Head of Department

Miss E Sidwell

 

Why Choose English?

We operate a two year KS3 programme in year 7-8. Here we develop skills across reading, writing and speaking and listening that underpin the subject as a whole and provide the foundation for progression to KS4 where we study for Edexcel’s portfolio of GCSE qualifications.

Year 9 is taught in sets which are organised according to data, teacher assessment and whole year tests. All Year 9 sets cover common core materials and skills, such as an introduction to Shakespeare; the study of a novel, currently ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck and Language and Media analysis (including the spoken word). This enables a restructuring of sets based on teacher assessment (administered in the spring term of Year 9) sets as students enter their final two years of GCSE study.

At post-16 we offer an extended portfolio of qualifications:

• English Literature (Edexcel)
• English Language and Literature (Edexcel)
• Media Studies (Wjec)

Department Ethos

We are a diverse and dynamic department with a common goal of matching provision to the varied skills, interests and expectations of our students. We aim to develop genuine engagement with Literature and a keen awareness of the writer’s craft. We also set out to develop our students into critical consumers of Language in its varied, multi-modal forms so that they can make informed judgements and choices.

 

Extra-Curricular Activities

We are involved in a range of extra-curricular activities which include :

• Lower School Book Club
• Public Speaking and Debating
• Mock Trials
• Theatre trips and productions/workshops