PUPILS starting their journey into secondary school have been given personalised dictionaries as part of a head teacher’s scheme to remove children’s reliance on technology. 
Ian McArthur, head teacher at Paulet High School, in Violet Way, Stapenhill, handed out dictionaries to 150 pupils to help improve their use of English language throughout the school as part of its language for learning strategy,
He said: “This is a way to prepare for the new and tougher GCSEs which are coming in.
“With Key Stage 3, it is the engine room for success at Key Stage 4 – get it right now and it is a start.
“Our language needs improving. The use of standard English in our conversation needs to improve, so when I speak to our pupils in the corridor I do not just want a ‘yes’. I want a proper sentence.
“As part of this I became concerned that we are becoming reliant on technology – computers and phones. With texting and the use of auto correct, the children won’t even know if they are spelling words incorrectly.
“English language is a vital part of their learning, the dictionaries will be on their desks and staff will be encouraged to use them regularly.”
Mr McArthur felt a close-to-home connection when handing out the dictionaries, as he explained.
He said: “There was an emotional side to it for me as when I was young my father handed me a dictionary, and I lost him in the summer.”
Mr McArthur also feels the ability to speak and communicate in an effective way is just as important as doing well in subjects in the classroom.
He said: “If you can’t speak or communicate effectively you can’t be as involved; it is just very important.
“When they come to us we don’t want them relying on iPads and phones and to develop a love of learning.
“The students loved getting their dictionaries and hopefully they can’t wait to start using them.”