Subject Overview

In addition to equipping our students with the skills to be excellent communicators, the English Faculty strives to ensure students move between concrete thinking and more abstract interpretations of the texts they study. The study of English embeds literature texts within their unique contexts and, therefore, exposes students to a range of cultures and eras, mind sets, and motivations. We aim to create inquisitive learners who ask questions, challenge intention, and who welcome and utilise the written form as a means of creative expression.

Assessment Information - KS3 

Within our curriculum, year 7 access captivating, thought-provoking learning via exciting texts and topics, thus encouraging and instilling a love of language and the pleasure of intrigue from the first after joining us at Tibshelf.

The pleasure of learning about myriad texts and topics continues in Year 8, enabling pupils to access and enjoy a vast range of genres and skills. During their second year at Tibshelf, our pupils will continue to develop analytical and creative skills, whilst being exposed to an array of topical and historical texts and subjects.

Year 9 now heralds the introduction of specific GCSE skills via our new Bridging Year. Through our diverse, emotive and curiosity-inducing units, pupils have the chance to practise real GCSE style tasks, but without the pressure of it being their real exam. This enables the skills pupils have been taught since joining us to be fully honed; and ensures they are fully ready in KS4 to embark upon their GCSE courses.

Assessment Information - KS4 

At Key Stage 4 we offer AQA English Language and English Literature.

Our course gives our pupils the opportunity to explore fiction and non-fiction texts from a range of genres, and covers articles, blogs, speeches, prose, plays and poetry. Students can therefore access some of our classic heritage texts as well as more contemporary and modern literature, affording them the analytical skills of reading critically, sensitively, and in detail.

English Language

Herein, students apply and develop skills across units including:

• Reading and evaluation a range of fiction and non-fiction texts critically.
• Creating their own fiction and non-fiction texts writing for a variety of purposes, audiences and forms.
• Developing and adapting Spoken Language skills
• Demonstrating clarity and accuracy in their written English.

English Literature

Within this aspect of the course, skills / tasks include:

• The study of contemporary and modern texts, including texts belonging to our 'Literary Heritage', such as Shakespeare, poetry and a 19th century novel.
• An exploration of how writers use language, structure and form to craft texts
• The importance of understanding relationships between texts (comparisons), and how contextual factors can influence the creation and interpretation of texts.
• Demonstrating a good level of clarity and accuracy in their written English.

The structure of these two courses is designed to provide challenge, intrigue and structured support for our pupils, bringing English into the modern age.

"English gives us the chance to use our imagination and expand our ideas"

English lessons are excellent behaviour-wise. English teachers know how to handle behaviour, and many students commented that they like their lessons because of the teacher. Students commented on how they know English teachers have clear, and high, expectations.

Assessment Information - KS3 

Within our curriculum, Year 7 access captivating, thought-provoking learning via exciting texts and topics, thus encouraging and instilling a love of language and the pleasure of intrigue from the first after joining us at Tibshelf.

The pleasure of learning about myriad texts and topics continues in Year 8, enabling pupils to access and enjoy a vast range of genres and skills. During their second year at Tibshelf, our pupils will continue to develop analytical and creative skills, whilst being exposed to an array of topical and historical texts and subjects.

Year 9 now heralds the introduction of specific G.C.S.E. skills via our new Bridging Year. Through our diverse, emotive and curiosity-inducing units, pupils have the chance to practise real G.C.S.E.- style tasks, but without the pressure of it being their real exam. This enables the skills pupils have been taught since joining Us to be fully honed; and ensures they are fully ready in KS4 to embark upon their G.C.S.E. courses.

Assessment Information - KS4 

At Key Stage 4 we offer AQA English Language and English Literature.

Our course gives our pupils the opportunity to explore fiction and non-fiction texts from a range of genres, and covers articles, blogs, speeches, prose, plays and poetry. Students can therefore access some of our classic heritage texts as well as more contemporary and modern literature, affording them the analytical skills of reading critically, sensitively, and in detail.

English Language

Herein, students apply and develop skills across units including:

• Reading and evaluation a range of fiction and non-fiction texts critically.
• Creating their own fiction and non-fiction texts writing for a variety of purposes, audiences and forms.
• Developing and adapting Spoken Language skills
• Demonstrating clarity and accuracy in their written English.

English Literature

Within this aspect of the course, skills/tasks include:

• The study of contemporary and modern texts, including texts belonging to our ’Literary Heritage‘, such as Shakespeare, poetry and a 19th century novel.
• An exploration of how writers use language, structure and form to craft texts
• The importance of understanding relationships between texts (comparisons), and how contextual factors can influence the creation and interpretation of texts.
• Demonstrating a good level of clarity and accuracy in their written English

The structure of these two courses is designed to provide challenge, intrigue and structured support for our pupils, bringing English into the modern age.