English
The English Department
The English Department is at the heart of our school, with four dedicated classrooms where a passion for language and literature thrives. Our team combines traditional teaching excellence with innovative approaches, ensuring that every student is supported and challenged to achieve their very best.
Guided by the National Curriculum, we nurture the three core strands of English: Speaking and Listening, Reading, and Writing. Lessons are designed to be stimulating, varied, and ambitious, giving students the confidence to express themselves, the skills to think critically, and the creativity to enjoy the power of words.
Through the study of literature, students gain more than just knowledge of texts - they develop empathy, independence of thought, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives. From Shakespeare to contemporary voices, we encourage learners to see literature as a way of understanding the world and their place within it.
At the heart of our department is a genuine love of language and literature. We draw on students’ interests and experiences, helping them to connect personally with their learning and to see English not just as a subject, but as a foundation for life, culture, and opportunity.
English Subject Staff
| Miss Snowden | Head of English |
| Mr Proctor | Teacher of English |
| Miss Scott | Teacher of English / PD Curriculum & Aspirations Lead |
| Mr Harrison | Teacher of English |
Key Stage 3 English
At Key Stage 3, we teach units of work that balance a range of reading and writing skills. We assess the students twice each unit, using a variety of assessment and feedback strategies. Each unit of work provides students with plenty of opportunities to develop their reading skills, with a key focus on students' ability to comprehend what they have read. Students in KS3 will also complete lessons using 'Bedrock' software. This is an effective online series of lessons which focuses on developing students' vocabularies.
Key Stage 4 English Language and English Literature
At Key Stage 4 we follow the AQA syllabus for English Language and EDUQAS syllabus for English Literature. The course is carefully structured in order to ensure thorough coverage of each set text. Each aspect of the course is covered with a formative and summative assessment, alongside full paper assessments in the December and March of Year 11 in the practice examinations.
“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it until it begins to shine.”
Emily Dickinson (poet)
