English
The Department is staffed by two full-time English specialists and three part-time English specialists. We are also very fortunate to have a part-time Higher Level Teaching Assistant who works closely with teaching staff to support students and to co-ordinate intervention programmes across Key Stage 3.
The Department meets regularly to discuss ideas and student progress. We will contact parents regularly as part of our drive to maintain our high standards. We encourage parents to keep in touch, particularly at the start of Yr 7, when our ways of working may be unfamiliar. Your son/draughter's English teacher will be more than happy to speak to you at any point during the school year; just write a note in the students planner, e-mail or telephone Reception. Should you need to discuss matters in more detail, please contact the Head of Department via the school e-mail.
Key Stage 3
We teach a varied and exciting programme of study at KS3; designed to stretch and challenge all students whilst also nurturing a love of English. Pupils are encouraged to develop good habits in the planning and drafting of written work and to communicate clearly and confidently within any oral work. All pupils are encouraged to read widely to become independent, critical readers. Each term at KS3 we have a different focus with an accompanying assessment; an overview of the year is to be found at the front of the pupil exercise books.
To support the teaching of English in Year 7 identified small groups of students receive additional Literacy support. This enables us to target their specific learning needs through one-to-one or small group intervention. This may be to support students in basic literacy or those for whom English is an additional language. Parents are kept informed of any literacy intervention we do with the Year 7 pupils. We have high expectations of all our students at all times and and encourage everyone to reach their full potential.
Key Stage 4
Each year group at KS4 is organised into five teaching groups. We endeavour to keep these groups as flexible as possible throughout the GCSE course. Most students will complete the AQA GCSE courses in English Language and English Literature, however there will be a small group that will take the English Language GCSE. This years we will be running the Entry Level Certification for our single pathway students, in terms 1 and 2 of Year 10. All these students should achieve the silver award and some should progress onto the gold award.
Post 16 Education
We offer two A Level subjects at KS5:
- English Language (AQA syllabus)
- English Literature (AQA syllabus)
