Our Ethos

In the English Department we believe in enriching our students’ lives and shaping their understanding of the challenging, diverse and ever-changing world they live in. 

Not only does our curriculum allow students insights into other cultures, but they are given the opportunity for creativity, self-expression and personal development.  We encourage our students to be inquisitive and explore how the written word can enable them to communicate effectively and appropriately in a range of environments and discourses. 

Through the study of English we aim to create global citizens who are able to communicate with one another empathetically.  Through engagement with a breadth of texts, both classic and contemporary, we aim to instill a love of literature which will enable students to become lifelong readers and critical thinkers. 

We aim to bring fun, joy and innovation to our students - never shying away from any creativity needed to truly enjoy and excel in our subject! 

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Lower Secondary (Year 7 -9) 

What students learn: 

Learners develop skills and understanding in four areas: reading, writing, speaking and listening. They will learn how to communicate effectively and respond to a range of information, media and texts to:

• Become confident communicators, able to apply all four skills effectively in everyday situations

• See themselves as readers, engaging with a range of texts for information and for pleasure, including texts from different times and cultures

• See themselves as writers, using the written word clearly and creatively for a range of different audiences and purposes.

How is the course taught?

This curriculum supports an integrated approach to teaching the four skills. With the support available, you can deliver Cambridge Lower Secondary English using a broad range of activities that promote experience, reflection and improvement.

We recommend a range of fiction genres, poetry, play scripts and non-fiction texts to provide authentic contexts for skills development.

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Upper Secondary (Year 10 - 13) 

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English is designed for learners whose first language is English. 

The course enables learners to:

• develop the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively when speaking and writing

• use a wide range of vocabulary, and the correct grammar, spelling and punctuation

• develop a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed.

Learners are also encouraged to read widely, both for their own enjoyment and to further their awareness of the ways in which English can be used. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English also develops more general analysis and communication skills such as inference, and the ability to order facts and present opinions effectively.

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Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language is for learners who already have a working knowledge of the language.

The syllabus:

• is suitable for learners whose first language is not English

• develops learners’ ability to understand and use English in a range of situations

• builds learners’ awareness of the nature of language and the four language-learning skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking

• focuses on practical communication for everyday use, which can also form the basis for further, more in-depth language study

• develops transferable skills to complement other areas of the curriculum.

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Cambridge IGCSE English Literature: the syllabus enables learners to read, interpret and evaluate texts through the study of literature in English. 

Learners develop an understanding of literal meaning, relevant contexts and of the deeper themes or attitudes that may be expressed. Through their studies, they learn to recognize and appreciate the ways in which writers use English to achieve a range of effects, and will be able to present an informed, personal response to the material they have studied.

The syllabus also encourages the exploration of wider and universal issues, promoting learners' better understanding of themselves and of the world around them.

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Cambridge International AS and A Level English Language develops a set of transferable skills. These include critical analysis; constructing arguments; presenting knowledge and understanding; and writing English in a balanced, articulate and fluent manner. Learners can apply these skills across a wide range of subjects and real-world situations. These skills will also equip them well for progression to higher education or directly into employment. 

Our approach in Cambridge International AS and A Level English Language encourages learners to be: 

• confident, exploring texts and ideas with self-assurance, intellectual freedom and personal insight 

• responsible, committing to their learning and developing linguistic expertise to better understand themselves, others and the wider community 

• reflective, developing a keen and critical sense of themselves as users and consumers of language in a range of ever-changing contexts 

• innovative, approaching tasks and texts with a combination of creative, original and flexible thinking 

• engaged, recognizing and interrogating the role language plays in matters of personal, social and global significance, and being prepared to apply this learning beyond the classroom.

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Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper develops a set of transferable skills. These include comprehension, constructing an argument, presenting views, and writing English coherently and persuasively. Learners can apply these skills across a wide range of subjects and these skills equip them well for progression to higher education or directly into employment. 

Our approach in Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper encourages learners to be: 

• confident, explaining, analysing and evaluating multi-disciplinary issues and communicating arguments 

• responsible, seeking a wide range of knowledge and opinion from varied sources, directing their own learning 

• reflective, considering and reflecting upon a diverse range of ideas, incorporating these into their responses

• innovative, creating their own ideas and style as they explore topics and express ideas in writing

• engaged, developing informed opinions, engaging with the challenges of our dynamic world.

Meet the team: