Introduction
The English department aims to ensure that all students develop their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening to the highest possible levels, promoting an enquiring and lively interest in all aspects of the subject.
Department Leads
Mrs S Byrne – Director of Learning: Communication
Miss K Blackburn – KS3 Lead for English
Mrs Lucy Taylor – KS5 Lead for English
Mrs A Parris – Literacy Lead
General Information
English Department Learning Journey
English Department Marking Policy
Extra Curricular Activities
We offer a range of extra-curricular activities to support and enhance the curriculum, for example: theatre trips, the Spelling Bee competition, Battle of the Books, a Year 7 public speaking competition, Carnegie Book Shadowing and the Year 12 Creative Writing trip.
KS3
In Years 7 to 9, students study a comprehensive range of fiction, plays (including Shakespeare), poetry, media texts and non-fiction. They are taught to write in a variety of styles and develop research skills and wider reading through regular supervised use of the library.
Recommended Reads Year 6-Year 7
For further information please see our Main School Prospectus
KS4
In Years 10 and 11 students work towards GCSEs in English Language and English Literature. The examination board is AQA. They study a 19th century novel, a Shakespeare play, modern drama/prose, poetry, non-fiction material and a range of fictional extracts from 20th and 21st century. GCSE writing tasks require well-crafted narrative and descriptive skills and the ability to put forward a carefully constructed argument.
GCSE-English-Assessment-Schedule-for-Parents
Useful links for KS4 English can be found here: Y10-11 Wider reading / How do I help my child with their GCSE English courses/GCSE English Literature set text list/
For further information please see our KS4 Options Booklet 2024
KS5
We offer three exciting AQA A Level courses in English Language, English Literature and English Language and Literature.
English Language is a fascinating and challenging course which takes a scientific approach to English Language. Being able to read independently a range of linguistic research, non- fiction texts, broadsheet newspapers and spoken transcripts is essential. For further information about the English language course, please click here.
English Literature builds on the GCSE skills of responding to a range of literary texts, seeking to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of the writer’s art and of the interpretation of texts and their times. This is a demanding and enjoyable course, requiring students to think independently about their reading and to present convincing and well-supported opinions. For further information about the English Literature course, please click here. Please click here for the wider reading list for A Level English Literature.
The study of English Language and Literature encourages students to develop their interest in both language and literature as interconnecting and mutually supportive disciplines. Students explore the relationship of language and literature through critical reading of and response to both literary and non-literary texts as well as writing for a variety of audiences and purposes. For further information about the English Language and Literature course, please click here.
For further information please see our Associated Sixth Form Prospectus
The Learning Journeys for the three A Level English Courses are available below:
LIT Course Outline student sequencing_2023
Course Outline A Level Language Teacher 1
Course outline A Level Language Teacher 2
Additional Learning Resources
To help students with their learning, we subscribe to a podcast resource called Audiopi and video lectures delivered by Massolit. Teachers will share logins for these with students. Alternatively, speak to your English teacher regarding additional learning resources within the English department.
