The English Department
The English department is staffed by twelve enthusiastic and committed teachers whose aim is to help our pupils become competent and confident users of spoken and written English. As a department we aim to provide an exciting, challenging and well balanced curriculum across key stage three and four that allows all pupils to learn progress and succeed regardless of ability, gender or background. We aim to provide all pupils with lessons that are engaging and enjoyable. We constantly strive to keep opportunities for learning varied and to challenge pupils whilst embedding the fundamentals of our subject. We want to allow pupils to develop skills they will need to become successful learners and promote independence and responsibility.
Key Stage 3 now follows a modified programme of study. AF data is used to inform planning and teaching, enabling student development to be personalised and differentiated. In Years 7 - 9, pupils are taught in two halves of the year each of which contains five sets. Setting is determined by test results, target levels and current progress and movement occurs between sets as appropriate. Within their set pupils are taught the objectives of the National Literacy Strategy through the delivery of half term schemes of work written by members of the department. The schemes of work are a working document and are updated and reviewed on a regular basis.
At Key Stage 4 the department currently follows the WJEC syllabus and we offer English Language and English Literature to all pupils. Last year our headline figure was 62% A* - C in English Language . This year we anticipate 65% of our pupils to gain a grade C or above and we hope to build further upon the value that we deliver to pupils. In year 10 & 11, pupils are taught in ability groups across the year. All staff have contributed to the preparation of new schemes of learning for the new controlled assessment for the new 2011 GCSE.
To help deliver the curriculum the department is generously resourced with text books, dictionaries, novels, plays and poetry anthologies. There are also comprehensive schemes of work in place for KS3 and KS4.
Outside the classroom, we organise a range of activities to celebrate National Poetry Day and World Book Day inviting professional writers to share their skills and experiences with the pupils. We also encourage and train children to give poetry readings in school concerts. Theatre and cinema visits have also been organised by staff and these visits have been extremely popular with our pupils.
This is a very exciting time to join the department as in September 2012 we will move into a brand new building as part of the “Building Schools for the Future” programme. The English Department will have state of the art facilities and resources.
Shanaz Hussain
Curriculum Leader (English)
September 2011
