Aims
In the first 3 years we aim to develop:
- Knowledge about how language works and is correctly employed.
- Responses to literature of all genres and at an increasing level of sophistication.
- Language skills in a variety of ways: to express feelings and experience; to persuade; discuss; and analyse.
- Formal and informal oral communication skills.
Staff and facilities
The department has a staff of 8 full-time teachers and 2 part-time teachers, as well as the fully qualified Drama teacher. We occupy 7 rooms in the convent house, one Drama room and one in the Woodsmoor building. Teachers make extensive use of the library and its ICT suite.
How much time will I spend on this subject per 10 day cycle?
- Lower School – 5 lessons (5 hours) with 1 and a half hours of homework
- IGCSE English and English Literature (compulsory) – 6 lessons (6 hours) with 2 hours of homework
- A Level – 10 lessons (10 hours) with additional individual study
English in the Lower School
Work is taught in such a way that several aims are covered at a time. For example the close reading and study of a text can encourage creativity through the production of writing in a variety of forms. Presentation and oral communication skills are developed through discussion or dramatic role play and, as an integral part, specific technical skills such as spelling and grammar are learnt. Each First and Second Year class also has one period of Drama per fortnightly cycle. Specific attention is paid to the development of personal reading through a certificate scheme in the First Year.
English further up the school
IGCSE
At IGCSE we concentrate on preparing pupils for the compulsory English and English Literature examinations, which are based on non-literary and media texts as well as the study of classic plays, poetry and novels. Pupils are given the opportunity to respond analytically, personally and imaginatively to texts which are studied in class.
A Level
At A Level we study modern prose texts such as Enduring Love and Birdsong alongside Shakespeare’s plays and poetry by Hardy, Tennyson and Keats. Many theatre visits are organised and at the end of the Lower Sixth, a residential visit to Stratford or London is arranged.
Extracurricular activities
The Lower School debating society meet every week to discuss controversial motions such as “this house believes that Facebook is dangerous.”
The creative writing society Writers Inc is open to all year groups. Pupils meet at lunchtime to generate their own creative pieces. The Signpost newspaper is independently written and produced by a team of First Year pupils every half-term and is published online.
