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English
Staffing
Stephen Rowswell – Subject Leader
Emma Thomas – Deputy Subject Leader
Fergus Latimer – Assistant Subject Leader
Colm McManus – English teacher and Media co-ordinator
Jessica Shillingford – English teacher
Anthony Jackson – English teacher
Curriculum
Key Stage 3 in English includes a range of reading and writing skills, as well as speaking and listening skills such as role play, group work and individual presentation. Every year also includes the study of a novel, a study of Shakespeare and poetry.
Key Stage 4 follows the AQA English Language and English Literature GCSE. The top two GCSE groups are expected to complete the course in two years from Year 9, with the possibility of taking AS English Literature in Year 11. This includes the study of the novels ‘The Woman in Black’ by Susan Hill, ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck, ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell, a range of war poems and the Shakespeare play ‘Macbeth’.
The English Department offers both English Literature and Media Studies at A Level. For English Literature, students need a minimum of a B grade in English at GCSE. The curriculum includes a range of poetry, drama and prose.
The Media Studies AS course is broken down into 2 main areas: the theoretical analysis of TV dramas and also the creation of the opening of a feature film. Students are taught to critically assess the representations on offer and learn to handle video recording and editing equipment to a proficient standard. They are then given the option of honing those skills through more complex editing and visual effects software. At A2, students begin to analyse the theoretical place of the media within our lives, under the themes of Globalization, Identity and Media in the On-Line Age, while also furthering their skills through the production of their own short film or music video.
Enrichment
We hold a number of after-school sessions to support, enrich and enable Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level. We also hold Saturday sessions prior to the exam as well as special sessions over the school holidays.
Additional Support
One-to-one support is provided to both Key Stage 3 and GCSE students who need additional help. This might be for students on a grade borderline between a D and a C, or even an A and an A*. The department has a subject specialist whose time is solely dedicated to one-to-one sessions with students.
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