English

Introduction to the Department:

Our English department prides itself on being forward thinking and innovative. We like to think that we are friendly and accommodating, so if students have questions, they should always feel free to ask any of us. The department takes pride in providing extra-curricular learning opportunities such as Poetry by Heart, and more recently the BBC School Report project and creative writing workshops. Visiting writers and theatre companies have also been a regular part of the department’s enrichment activities.

Our state-of-the-art library is a dynamic, modern space designed to inspire learning, creativity, and collaboration. Equipped with comfortable study zones, and an extensive collection of books, magazines and digital resources, the library is the heart of our academic community. Our library is led by Mrs Ewing - a qualified children’s librarian - who brings a wealth of experience and a passion for fostering a love of reading in young people. With expert knowledge in children’s and young adult literature, she provides invaluable support to students, helping them discover books that inspire, challenge, and engage.

We are what is known as a "Bedrock School," meaning we are committed to developing our students' vocabulary and literacy skills through the use of the Bedrock Learning platform. All students regularly engage with Bedrock as part of their English curriculum, helping them build a strong foundation in language that supports success across all subjects.

We aim to help all students build their confidence in speaking and listening, reading and writing, whilst developing their independent and creative thinking skills. Throughout both Key Stages, students study a wide variety of novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction texts. Learning will be a continuous process, building on knowledge gained during Key Stage 2.