Introduction to Department:

English at BWS seeks to empower students to analyse, question and explore methods of communication across a range of literary contexts. The teaching of English is underpinned by providing all students with the opportunity to engage in passionate debate, discussion and exploration of texts from across our literary heritage, both traditional and modern. Students will purposefully select for themselves a range of literature and to read regularly for pleasure. Through our enrichment opportunities of visits, performances and clubs we want students to develop a sense of service and commitment to the school and the wider community. The study of chosen literature texts will aim for all students to encounter a wide and diverse range of voices which represent the culturally diverse world in which we live and create a sense of belonging and empathy.  

The overarching concepts for English at Bishop Wordsworth are: 

• Read a wide and diverse range of texts linked to our Literary Heritage and other cultures 
• Read texts from a wide range of genres to understand specific characteristics of style, content and form 
• Explore writers’ method in the construction and creation of literary texts 
• To read a wide range of prose, poetry and plays which challenge and engage students on a wide range of themes and concepts  
• To provide, promote and facilitate opportunities for students to read a range of literary texts for pleasure 

 

The English Department has a distinguished history of over a third of our students at Year 13 going on to study English Literature or closely related fields including at Oxford and other Russell League Universities. In Public Speaking, over the past 7 successive years, the department has qualified for the regional finals and has always hosted the competitions yearly. 

Extra and Super Curricular 

In the English Department there are a plethora opportunity to participate in Public Speaking Competitions, Poetry by Heart and debates. We arrange for visiting speakers and authors to come into school and there are also visits to theatres both local and national as well as a planned Literary Residential.

Recommended Reading List

KS3 

KS4

• Action and adventure: The Life of Pi, Yann Martell 
• Classics: Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell 
• Coming of Age: Boy in the Maze, Joseph Coelho 
• Crime: S.T.A.G.S, M A Bennet 
• Historical: Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks 
• Injustice: The Hate You Give, Angie Thomas 

KS5  

Learning by Key Stage 

Key Stage 3 

Students are taught in mixed ability sets and are assessed each half term on the key assessment objectives of reading, writing and speaking and listening. There are 6 units of work across the year. Year 9 students have SOWs which are planned and assessed as a foundation Year to GCSE. 

• Year 7: Texts include: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens; A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Shakespeare and Poetry of Other Cultures 
• Year 8: Texts include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee; Animal Farm, George Orwell, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, and Poetry of Diversity.  
• Year 9: Texts include: GCSE Literature modern text, An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley and GCSE Literature course ‘Poetry of Power and Conflict’ studying 6 war poems from the anthology. 

Key Stage 4

All students will follow the AQA English Literature Specification 8700. The course will be studied over the course of two years and integrated with the teaching of GCSE English Literature. Assessments will happen every half term based on the GCSE unit studies using past paper exam questions. Students are graded 9 to 1. There are 5 mixed ability sets who will have one primary English teacher for the whole two years. 

• Year 10: Texts include: Macbeth, Shakespeare; The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Rober Louis Stevenson; Poetry of Power and Conflict, and Unseen Poetry 
• Year 11: Texts and work include: Lord of the Flies, William Golding; Revision of Poetry of Power and Conflict and Unseen Poetry; Individual revision of questions and skills based on class audit and prior assessment data. 

KS5

All students follow the OCR English Literature A-Level Course. The course is studied over three units and is taught by two teachers. The course consists of two exam units and one coursework unit. The course encourages students to develop a deep appreciation of literature through the study of poetry, prose and drama from different periods and traditions. Students analyse a range of texts, including Shakespeare, pre-1900 literature and modern works, exploring how writers use language, form and structure to shape meaning. Through critical reading, comparison and independent coursework, the course develops confident interpretation and analytical writing skills that prepare students for further study and a wide range of careers 

Staff 

Head of Department: Rachel Sammons rls@bishopwordsworths.org.uk 

Second in Department: Sally White snw@bishopwordsworths.org.uk 

English Department 

• Vicky Danaher vwd@bishopwordsworths.org.uk 
• Kieran Riddell-Jones kmr@bishopwordsworths.org.uk 
• Anna Doran ajd@bishopwordsworths.org.uk 
• Vics Howes vsh@bishopwordsworth.org.uk