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English
‘The more we know about the language the more chance we shall have of success, whether we are advertisers, politicians, priests, journalists, doctors, lawyers--or just ordinary people at home, trying to understand and be understood.’ - David Crystal.
We study the English language because it’s fascinating, it’s beautiful, it’s useful, and it’s fun.
There are three main areas of study: reading, writing, and speaking and listening. Students will experience both fiction and non-fiction texts. They will learn to use language for specific purposes and to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. They will become familiar with the ways in which writers use language to create specific effects for the reader.
Students will read widely and experiment with their own writing. They will give presentations, create role plays and enter into discussions and debates. There will be theatre trips and visits by authors, poets and drama groups.
The English curriculum is ambitious, challenging and has been designed to develop our students into confident, creative and critical thinkers. These skills are fundamental in ensuring that our students become successful, life-long learners. We do not want to just prepare our students for their GCSEs, but for the world of work too, which we do by developing our students’ core literacy, reading and writing skills throughout their time with us.
In addition, we hope to develop an appreciation and love of reading within our students; they are given regular opportunities to analyse a range of texts, including non-fiction, poetry, Shakespeare and whole novels, starting right at the start of KS3. We also ensure our students have many opportunities to write for different audiences and purposes, ensuring they recognise the importance of using punctuation and grammar accurately and engaging their reader through effective vocabulary. Speaking and listening in a range of contexts and for different purposes are also vital skills that we develop so that our students become effective speakers and confident communicators.
By the time students get to KS4, they will already have an excellent grounding of the core skills required, which we endeavour to refine in preparation for their GCSE examinations. Our students study the Edexcel specifications for English Language and Literature, which set out to enable our students to read a wide range of texts fluently, and with good understanding.
Students are required to read critically and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing. They will be taught to write effectively and coherently using Standard English; appropriately read a wide range of classic literature fluently and with good understanding; and make connections across their reading; read in depth, critically and evaluatively, so that they are able to discuss and explain their understanding and ideas.
Students who opt to study English Literature or English Language at A Level follow the Edexcel specification. This enables our students to read widely and independently – set texts and others that they have selected for themselves. They are required to engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them. Students will develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation; explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them; undertake independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of English literature, including its changing traditions.
Please see the English curriculum overviews for each Key Stage below.
Staff:
Miss G Gillingam: Acting Director of English and Performing Arts
Miss E Gray: English
Mrs C Brownhill: Lead TA for English
Mrs K Fellowes: English
Mr R Haines: Head of Media Studies. English
Miss E Harris: English
Mrs A Hill: English
Mr D Johnson: English
Mrs M King: English
Miss E May: English (Key Stage 4 Co-ordinator) and Literacy Co-ordinator
Mr N Selman: English (Key Stage 5 Co-ordinator) and Drama
