At St. John Bosco College, English holds a pivotal place in the curriculum as it nurtures students' intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth. Literature allows students to explore the human condition, fostering empathy and understanding through stories of joy, struggle, and redemption. By engaging with diverse voices and perspectives, students connect with their own identities while gaining insight into cultures, histories, and values different from their own
The English curriculum is deliberately sequenced to help students develop their thinking, reading, and writing over time. In Year 7, students begin with texts that introduce key narrative forms, poetic techniques, and personal voice. These foundations are built upon year by year through increasingly complex texts and tasks that challenge students to think more critically and express themselves more precisely.
Through reading, discussion, and writing, students learn to value language and literature as a way of understanding the world — and to become thoughtful, critical thinkers.
Homework in English is designed to support long-term learning and develop students’ independence using departmental homework booklet. Tasks are set to build knowledge, practise skills, and reflect on progress.
Weekly spelling tasks are also included to target specific spelling rules at KS3. In addition, students are encouraged to read for pleasure through homework tasks that require one hour of personal reading.
Reading fluency and comprehension are developed through regular independent and guided reading, alongside reading logs to promote reading for pleasure.
Oracy is developed through structured discussion, paired talk, debate, and performance opportunities. Writing tasks support extended planning, redrafting and research, helping students to organise their ideas and become more independent in how they express them.
