skip to main content

English

Confidence and competence in English are vital to success across the curriculum. Our students are helped to enjoy their English experience and to secure the highest grades of which they are capable.

Their programmes of study are stimulating and varied. Creative, discursive and analytical tasks challenge all abilities. Students read and explore a wide range of texts: literary and non-literary, prose, verse and drama, classical and modern. Please see our curriculum outline below.

Speaking and Listening skills are developed and assessed at all stages in the Senior School.

Students are prepared for GCSE examinations in both English and English Literature. In the GCSE years students are setted according to ability and work at the pace best suited to their needs. From September 2010 we are following the Cambridge International GCSE specifications (IGCSE), for which more detail can be found by visiting the CIE (Cambridge International Examinations) website.

LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM OUTLINE

LOWER 4

• Pupils will study a class reader from a dedicated Lower 4 list of titles (e.g. Louis Sachar’s Holes), a short modern drama text, a selection of contemporary and pre-1900 poetry and an introduction to associated literary terminology, (alliteration, metaphor, etc)
• A variety of non-fiction and media genres will be covered from a Lower 4 curriculum list, e.g. letter writing, autobiography
• Literary and non-fiction texts will endeavour to include writers from different cultures
• Word and sentence level (spelling and grammar) appropriate to Year 7 level and individual weaknesses
• The use of ICT and the school library for research skills will be incorporated into lesson schemes
• Differentiation of work will occur as appropriate according to individual ability. Pupil self-assessment is encouraged within the department and our suggested reading list is available as part of the website

UPPER 4

• Pupils will study a class reader from a dedicated Upper 4 list of titles (e.g. A.Yen Mah’s Chinese Cinderella), a drama text, a selection of contemporary and pre- 1900 poetry and associated literary terminology, e.g. personification, sonnet form
• A variety of non-fiction and media genres will be covered from an Upper 4 curriculum list e.g. review writing, reports
• Literary and non-fiction texts will endeavour to include writers from different cultures
• Language change work and some basic etymology will be introduced, including, e.g. extracts from Chaucer
• Pupils will have an introduction to Shakespeare’s stage and study an abridged version of a play (e.g. Romeo and Juliet)
• Reading, writing and speaking and listening will be assessed for different purposes based on the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for English
• Word and sentence level (spelling and grammar)
• The use of ICT and the school library for research skills will be incorporated into lesson schemes
• Differentiation of work will occur as appropriate according to individual ability. Pupil self-assessment is encouraged within the department and our suggested reading list is available on the school website

LOWER 5

• Pupils will study a class reader from a dedicated Lower 5 list of titles (e.g. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men), a drama text, a selection of contemporary and pre-1900 poetry and associated literary terminology e.g. caesura, ballad form
• A variety of non-fiction and media genres will be covered from a Lower 5 curriculum list e.g. persuasive texts and rhetoric
• Literary and non-fiction texts will endeavour to include writers from different cultures
• Pupils in higher sets will study an unabridged version of a Shakespeare play e.g. The Merchant of Venice
• There will be a particular emphasis on pre-1914 texts as well as post-1914 in this year group e.g. short stories and poetry, in preparation for the IGCSE syllabus
• Reading, writing and speaking and listening will be assessed for different purposes based on the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for English
• Word and sentence level (spelling and grammar) will be covered looking towards the particular requirements of the IGCSE
• The use of ICT and the school library for research skills will be incorporated into lesson schemes
• Differentiation of work will occur as appropriate according to individual ability. Pupil self-assessment is encouraged within the department and our suggested reading list is available on the school website