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English
Head of English | Miss Rai |
Overview
The English department at Christ’s fosters creativity and critical thinking in all students through a diverse and engaging curriculum.
The curriculum at Christ’s offers a balance of classic literature and contemporary texts, encouraging students to explore a wide range of perspectives, themes and genres. Our teaching and learning is underpinned by the importance of developing students’ core reading, writing and spoken language skills. We strive to challenge students at every level, providing opportunities for deep analysis and discussion, and in turn, promoting independent thinking. By offering bespoke support, we ensure that all students, regardless of their starting point, are able to grow and succeed. Ultimately, the English department aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading and the confidence to express ideas with clarity and creativity. We recognise the important relationship between knowledge and skills therefore, ensure that our robust teaching framework reflects this consistently.
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Facilities
The English department has access to chromebooks to support the student’s learning in lessons. We also provide students with the set texts studied in lessons, but encourage students to purchase their own copies to make detailed annotations. Students also have access to a range of revision booklets, past papers and textbooks in the department that they can collect from their class teacher.
Key Stage 3
The KS3 English curriculum follows the National Curriculum Programme of Study. We teach a variety of different forms and build on students core skills in line with the National Curriculum. These include: reading, writing, spoken language and grammar.
Students will study two Shakespeare plays across KS3, and a diverse range of novels, anthologies of poems, and plays each year.
Good literacy underpins our teaching and learning and students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have a dedicated library lesson once a fortnight in which we focus on encouraging reading for pleasure, and developing critical thinking skills.
English topics are taught on a half-termly basis, and the texts are carefully sequenced thematically. This means students are equipped with the knowledge to make connections across different literature texts as they increase in difficulty throughout KS3.
Key Stage 4
All students at Key Stage 4 are entered for AQA GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature qualification. The GCSEs are both 100% exams, however students will also complete a Spoken Language presentation which is marked as a pass, merit or distinction and is a separate award.
The English Language GCSE allows for explorations and study of a broad range of texts by men and women writers, as well as writers from a range of cultural backgrounds and experiences.
The English Literature texts are provided by the exam board. Students can expect exciting adventures, emotional and challenging themes, as well as a variety of intriguing characters, settings, and narratives.