Philosophy
The Head of Department, Rachel Sammons, is seeking to build from existing strengths towards an approach to the teaching and learning of English which is vibrant, cohesive and cutting edge. This involves, respectively, excitement and enthusiasm for English amongst staff and pupils, collaborative working practices and good communication, and the invention and ambition of the team.
Accommodation
The English Department is housed in eight dedicated classrooms in the main building. Opposite is the Library, with good facilities and an excellent and supportive librarian.
Curriculum Delivery
At Key Stage 3 students are taught through modules on short stories, non-fiction, the media, and Shakespeare.
At Key Stage 4 the AQA course is followed for both English Literature and English Language by all students.
In Years 12 and 13 the AQA English Literature (Spec B) is currently offered. This reflects the value attached to English Literature across the whole of our department.
The Department runs an annual Poetry Please Evening when students learn and recite poetry in a house competition. We also have a Writers’ Group and Reading Group which meet on a regular basis and there are regular theatre trips to support the teaching of plays.
In the Wider Studies option within the Sixth Form curriculum, students can choose to study AS Level English Language over two years. This is an AQA course and consists of two units: Language and the Individual and Language Varieties. This offers opportunities for students to develop their subject expertise by exploring key language concepts and linguistics engaging with a range of texts and discourses.