English
Key stage 3
Here in the English department we aim to foster a love of literature, develop students’ creativity and produce effective communicators through speaking and listening, writing and understanding.
With the abolition of the SATs test, students’ progress through years 7 to 9 is now assessed using the Assessing Pupil Progress model and we aim to help our learners progress two levels in Writing and Reading.
We teach in mixed ability classes and aim to challenge all our students. We study Shakespeare in all three years. Most students will read two novels in each of their Key Stage 3 years. We use non-fiction and media to engage students and increase their awareness of wider cultural values in the world.
All our teaching rooms have projectors and staff actively seek opportunities to engage students through moving image and music wherever possible.
Staff make use of the CLC in order to challenge established ways of teaching and the recent arrival of visualisers in the department allows us to showcase student work instantly and film any aspect of every lesson.
Through English Club and the library, students have access to a range of opportunities. We regularly make trips to the theatre and to the cinema as well as inviting guest authors, poets and playwrights to share their enthusiasm and expertise with students.
Key stage 4
We follow the WJEC syllabus for both Language and Literature. Students are entered for both exams regardless of ability level. Coursework is generally undertaken in year 10 and this year, for the first time, we have entered a cohort of students for “Early Entry” this will provide many of our hardworking students the opportunity to have more than one attempt at achieving their target grade.
Students need 4 pieces of coursework for English Language: A descriptive or narrative piece; a non-fiction piece (for example, a persuasive letter or article) an assignment on Shakespeare and a comparison of two poems from different cultures. We have worked on a pilot scheme with the Sheffield College to provide a detailed package of support for both parents and students. Grades achieved on these pieces are added to an overall mark for a student’s speaking and listening work. This provides 40% of the mark that they will take into the final exams.
Two additional pieces are required for English Literature: an assignment focused on the study of a novel (many of our classes read Frankenstein) and a comparison of two poems, one of which must have been written before 1914.
We make no apology for focussing on the world of work and the practical skills needed to succeed. We also believe that our English curriculum fosters enterprise in the form of risk taking and collaborative approaches to learning and problem solving. We expect our students to go on to college, university and into the work place.
