English

The English Department firmly believes that all students deserve access to exceptional lessons, both in terms of content and delivery. We are dedicated to delivering a robust and inspiring, knowledge rich curriculum at both Key Stage 3 and 4: a curriculum that not only prepares students for the challenges of GCSEs and A-levels but one that provides them with confidence and pleasure in the creative arts.

At Key Stage 3, we introduce students to an integrated body of knowledge including inspiring literary texts: poetry, prose and play scripts (both modern and of the literary heritage) and non fiction texts such as informative articles, reports, letters and so on. Through close engagement with these texts, students are taught the skills of interpretation, inference and analysis, as well as developing their knowledge of subject terminology. They are taught how to use the techniques they study in their own written work. Alongside this knowledge rich and skills based approach, we remain committed to nurturing the love that our students have of reading and writing. In years 7 and 8, students have a library lesson a week wherein they get to enjoy reading and writing for pleasure; in year 9 this is reduced to one library lesson a fortnight. Our utilisation of reading/writing circles to develop independent working methods and to focus on necessary interventions during library lessons has been received with considerable positivity.

We aim for all students to begin Key Stage 4 in the Summer term of year 9, with a sense of self-belief and confidence in English and, as such, firmly believe that all students can achieve in this subject area. We teach mixed-ability classes at all levels, conveying our belief that an inclusive and challenging environment enables all young people to realise their potential. Working towards the Edexcel English Language and Literature GCSEs, a range of prescribed texts are taught fully and in-depth by skilled and passionate practitioners. As a department, we have responded to the rigours of the new GCSEs by incorporating A-Level teaching techniques and vocabulary in GCSE classes thereby supporting our more able students to achieve the higher grades and preparing them to exploring this rich subject in further education

Year 7 schemes of learning 

Year 8 schemes of learning

Year 9 schemes of learning

Key stage 4 schemes of learning