An Introduction To The English Department

Head of Department: Mrs Bridget Clarke

The English Department, consisting of six part-time and full-time staff, teaches English and Literature throughout the school. Our aim is to provide not only life skills but also to broaden our students’ knowledge and experience of the many facets of English. The department is primarily housed in a suite of rooms which are well resourced and facilitate the integration of e-learning into our teaching and learning. We actively encourage our students to read widely in order to experience a wealth of fiction and non-fiction. Homework is set twice weekly and may be drawn from a variety of tasks such as reading, extended writing, preparation for speaking and listening activities and research to support work undertaken during class time.

In Years 7, 8 and 9 students study a variety of topics and texts, including fiction and non-fiction delivered through schemes of work developed in accordance with the Key Stage 3 National Literacy Framework. The schemes are designed to develop skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening. They incorporate a range of tasks encouraging individual, paired and group work.

In Years 10 and 11 students study a two-year integrated course, following AQA B English and English Literature specifications, which leads to the award of two GCSEs.

In the Sixth Form, the department offers AQA English and OCR Literature at A level.

We are a lively, enthusiastic department dedicated to offering our students a variety of extra-curricular opportunities in order to support their learning. During this year, we have organised inter-house debating competitions in key stages 3 and 4. Annually, we host a whole-school poetry competition to celebrate National Poetry Day in October. In addition, amongst several events for students in Year 7, we were fortunate enough to have the Orange Tree theatre company present a workshop on A Midsummer Night’s Dream which provided our students with an exciting opportunity to explore the play in a different way. Year 8 students visited both The Telegraph and The Guardian newspapers as part of their media newspaper studies whilst Year 9 has also participated in a Macbeth workshop in preparation for their Shakespeare examination. Opportunities also exist for older students to gain extra-curricular experiences with, for example, attendance at A level sixth form literature conferences and a visit to the BBC in London. Other extra-curricular activities include five weekly workshop sessions, hosted by the department, which are voluntarily attended by students from all year groups.