English Department

Aims

The English Faculty believes in the concept of excellence for all and provides an English curriculum which offers all learners with the opportunity to develop their own unique talents and realise their full potential.

• To develop their speaking and listening skills through the use of language in a wide variety of situations and contexts.
• To develop their reading skills and encourage an awareness of the value of text (both literary and non-literary) and its influence on the individual, giving them enjoyment of a wide range of texts and other stimulus materials and therefore access to the whole curriculum.
• To develop their writing skills and give them the opportunity to write for real purposes so that they understand that there are different forms of writing for different purposes and audiences, and that they can only communicate effectively through the accuracy, structure and clarity of the written word.
• To prepare our pupils for the challenges of external examinations: SATS, GCSE English and Literature and BTEC Media Studies.

Accommodation & Resources

The majority of the English Faculty is accommodated in suited rooms on one corridor in the Languages Block. All rooms have white boards. There are display boards in every classroom and along the corridor that connects them. All rooms have interactive whiteboards and we make great use of these facilities. These offer teaching via specialist IWB software, power point presentations, use of the internet and more besides.

The English Faculty enjoys excellent links with the school library (which is pre bookable as a teaching room) and regularly participates in activities such as the annual Litfest and visiting writers.

The English Faculty has a wide range of texts for use at both KS3 and KS4. We also have a photocopier for our exclusive use.

Key Stage 3

Pupils at KS 3 follow Schemes of Work derived from the National Literacy Strategy with plenty of our own innovations and ideas. There is particular emphasis on pre 1914 Literature including Shakespeare and Dickens. We are justly proud of our KS 3 SATS results which are way above national average, usually around 85% level 5 and above. Pupils are taught in mixed ability tutor groups for the first month and then grouped in broad bands using KS 2 SATS data and teacher assessment. Weaker pupils are taught by the SENCO in small groups as part of the highly successful ALPS programme. The groups largely roll over in to Year 8 and in Year 9 pupils are taught in more specific ability groups. Pupils have 4 x 50 minute periods per week, one of which is a double lesson.

Key Stage 4

Pupils follow the OCR GCSE English course. We have a 100% entry policy for this specification. Pupils are taught in ability groups. All pupils are entered for GCSE English at the end of Year 10. This early entry strategy has been very successful. Our approach is such that it provides opportunities for weaker attainers to resit in Year 11 and all others to concentrate on either GCSE English Literature or BTEC Media Studies. Exam results exceed the national average for English. This year (2008) results are currently 77% A*-C for GCSE English.

Additional Information

The English Faculty welcomes new staff and offers the following opportunities:

• A visit to the Faculty before taking up a post.
• Observations and team teaching with other members of the Faculty.
• Full involvement in collaborative planning and reviewing of materials, courses, and all aspects of the Faculty’s work.
• An English Faculty based mentor.

Extra Curricular Activities

We offer a wide variety of theatre trips – aimed at GCSE and SATS students – a recent visit of The Black Cat Theatre Company gave Year 9 the opportunity last year to see Much Ado. We take advantage of being so close to Stratford and offer visits there regularly.

In the past the English Faculty has hosted the very popular Media Week as part of the whole school enrichment week in July. This has included trips to Disneyland, Paris; visits to London for musicals, museums and The BBC. In the academic year 2007-8 Windsor pupils were runners up in the Dudley Schools Debating Competition.