Each term the English Departments meets with Year 6 teachers to share good practice and look at ways of making the transition to St Augustine’s a happier and smoother one. We have looked at assessment, activities for reading writing and speaking and listening as well as ways of encouraging pupils to be enthusiastic about English.

Autumn Term 2010

Pupils in Year 6 are producing Science Fiction texts based on stimulus provided by St Augustine’s and similar writing created by some of our Year 8 pupils. The best pieces will be sent to St Augustine’s and prizes awarded for the best overall at the January meeting. We are very proud of our close links with the primaries and thank our Year 6 teachers for giving up their time to support us in these activities. Boys from Year 9 went to St Mary’s Sabden in October as part of a project on raising boys’ attainment in literacy. They were interviewed by the pupils in Years 5 and 6 who, according to our boys, “treated us like celebrities”. Our boys will be visiting Sabden again to see the written work that the younger pupils have produced as a result of the visit. (picture here of pupils at Sabden)

Summer School 2010-11

Joining with Blessed Trinity Burnley, Year 7 pupils met up in August for a few days of school in the holidays! Drama and media news reporting (with Rock FM radio no less!) meant fun and learning went side by side. Pupils are now enjoying “follow up” activities. A further day spent at Rock FM in Preston saw them recording a radio programme for Rock FM BOOM RADIO (broadcast over the INTERNET). Their next adventure will be in the study of Dickens. There will be a drama-based study day in January followed by a visit to the Octagon Theatre in Bolton to see a performance of “David Copperfield”. In the meantime, pupils are busy reading the novel in preparation.