ENGLISH
Subject Lead Statement
I would like to introduce myself as Mrs C. Mountford, English lead here at Alexandra Junior School. As English can be found in every aspect of the curriculum, the English curriculum plays an important role within your child’s everyday life. Our children need to be confident speakers, listeners, readers and writers and need opportunities to use and practise these skills in every subject area.
The English curriculum, and the teaching of it, has never been more prominent and I am dedicated to ensuring that our children leave Alexandra having the knowledge and skills to be literate citizens within our ever changing, fast-paced world. I will endeavour to do all I can to encourage your child to leave as a reader who writes and a writer who reads, and I sincerely hope that this continues to grow in the future as we prepare our children for life after Alexandra.
An embedded love for reading and discovering and celebrating new vocabulary is at the heart of the English curriculum, and a main priority for me as the English subject lead. I want our children to be taken onto a journey beyond the contexts outside their realms of knowledge and empower them to question and challenge the world around them. Discovering new words within their reading enables them to do this. There is nothing more rewarding and interesting than getting ‘lost in a story’ when reading for pleasure. I strongly believe children learn best when they are encouraged to use their imagination and apply their learning in engaging, purposeful contexts. Reading for pleasure is embedded within the school culture and (with the help of our local Rotary Club) I am proud to say that we have many books outside the school’s reading scheme for you to enjoy with your child.
As part of my role here at Alexandra Junior School, I have the great pleasure in reading your child’s writing. It is an honour and a pleasure to be able to share the writing journey with visitors to our school – something I am enormously proud of! I moderate the standards of reading and written work alongside others within the New Guild Trust. I regularly liaise with Mrs S. Preston, a (SP role) and Mrs M. Tatton, our English link governor. Together we review progress, discuss strategic and new innovating approaches to the English curriculum. Working alongside these professionals, and indeed the leadership team at AJS, not only holds me account as leader, but also enables me to share my vision for the subject. Working alongside these professionals provides further strategic direction in the teaching and learning of English across the school and enables me to keep up-to-date with innovative approaches, which will continue to make learning meaningful for the children.
