English

Budding journalists produce their own newspaper

That one word ‘English’ denotes a subject full of cultural riches which can provide interests for life. At one level, English involves all the techniques and skills needed to foster literacy and it is therefore a subject which serves both pupils and other subjects. In various ways, it focuses on both language and literature and can provide a rich diet of stories, thoughts, feelings, characters, dramas, tones and motives. English is one subject which naturally promotes the discussion of people, ideas and opinions, among many other many things.

Our teaching tends to be led by the literature we study which often has its own built-in interests. We generally try to choose books and texts which provide a challenge, reward study and are worth remembering.

According to members of the UIII  (Year 7), English is:  

• ‘a subject that is very interesting and helps with every other subject’ 
• ‘a subject that everyone loves because your imaginations jump’
• ‘a fun subject that lets you go outside the boundaries.’

One sixth former said:

• ‘If you liked English at GCSE you’ll love it at A Level.’

According to one teacher here:

• ‘The study of English encourages students to be at once creative, analytical, logical, comfortable with philosophical concepts and able to empathise. Each part is a vital skill and the combination is constantly challenging and rewarding to teach.’

Currently, the English curriculum at the school moves in graded stages from 11+ through to A Level English Literature and beyond. The prime aim of the English department is to promote literacy in the school and a discriminating love of literature. We also hope to impart a sense of the history of language and literature. A play by Shakespeare features in a number of year groups and we mix literary and modern classics, including poetry, novels and plays, along with more topical titles and some recent journalism.

From time to time, writers are invited into the school to speak and we arrange visits to the theatre.

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead.’

Alan Bennett in The History Boys