English
 Introduction to Department |
The English Department has a total of eight experienced full-time English specialists with a strong commitment to team work. They provide a supportive environment in which expertise is shared and development can take place. It is essential that the person appointed to lead this team establishes good, productive relationships with colleagues to nurture a collaborative team ethos. The person appointed will be expected to teach pupils across the whole of the age and ability range. The school operates a 25 period week and the successful candidate will have a timetable commitment of about 20 lessons.
| Members of Staff List |
Mr B. Larkin - Head of English
Mr P. Pritchard
Ms J. Biddle-Mogg
Mrs V. McDonald
Miss S. Armstrong
Miss C. Donley
Miss D. Glynn
| Parts of Curriculum Covered |
The English Department is based in eight specialist rooms with substantial access to high quality ICT facilities, including several Interactive White Boards. Resources are good with a substantial stock of text books plus other equipment such as televisions and VCRs/videos.
At present, lessons are taught in ability sets within half-year blocks. In KS3 there are 12 English sets for each year group of about 240 pupils. The average KS3 class size is about 20 pupils per teacher. In KS4 there are 10 English sets for each year group of about 240 pupils. The average KS4 class size is about 24 pupils per teacher. Internal examinations are set for each group at the end of the year. The Department has established regular internal assessment and pupil portfolios of work and there are formal end of year examinations organised for each year group.
At Key Stage 4, all students follow courses leading to examination in both English and English Literature, using the AQA syllabus A. Results are consistent with about 50% of pupils achieving A-C grades and almost all pupils are entered for both GCSE English Language and Literature. In 2004 there was a record number of pupils achieving A*/A grades in English Language / Literature.
The English Department has links with other areas of the curriculum and liaises closely with the SENCO. English also offers language skills support at Key Stage 4 and ‘G & T' provision at Key Stage 3.
The School has a cross-curricular literacy policy which the Department contributes to and supports. Year 7 pupils with reading needs are currently following the ICT ‘Successmaker' programme as are pupils of limited ability in Year 8 and Year 9.
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