Welcome to Dawlish College.
It continues to be an absolute privilege to be the Headteacher at Dawlish College – the staff and students are second to none and take all of life’s challenges in their stride. Despite current uncertainties as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we continue to hold onto our core purpose in all that we do. Behind all of the decisions taken and measures put in place sits the balance between keeping staff and students safe whilst also providing them with a varied and exciting school experience.
Dawlish College is a vibrant and exciting place to be, where we have the highest expectations of staff and students alike and seek to provide challenge at every available opportunity. As a small school, we have a very proud record of holistic support, care and individual attention: the happiness and well-being of our students is of paramount importance and is a vital foundation for their growth and development. Our college has an atmosphere of creativity and positivity that is generated by the provision of excellent opportunities for every individual thereby maximising the outcomes and improving the life chances of the young people in our care.
As a parent myself, I understand that you want your child to be inspired, supported and challenged to be the best version of themselves within an environment that knows them and values them as an individual. Thank you for entrusting me with the care and education of your child, present or future, and I look forward to unlocking their ambitions as I get to know them and work closely with you.
S Banks
Headteacher
Welcome to English where our key aim is to enthuse students about the subject and equip them with the reading, writing and thinking skills needed to achieve the highest grade of which they are capable at GCSE. Students will learn to articulate their ideas and opinions both orally and through the written word. The curriculum is challenging from day one in order to stretch students and help them prepare for their GCSE studies.
At Key Stage 3 students will have a range of exciting opportunities to build on the skills gained in KS2 and develop the new skills required as they move through the curriculum. We are committed to using texts which stimulate and engage our cohorts, seeing Literature as the way to ensure pupils engage with our subject, have skills they can use across the curriculum and leave the school as a more wholly rounded, empathic individual.
We study a range of modern and classical literature, from Shakespeare to local writer's such as Sandra Greaves, taking in plays such as 'Dracula' along the way. Using Literature as the basis of our work enables us to show pupils that the skills we ask them to analyse are used by professional writers and that their analytical and creative skills are applicable across both language and literature. As pupils move through the year groups the texts become more challenging as we prepare them for the requirements at GCSE.
We work closely with the library - especially in Years 7 and 8 - to encourage a love of reading, and in those years each class currently has one library session per fortnight where we also promote our use of the Accelerated Reader Programme.
Recommended Reading Lists For KS3
The overwhelming majority of students will study for two separate GCSEs in English: GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature (both AQA). Further details of the courses can be found in the Guide to Options.
Recommended Reading Lists for KS4
For more information please contact srice@dawlish.devon.sch.uk
Knowledge Organisers can be found here.