In Years 7, 8 and 9, the English Department introduces the idea of becoming a “subject specialist” to pupils, so that they clearly understand that the ability to use English precisely, imaginatively and in a sophisticated manner is a valuable life skill which will help them to achieve success in all walks of life in their future.
Our Key Stage 3 provision fully meets the new curriculum; across the three years, pupils are offered a varied diet of written, spoken and visual texts, ranging from poems, novels and plays, by authors such as Blake, Dickens and Shakespeare, in the literary canon, alongside modern texts like Michael Morpurgo’s “Private Peaceful” and John Boyne’s “Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”. Teachers study a variety of texts with our pupils so that they can both appreciate their style and structure, and improve their own writing skills as a result.
Children are encouraged to work both independently and in groups in a well-resourced and enthusiastic environment, where achievement is recognised and rewarded; over the three years, there is a balanced approach to assessment, with each strand of the Curriculum for English being addressed equally. Assessment objectives are designed to help students make progress by clearly signalling the level they are currently working at, as well as what is required to move forward.