English

As a department, we are committed to making English as enjoyable as possible for all students, with a clear aim to helping them achieve as highly as they possibly can, whilst becoming independent, critical thinkers along the way.

The department is made up of a team of teachers who all bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the teaching of English, Media and Film.

Key Stage 3

Students have six English lessons a fortnight, where they explore all types of texts from the internet to moving image, novels to comic books and magazines, poetry to story telling.

The school is committed to producing successful, enquiring, independent thinkers, who will be fully prepared for their GCSEs and life beyond.

Some of the texts studied at KS3 include:

• ‘Darkside’ by Tom Becker
• ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne’
• ‘Tins’ by Alex Shearer
• ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ by J.K. Rowling
• ‘Noughts and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman
• ‘Private Peaceful’ by Michael Morpurgo
• ‘Northern Lights’ by Philip Pullman
• ‘The Black Book of Secrets’ by F.E. Higgins

Key Stage 4

Students study for English and English Literature GCSE with the AQA syllabus (Specification A). We currently focus on Romeo & Juliet for the Shakespeare part of the course, and we choose from Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, or Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck for the prose.

Students study a variety of media work and then focus on one area for a piece of extended writing.

Students are encouraged to enter for GCSE English Literature. The study of an extra text (currently An Inspector Calls - a drama text) enables students, once all 5 units of written work are completed, to be entered for the qualification in GCSE English & English Literature.

Key Stage 5

English Literature

We follow the AQA English Literature B course.

English Literature has had a makeover, consequentially:

• students will read more texts;
• contemporary writing gets more focus;
• texts must be linked and connected;
• creativity is encouraged;
• and coursework gets an increased profile.

AQA English Literature B has always been a dynamic and forward looking specification. The new specification offers an exciting set of units, mixing some of the best of the old specification with some new and interesting ways of reading texts.