English
The English department is committed to developing students’ reading and writing skills to prepare them for whatever the future holds. All students need to be able to use English, both verbally and electronically, for academic study and to achieve their goals in life. We aim to teach every pupil to represent themself using the written word for a range of purposes, from an email to a prospective employer to a strong argument for a speech.
Our main aims are to:
- Encourage a passion for reading as part of personal and academic growth
- Equip students to express themselves coherently and elegantly in both written and spoken forms
- Cultivate curiosity and analytical skills through literature and language
- Build confidence in articulation, structured talk, debate, and discussion
- Expose students to significant works across literary traditions and history
- Maintain high standards of knowledge and academic discipline across all key stages
- Offer enriching literary experiences and encourage independent learning at all levels
- Connect English literature and language to the modern world and its cultural significance.
We work closely with the Library to encourage students to read for pleasure as well as for academic purposes. Our reading resources are constantly updated with the latest novels; we also have the most up-to-date digital resources on iPads including eBooks for A Level Literature and several educational apps. Accelerated Reader is a programme that allows students to be given recommended books that will optimise the improvement of their reading ability: in conjunction with the SENDCO and our Librarian, we are able to track students’ reading activity and progress in order to provide intervention, support or extension as necessary.
Courses offered:
GCSE English Language and English Literature
All students take two GCSEs, English Language & English Literature. Students read, interpret and respond to a wide range of exciting literary texts, which develop confident written and spoken language skills and sophisticated reading, interpretation and analytical skills that prepare them for A Level and beyond.
What will I learn?
Students studying GCSE will cover a range of reading material, including prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction, and will be required to write in a wide range of forms and genres. You will acquire a detailed knowledge of the themes and characters of the following exam texts.
What you may read:
- Modern drama text:
- J.B Priestley – An Inspector Calls
- William Shakespeare:
- Macbeth
- 19th Century Novel:
- Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
- Poetry:
- Power and Conflict anthology
- Unseen poetry
A Level English Language
English Language
Aims of the Course
This course is suitable for those who have an interest in how and why the English language has developed in the way that it has. It is studied as a living entity from the earliest times right up to the changes that are taking place because of today's technology. It reflects English, both spoken and written, in the real world, and students are taught to be discriminating in their reading and aware of the manipulation apparent in many kinds of speech.
Subject Content
- Textual variations and representations
- Children’s language development
- Language diversity and change
- Language discourses
- Writing skills
- Language investigation
- Original writing
- Methods of language analysis underpin each component.
A Level English Literature
English Literature
The course develops independent and critical thought, research skills, and the ability to express ideas effectively and succinctly in both spoken and written form.
Aims of the course
Anyone studying for an A Level in Literature must be an avid reader, confident and able to discuss the various issues that Literature presents. Analytical responses to poetry, prose and drama texts nurture independent and collaborative thinking together with a critical and philosophical open mindedness.
Enrichment
We offer a range of enrichment opportunities outside the classroom to inspire and expand students' knowledge of English in all key stages:
- Model United Nations (MUN) Club where pupils role-play delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees
- Creative writing competitions for all ages in conjunction with the library
- Theatre trips to The Globe and other theatres
- Visits by touring theatre companies
- Carnegie Awards Shadow Readers
- Accelerated reader programme to encourage and support personal reading goals
- Public Speaking Club
- Author talks
- A range of clinics and academic enrichment clubs.
Mr Wolstenholme
Head of English
