Literacy

Literacy is the combination of reading, writing and oracy skills.

At Drapers’ Academy we believe that these skills are not only the foundation of successful teaching and learning but also essential to the happiness, health and wealth of individuals and society.

Drapers’ Academy is committed to ensuring high standards of literacy for every student.

Students will be taught to speak clearly and convey ideas confidently using academic English. Students will: learn to justify ideas with reasons; ask questions to check understanding; develop vocabulary and build knowledge; negotiate; evaluate and build on the ideas of others; and select the appropriate register for effective communication. This will enable students to clarify their thinking as well as organise their ideas for writing. Teachers will develop students’ reading and writing in all subjects to support their acquisition of knowledge. Students will be taught to read fluently, understand extended prose (both fiction and nonfiction) and be encouraged to read for pleasure and betterment. As an academy, we promote wider reading through our library facilities, extra-curricular events, DEAR and word of the week. We develop students’ skills to write at length, with accurate spelling and punctuation using marking codes. Students will be taught the correct use of grammar.

Public Speaking and Debating

Drapers' Academy Debate Club is offered every Wednesday lunchtime in room 001 and is open to students across all year groups. We participate in several debate competitions including the prestigious English Speaking Unions Schools' Mace competition and the London Debate Championship. Our preferred style of debating is parliamentary debate but we have also experimenting with alley debating and speed debating. The motions for debate are strongly influenced by the Drapers' Academy theme for the week and rooted in SMSC.