English Literature

The English Department is a dedicated and enthusiastic team committed to developing students’ abilities in all areas of language use as well as cultivating a real enjoyment of the subject. We encourage students to develop intellectually through critical thinking and the opportunity to articulate and develop their ideas through lively group debate and discussion. We seek to encourage students to be confident thinkers who can apply their skills in literacy to all areas of the curriculum. Students clearly enjoy the demands of this subject at GCSE making English Literature a popular choice at A Level. For public examinations, students currently study the AQA Specification B for GCSE English Language and English Literature; for A Level, we use Edexcel English Literature.

Encouraging reading for pleasure is a priority as well as fostering and supporting a passion for literature. Wider and independent reading provides students with an essential awareness and curiosity for the world around them and they are expected to develop an appreciation of the richness and diversity of language through their reading of prose, poetry, drama, media texts and through the dynamics of speech.

English is taught in a suite of classrooms in The Manor building. The course covers all aspects of the National Curriculum as well as teaching Functional Skills. Y9 are entered for Functional Skills Level 2. Students are taught in their form groups in Years 7 and 8. In Y9 all students are involved in the Integrated Learning project where English is an integral part of the course. Extra Skills lessons are also given. Students work in ability sets for GCSE in Years 10 and 11.

Enrichment Activities

Students have been very successful in national writing competitions having their work regularly published in national anthologies. Other successful and annual enrichment activities include:

Y7 Readathon;

Gravesham Festival Public Speaking and ESU Debate competition;

Carnegie Reading Club for Y9;

Booktrust Reading Club for Y8;

Visiting theatre workshops to support reading of Shakespeare and prose texts;

Summer Shakespeare production trip for Y8;

Spelling/Reading Buddy Scheme for Y7 with Sixth Form mentors;

World Book Day and Poetry Day are annually celebrated and activities take place to promote these.

So far this year, the Department has organized a trip to London to see an excellent production of ‘An Inspector Calls’ to support Y11’s reading and appreciation of the play, Y13 have taken part in the first round of the English Speaking Union’s School Debate. Two Y13 English Literature A Levels groups attended the Imperial War Museum to support their study of A Level texts based on the theme of ‘War’. A group of Y8 took part in reading and voting for their favorite novel from those selected for the Booktrust Award. All Y7 are also currently involved in the Readathon sponsored read and the donated money goes to Roald Dahl Foundation and the CLIC Sergeant appeal. There has also been an English Literature GCSE ‘Of Mice and Men’ workshop to support Y10 and 11 students.