To help keep all pupils safe, please ensure the school has up-to-date information about any allergies your child may have. Accurate allergy information enables us to put appropriate support plans in place, train staff effectively, and respond quickly in an emergency. We all have a part to play in creating a safe environment, including following our nut-aware policy and being mindful of the food brought into school. If your child has an allergy, please contact the school or update their details via Arbor. Be Allergy Aware and Save A Life - see more here.
By the end of KS3, pupils will have studied a range of challenging and engaging texts, including several Shakespeare plays, and developed an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written. Pupils will also have experienced a broad range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, both through whole-class study and independent reading.
A key focus of KS3 English is developing a secure and ambitious vocabulary, alongside an understanding and appreciation of different genres, styles and forms of writing. Through regular reading, discussion and written responses, we aim to foster a genuine love of reading and encourage pupils to become confident, lifelong readers.
Our vision for KS3 English is to develop pupils’ ability to articulate their thoughts and opinions with clarity and confidence through engagement with a rich and diverse range of literature. We encourage pupils to explore texts critically and thoughtfully, developing their understanding of the historical, cultural and social ideas that shape literature and the world around them. This provides pupils with the strong foundations in knowledge, vocabulary, reading and writing that they need to succeed at GCSE and beyond.
By KS4, pupils study Literature and Language with equal importance placed on both. We use Literature to open doors in thinking and to connect students to the issues, ideas and feelings which shape our lives. We want to support students to be able to develop empathy and emotional intelligence where they can form and express logical arguments, both verbally and in written form. The importance of craft and planning is taught at KS4 to show pupils the value of precise vocabulary choices and structured responses. As part of the GCSE, pupils have to complete an independent presentation which is a vital component in developing them as articulate and confident speakers which will lend itself to any job role they may hold in the future. The rigour of the GCSE exams in both English Literature and Language provides us with a platform to encourage time-management and effective use of time to maximise their time to fully write their answers. We build timed practice into lessons throughout KS4 to consolidate this skill.
We truly believe that the skills we teach throughout secondary school will provide a solid platform for the rest of the pupils’ lives. They will be articulate, both verbally and in writing, to be able to express their thoughts and feelings in a logical and clear way. Their study of a wide variety of texts across KS3 and KS4 will have improved their empathy, emotional intelligence and understanding of the wider world, which they are not always able to experience in day to day life. We want our pupils to be passionate, lifelong readers.