Curriculum Statement
Our aim in English is to help students read, write and communicate effectively while creating a love of literature and language.
In English, students are taught the vital skills of reading comprehension and analysis, as well as being taught to communicate effectively in a range of written and verbal forms. Students develop their ability to not only understand, but also to question and develop the ideas and language they will read and hear in academic, professional and cultural contexts.
We help students do this through a curriculum that introduces students to a wide range of text types from a wide range of cultural backgrounds so that students get the chance to appreciate the huge variety of high quality texts from all around the world, both modern and traditional. Our text choices, as well as the activities surrounding them, ensure that all students are challenged.? Students also revisit areas of study such as Shakespeare and 19th Century fiction in order to ensure that the contextual knowledge required to fully understand these texts is fully embedded. While doing this students develop comprehension, analysis and writing skills with the guidance of their teacher.
The English curriculum aims to create a lifelong love of reading through the careful selection of high-quality engaging texts which taught with passion. Students are expected to learn from the texts they read. In addition to this students get extensive practice in completing their own pieces of extended, creative writing, with a focus on the ability to write in clear, Standard English. This is also aimed at promoting their independence and resilience.
This is all aimed at helping students to communicate, work and live successfully and happily.
Who’s Who?
Curriculum Leader:
- Mr Blackburn
English Teachers:
- Mr Chowdhury
- Mr Clayden (Deputy Head of Sixth Form)
- Mr Dempsey (Head of Media Studies)
- Ms Goksungar
- Mr Green (Assistant Principal)
- Ms Kither (Director of Sixth Form)
- Ms Mayon-White
- Ms Mohamoud
- Mr Parkin
- Ms Walker
KS4 and KS5 Courses Offered
- GCSE English Language
- GCSE English Literature
- A Level English Literature
Online Resources
- Spark Notes
- Bedrock – for Year 8 students
Resources to support GCSE study:
- Seneca – for KS4 students
- Mr Bruff – online video tutorials
- Bristol University grammar exercises
- BBC Bitesize English Language resources
- BBC Bitesize English Literature resources
- Victorian Web – more information on Victorian context of 19th-century texts