"A good school with outstanding features." OFSTED

English Department

Introduction, including Key Stage 3

All students study English and the end point, for those who do not go on to study it for A level, is ostensibly the taking of two GCSEs, in English Language and English Literature, which at present are assessed in modular form through years 10 and 11. In addition, English Literature A level is offered in the sixth form. However, the philosophy of both the English department and the school is that English and education itself are about more than the mere acquisition of examination results, important though these may be. Emphasis is therefore placed on the development of skills which will be useful to the individual in higher education, the workplace and in personal life; the assessment of these in public examinations is part of a wider concern with the ability of individual young people to move on with confidence to tackle whatever challenges lie ahead in their lives, whatever these may be: academic, social, functional or practical.

Key skills in English, focussed on at every level, involve the development of literacy skills, in reading and writing, speaking and listening, and the Assessment Foci of the National Literacy Strategy therefore form a central focus in planning. Key Stage 3 is seen as a crucial springboard for success at the later levels of GCSE and A level, and as much emphasis is therefore placed here on high expectations and an appropriate level of challenge for all. Great care is taken with ensuring that students build on previous learning and develop the skills and knowledge base across the years. Students are also expected to set themselves their own personal targets, with the help of teachers where appropriate, and to learn from ‘failure’ as well as from success. Alongside formative (for learning) and summative (for final results) assessment, however, we hope to develop in students confidence and enjoyment in all these skills, of reading and writing, speaking and listening, for their own sake. We therefore work collaboratively with the school library, and occasionally with the media, history and drama departments.

Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of extra-curricular events which run alongside the compulsory curriculum, for example theatre trips, Shakespeare workshops from professional actors, writing competitions, spelling bees, reading challenges and visits to places associated with texts they are studying. A new development for 2011-12 will be the establishment of a lower school debating competition. In addition, in lessons and homework students are encouraged to participate actively through group work, role play, self and peer assessment, drama, setting their own assignments and independent inquiry. There is emphasis on taking personal responsibility for their learning, with teachers facilitating this through the appropriate levels of support for the individual student. Those who are highly able or gifted in English, and those who have special educational needs, receive appropriate support and opportunities to develop their own abilities to the full. At times the curriculum is adapted to meet their particular needs.

Key Stage 3

In Key Stage 3, years 7 to 9, we offer a broad range of topics which comprises non-fiction, pre-20th century literature, Shakespeare, poetry, media, and fictional prose texts. Students are encouraged to read around the texts and subjects set, and in particular are encouraged to engage with the social and moral issues raised, and to think comparatively between texts. 

Year 7 – exemplar subjects studied:
Term 1 – Introduction to secondary English
Term 2 – Skellig by David Almond with another novel
Term 3 – Media based work: charity advertising and persuasive language
Term 4 – Pre 20th literature including The Lady of Shalott – Tennyson, and other texts drawing from Arthurian legends
Term 5 – A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream - Shakespeare
Term 6 – Non-fiction writing based on the trip to Hampton Court Palace.

Year 8 – exemplar subjects studied:
Term 1 – Variety of poems from Other Cultures
Term 2 – Holes by Louis Sacher / King of Shadows by Susan Cooper / Northern Lights by Philip Pullman – plus other texts as comparison
Term 3 – Twelfth Night - Shakespeare
Term 4 – Frankenstein by Philip Pullman – play and novel
Term 5 – Non-fiction cross-curricular project with RE and History
Term 6 – Media based work: film (for example Shrek)

Year 9 – exemplar subjects studied:
Term 1 – Stonecold by Robert Swindells / The Catcher in the Rye by J D Sallinger / Animal Farm by George Orwell – plus other texts as comparison
Term 2 – Non-fiction, for example the Charity Project
Term 3 – War Poetry
Term 4 – Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare
Term 5 – Pre-20th Century texts, tracing the development of the English language
Term 6 – Media based work – film analysis (for example Harry Potter and Atonement)

GCSE

In Key Stage 4, years 10 and 11, we follow the new AQA syllabus.  Assessment is through Controlled Assessment in lessons and a number of modular examinations, both during years 10 and 11.
Year 10/11 – examples of areas studied:

• Poetry Anthology: Moonlight on the Water– poems clustered around one specific theme: relationships / people / war / places
• Rabbit Proof Fence – Doris Pilkington Garimara / Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
• Macbeth – Shakespeare and Jekyll and Hyde – R L Stevenson
• Kinder Transport – Diane Samuels / An Inspector Calls – J B Priestley / Anthology of modern short stories: Sunlight on the Grass
• Non-fiction reading and writing
• Speaking and listening activities: including drama
• Creative writing
• Spoken Language – how and why it varies in different specific situations: for example on the internet and through text messaging, or the way professionals speak as part of their chosen careers

Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level

Why study English Literature?
You might wish to study it because you enjoy studying challenging texts, hope to develop a variety of skills, know it is a very popular course, want to attain excellent results, and (hopefully most of all) because studying English Literature is many subjects in one - and one which will prepare you for life itself.

Varied Skills
Studying English Literature will help you develop skills for university and life beyond, such as discussion skills (the ‘engine’ of the subject), study skills (using sources, effective note making), independent learning skills (thinking skills), and essay writing skills

Challenging texts
Our year 12 become enmeshed in the cruel and tragic fall of Othello, set loose upon the wild and windy moors of Wuthering Heights, or explore the subtle errors of Darcy and Elizabeth’s Pride and Prejudice. As the course develops, students encounter modern texts like Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’ or Ian Mc Ewan’s ‘Atonement’, while also dealing with the greats of English literature, like Shakespeare, Chaucer, or John Donne.

Popular course
English Literature is a very popular course, with two classes in year 12, and two in year13. Many of our students go on to study the subject at degree level at the top universities. Last year, one of our students won a place to read English at Cambridge, our third student in recent years to win a place at Oxford or Cambridge for English.

The results
The results are consistently outstanding, with the statistics rating the department very highly in terms of how we ‘add value’ to students (ALPs rating usually of 2 – 1 highest out of a possible 9).

Wide ranging subject
English involves elements of so much else... You will be engaging with historical issues in entering the patriarchal society of Pride and Prejudice, exploring issues of race and gender in tracing Othello’s decline into jealousy, and studying psychology when discussing what leads to Cathy’s breakdown in Wuthering Heights – a great reason for studying English, is that it is so many subjects in one, and it is all about life in its many forms...

Careers and Higher Educational Opportunities

English at all levels is challenging and demanding, but thoroughly enjoyable and stimulating. It is good preparation for study in higher education, and can open doors to a wide range of careers, for example, law, journalism, media, public relations, advertising, human resources, education, information and communications technology, technical authorship.