English
Welcome to English
English provides our students with the ability to access the best of what has been said and written.
The English department has designed its Key Stage 3 curriculum to follow the principles of the National Curriculum as well as developing key literacy and oracy skills.
Students in all years have their skills regularly assessed in these three key areas: reading, writing and oral communication.
Our aim is to equip our students not just with the ‘English’ knowledge needed to succeed in their English Language and Literature GCSEs, but to provide them with the communication skills necessary to flourish in their further education and working lives.
At KS3, the department follows a programme designed to build students knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence in the subject.
At KS4, the department follows the EDUQAS English Language and Literature GCSE Course. The Specifications for each course can be found here:
If you require further information about the English curriculum at KS3 or KS4, please contact Mr Winsor, Head of Department, at winsorb@uffculmeschool.bep.ac
Extra Curricular Opportunities
We actively encourage students to continue developing their love for literature, the English language, and communication outside of school. We have a Reading Canon for KS3 and KS4 students which encourages them to maintain a love of reading; they can complete a bronze, silver, and gold reading challenge depending on how many of these texts they read. We also work closely with the school’s library to support their 8B48 reading challenge which motivates students to read eight books before they move into year 8.
We also have writing challenges and clubs to foster students’ love of communicating their ideas. Every term, students publish the English Anthology. We welcome submissions of stories, articles, letters, comics, illustrations, plays – whatever catches students’ imaginations! Students should contact Ms Dodd in M15 for more information on how to get involved. Teachers can also enter exceptional student work into the anthology to share student successes.
Being published in the English Anthology is one step towards achieving the English Award badge! Students can achieve this coveted prize by completing any two of the following:
Completing six weeks at Debate Club
Being published in the English Anthology
Earning their silver reading badge
Speaking of Debate Club – this is run by Mrs Allen and Ms Steele and welcomes all students to take part in debates and discussions. In years 9 and 10, students also have the chance to join the debate team and compete against local schools.
Out and About
The English department are committed to enriching students' cultural experiences. In recent years, we have been lucky enough to visit a plethora of theatres to see a wide variety of performances. We believe in the importance of students visiting the theatre and seeing their texts brought to life. We also seek to bring the world of literature to the school with live-streamed author events, (such as the Hay-on-Wye Festival), our annual Readathon, and visiting theatre performances.