The English Department

The English Department is a large and thriving one currently consisting of the Head of Department, the assistant head of Department, four full time subject specialists – one of whom has responsibility for the Literacy Strategy and three teachers who teach part time in the department.

The Department is housed in a suite of six classrooms with a Departmental office and one stock room. The Department is well-resourced with a variety of texts and a range of audio-visual equipment including three TVs and videos, plus two DVD players and CD players, and a video camera. Teachers may book the Library or the school’s IT rooms for class work. Two classrooms have interactive whiteboards, with more planned for the future.

In Years 7, 8 and 9 English is taught in forms. There is an element of setting at GCSE.

Throughout the school there is considerable enthusiasm for English generated by teaching that aims to stimulate and challenge. Students consistently achieve high levels of success in public examinations. At GCSE the department has opted for the AQA (A) English and English Literature syllabus. Large numbers of students choose English at A-level electing to study either English Literature AQA (A) or the combined course in Language and Literature (Edexcel).

Extra-curricular activities form an important part of the Department‘s work. Activities include theatre visits, workshops, creative writing, debating and the production of the School magazine. A Literary Review is produced termly for staff and the Sixth Form.