English
Overview of the Curriculum Area
Accommodation
The English block, refurbished in 2004, has 11 English rooms, each fitted with
an interactive whiteboard; a purpose-designed and recently refurbished ICT
room; a curriculum base with storage, photocopier and a management
network computer, a Vice Principal’s office, and an open courtyard space.
You will be joining a professional, committed group of teachers who work hard
to ensure that the students have every opportunity to learn and benefit from
their experience in English lessons. The team are hoping an enthusiastic and
conscientious applicant will relish the challenge of working with our students,
and will be willing to strive for high standards of professional expertise. In
recent years several members of the English Area have been promoted very
quickly to posts of additional responsibility and have benefited from the ethos
and the training opportunities in this very strong team.
Staffing
At present there are ten full time teachers of English and one member of staff
who teaches a reduced number of lessons due to wider responsibilities. The
Curriculum Team Leader (Sarah Mann) leads the team and has four Assistant
Team Leaders who take special responsibility for 14-19 (Katie Gibson), KS3
(Erika Deakin/David Wilkinson) and Joint Projects (Lisa Minihan). The
department also has a curriculum based Learning Support Assistant (Cheryl
Trewinnard) who delivers literacy intervention in Years 7 and 8 and also
supports students throughout Key Stages 3 and 4.
We have developed strong links with many outside agencies and have
recently enjoyed working relationships with AQA; University of Cambridge
(UCLES); Basic Skills Agency; Leeds Metropolitan University and The Best
Practice Research Scholarship.
Curriculum
The college operates a 6 period day. All students enjoy four periods of
English each week. The English Area has a delineated setting arrangement
in Years 7 to 11. The grouping of students is reviewed regularly. The
curriculum is planned so that it meets the statutory requirements for English in
The National Curriculum as well as the needs of all students. At KS3, the
Schemes of Work also deliver the Literacy Objectives identified in the
Framework for Teaching English and prepare students for the end of Key
Stage Assessments. We have recently moved to a two year Key Stage 3,
allowing students the opportunity to further enhance their skills at KS4. At
Key Stage 4 and in Post 16, the Schemes of Work prepare students to meet
the Assessment Objectives of the examination specifications for English
Language and Literature.
The curriculum is also planned to meet the department’s commitment to
delivering cross-curricular strands such as ICT, Citizenship and Enterprise.
Opportunities to meet these obligations are highlighted in the individual
Schemes of Work.
The Level 2 GCSE and Functional Skills programme offers the students who
were unsuccessful in Year 11 the opportunity to re-sit English Language in
Year 12.
Achievements
Year
2008
2009
2010
Key
Stage 3
% level
5+
75%
71
80%
% A* -C GCSE
A2
Language
Literature
% pass rate
64%
74%
70%
98.9% (entry)
97% (entry)
87% (entry)
100%
95%
100%
Culture and Ethos
The department’s main aim is to maximise the achievement of every
individual student, irrespective of the potential barriers to their learning. Its
other aims are: to inspire, challenge and engage students in their learning; to
offer all students a guaranteed, full and rounded entitlement to learning; to
foster their creativity; to help them to develop the literacy skills that they need
in order to access the curriculum and demonstrating their understanding; to
inspire students with a love of language and literature that will last a lifetime.
Sarah Mann
Curriculum Team Leader English and Literacy
January 2011