English Overview
The main aim of our English curriculum is to provide students with the skills that they need in order to question the ever changing world around them whilst fostering a love of reading and a love of writing. We want to be able to empower our students with a voice which questions, critiques and evaluates their surroundings as a result of being exposed to a carefully planned and varied curriculum which explores both the literary heritage and contemporary literature. Writing is an integral part of the majority of English lessons – from ‘free-writing’ to specific skills writing – and students are becoming more confident on a daily basis with what they CAN do.
Our students begin a spiral curriculum in Year 7 which aims to build on the skills and knowledge taught at KS2. This starts off a new learning journey punctuated with recall and consolidation to ensure a deep and precise understanding of key knowledge and terms by the end of Year 11. As well as knowledge, we provide the skills and the understanding which we teach students, that prepares them fully for the demands of adult life.
Students are encouraged to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as non-fiction and media texts. They will explore how writers craft texts and use this understanding to choose and adapt what they say and write in different situations.
Students learn individually, in pairs and in groups. We challenge all students to achieve the highest academic standards they can and support this by providing regular next-steps advice, which students are required to respond to.
Our department comprises a team of reflective practitioners who are passionate about ensuring that students’ needs are met and adapt their practice accordingly. By embedding ‘Big Questions’ into our lessons we encourage opinions and develop their abilities to think and articulate how they feel. We are also able to cover more diverse topics that allow students to access topics on a personal, community, national and international level.
Where can English take me?
English Department
Mrs J Jackson – Assistant Headteacher
Mrs E Hardacre – Progress Leader Year 11, Senior Lead Practitioner
Miss B Phillips – Subject Leader
Mr L Melin – Progress Leader Year 9 and Cultural Capital Lead
Miss J Stokes – Teacher
Mr J Davies – Subject Leader
Miss W Gallimore – Teacher
Miss E Stanway – Literacy and Enrichment Lead
Mrs E Boyles – Teacher
