English & Communications

Communication is at the centre of all our lives. At Saint Paul's Academy we aim to equip our students with the skills to deal with an increasingly complex world. Developing the students' abilities in reading, writing and speaking and listening are, of course, the foundation of the teaching and learning in this zone. We also focus on the influence of the media and ICT, and encourage students to consider the role these important factors play in their lives.

In an age where travel is so easy, and the world grows smaller by the day, our Modern Foreign Language team continues to deliver an innovative curriculum to all students in Key Stage 3. As an option at Key Stage 4, we encourage many students to study a language, and we will soon be offering a greater variety of languages to choose from. Some students may choose to study two or more languages in the future.

At Saint Paul's Academy we aim to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum both in and out of the classroom. Classroom activities which focus on the development of learners as both individuals and team players, will be supported by a range of exciting activities which will include theatre trips and writer visits. Journeys to the beaches of Normandy, the busy streets of Paris and Brussels, and the Christmas Market of Alsace, are all planned in the near future.

As the Academy grows, The English and Communications Learning Zone will look to expand and develop in many ways. We have piloting a brand new GCSE in English which gives students greater choice, and in 2008 we hope to be offering Media Studies at GCSE. When we move to the new facilities we will be exploring courses that offer a greater range of vocational education in English and Communications.