Hamilton Community College

We have a suite of large classrooms that allow active learning. We are developing learning pods and complementary small teaching rooms. We have a large central English storeroom where our extensive resources are clearly stored and labeled.We work very closely with the school library and librarian. We collaborate with Humanities on key projects. We liaise with Drama as appropriate. We liaise with ICT.We are fortunate to have much examining experience at both Key Stages. We seek to address the often-low literacy scores of our intake on entry. We look for every opportunity to promote the needs of all our learners.

Ethos of the faculty

Providing equal and appropriate opportunities for learning.

Establishing a safe, secure and friendly environment for learning, which encourages students to take responsibility.

Disciplined learning, setting high standards, promoting high expectations, developing self-motivation and managing student behaviour sensitively.

Celebrating achievements via displays, ROA processes spoken and written comments, assemblies, open days and the College merit system.

An, atmosphere of teamwork with shared aims, resources, ideas, an open door policy and shared, mutual professional development.

Being positively self critical and sharing real classroom developments, not merely paper policies.

Providing learning, which is seen as effective by the student, the teacher, the College, parents, the Governing body, outside agencies and the wider community.

A desire to always improve on our previous best.

Providing Additionality - we are College leaders in Literacy and Able and Talented Summer School provision.

Aims and objectives

To develop a progressive broad range of language skills (with the National Curriculum prescriptions as a basis) using a range of teaching and learning methodologies, in a variety of communicative an authentic contexts.

To this end, we aim to respond to and take part in real events such as National Book Week/Readathon, Newspaper Week, National Poetry Day, Letter Writing and Poetry Competitions, Pen-Pal Schemes, Theatre visits and Work Experience, Leicester Education Business Company Awards scheme, Summer Schools for Literacy and for the Able and Talented.

To provide as widely as possible the means by which language is seen as a living means of communication and as a learning tool.

To foster creativity and a lively imagination in young people.

To develop IT skills as an aid to language development.

To create an awareness of how language works and can be manipulated accurately, in a range of registers in English.

To encourage an appreciation and enjoyment of literature.

To confront and counter linguistic and cultural prejudices.

To encourage an appreciation and enjoyment of our own and other cultures, and different ways of life.

To enhance self awareness and to develop a pride and confidence in one's own linguistic ability.

To enable students to be critical and questioning when looking at literature and media texts.

To develop staff professionally via College-based inset, centrally organised courses, collaborative resource development, peer mentoring and the College's induction and appraisal processes.

To be open to cross-curricular possibilities and to explore them wherever practically possible.

To provide students with the means and methods to learn to take responsibility for their own concentration, skill development and progress.

To promote independent learning skills and the use of library facilities.

To ensure that all students are provided with the necessary means through which they can achieve personal excellence and leave the College with the best possible external assessment certificates and GCSE qualifications.

Faculty Staff