their love of reading through the BookBuzz initiative from the Book Trust and class Book Clubs.
The English Department publishes yearly thematic reading list, matched to our World Book Day theme. World Book day itself is celebrated with great excitement at Heath Mount with a range of activities including a celebration assembly, a House challenge and a deep dive into the theme during English lessons for pupils in Years 5-8.
Poetry
Pupils at Heath Mount are given a wide range of opportunities to develop and showcase their speaking and listening skills, from class debates and presentations across the school to English specific activities such as our Year 6 'Inventor's Fair' and the Year 8 'Titanic Enquiry'.
Our most beloved speaking event is our annual Recite! performance poetry event. Every pupil in the school, from the youngest to the oldest, learns a poem to learn by heart to perform in class. For pupils in Years 3-8, we stage a Showcase, highlighting a range of performances from across the school. Pupils also have the opportunity to meet and work with a professional performance poet as part of this event.