English courses at Merredin College focus on developing students’ analytical, creative, and critical thinking and communication skills in all language modes.
Our programs are designed to develop and hone literacy, to critically engage with texts from the past and present from Australia and other cultures, enhance students’ learning in other curriculum areas, and provide them with the critical thinking abilities and communication and language skills necessary for active participation in all facets of life and society.
Our English courses are designed to develop students’ facility with all types of texts and language modes and to foster an appreciation of the value of English for lifelong learning.
Primary English
All classes in K-2 have a dedicated daily Literacy Block for explicitly teaching literacy skills.
We have a focus on oral language and phonemic awareness and use a number of literacy programs across all classes in the junior primary age group. These include PLD Literacy Synthetic Phonics program; Talk4Writing which uses oral language to develop writing skills; Explicit teaching of reading through Guided Reading and whole school scope and sequence documents in all areas of Literacy to maintain high expectations for all students.
All students have a Reading Eggs subscription which is accessed in class and available for home use.
The MiniLit Literacy intervention program is used for students in Pre-primary to Year 2 to support students in the early years to meet expected Literacy levels.
All classes in Year 3-6 have a dedicated daily Literacy Block for explicitly teaching literacy skills.
We use a number of literacy programs across all classes in Year 3-6 including the SMART spelling program, Seven Steps to Writing and whole school scope and sequence documents in all areas of Literacy teaching to maintain high expectations in Literacy. The explicit teaching of reading is achieved through daily Guided Reading sessions with students working at their personal instructional level.
PM Benchmarks are used to assess students who require intervention in Reading and moderation for Writing occurs regularly using NAPLAN marking guides interwoven with the Seven Steps to Writing assessment scaffolds.
The MaqLit Literacy intervention program is also offered to students in Year 3-6 who require short term intervention in Literacy.
Secondary English
Lower secondary English students study a common assessment program across all years from 7-10 which incorporates a study of a range of text types and language modes.
The Lower School English programs for Years 7-10 are based on the three interrelated strands of the Western Australian Curriculum: English.
The strands of language, literature and literacy are grouped into sub-strands as indicated in the table below.
| Language | Literature | Literacy |
| Language variation and change | Literature and context | Texts in context |
| Language for interaction | Responding to literature | Interacting with others |
| Text structure and organisation | Examining literature | Interpreting, analysing and evaluating |
| Expressing and developing ideas | Creating literature | Creating texts |
Grades achieved by students in Year 10 assist teachers in determining recommendations for subject selection in Year 11.
For further information, please access the link to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) website shown on this page.
Senior secondary English students at Merredin College can opt for the following pathways:
ATAR English
Units 1 & 2 in Year 11 and Units 3 & 4 in Year 12.
GENERAL English
Units 1 & 2 in Year 11 and Units 3 & 4 in Year 12.
FOUNDATION English
For students who have not satisfied the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment or OLNA requirements.
Units 1 & 2 in Year 11 and Units 3 & 4 in Year 12.
PRELIMINARY English
For Special Education Needs students.
Units 1 & 2 in Year 11 and Units 3 & 4 in Year 12.
Information about these courses can be found on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) website. Please use the link provided on this page.