English

The Department

English offers our students the opportunity to develop their interests and enthusiasms (especially a love of reading) as well as time to think about a range of personal, cultural and historical issues.

English students are involved in, challenged and engaged by their studies. They enjoy great opportunities to debate issues in stimulating ways.

The Curriculum

In English, students develop skills in written and spoken communication, working independently and thinking critically. The subjects, culture, periods and authors that they encounter are wide ranging. They develop an understanding of the many strands that make up Britain’s diverse and vibrant cultures and the influences that shape their literature and language.

Students are set in their English lessons according to ability. All students are challenged in lessons, and Gifted and Talented students in years 7 and 8 enjoy a distinct curriculum for one half term of the year. All students at Key Stage 3 study a variety of fiction, non-fiction, media texts, plays and poetry.

At Key Stage 4, students follow the AQA syllabus for GCSE English and English Literature and the OCR syllabus for Media Studies. Students complete their coursework in Year 10 and develop exam knowledge skills and techniques in Year 11.

Extra Curricular

The English department organises a range of trips for all years from theatre visits to academic lectures at universities.

Meanwhile, in school students have the opportunity to attend book clubs, author visits, creative writing club, debating society and additional, structured revision sessions.

They also have the option to attend coursework clinics each week where they can get one-to-one assistance with work.