English

Head of Department: Emily Warrington

E: ewarrington@bohuntworthing.com

The English department at Bohunt School Worthing is committed to delivering a challenging, stimulating and engaging curriculum that exposes students to a variety of different genres and text types.

Enjoy

In KS3, we aim to encourage and develop a love of reading for pleasure through pursuing and analysing high quality texts in class, as well as allowing students regular access to the Library where they can pursue their own reading interests. We believe enjoyment comes through mastery of skills and knowledge and therefore challenge is at the heart of what we do. We also aim to develop students’ proficiency with writing – ensuring students can write creatively as well as be able to convey their viewpoint with accuracy and flair. This is often reinforced by encouraging students to articulate their ideas with their peers through class discussion. By KS4, we want our students to be confident with the skills they need to demonstrate at GCSE so they are ready to explore texts more critically and analytically. We also use iPad technology to enhance the classroom experience: using multiple choice quizzing platforms, Google Classroom and videos to bring our subject to life and allow students to access our carefully created resources. 

Respect

We believe it is a core responsibility of the English department to use literature to develop empathy and respect in our students. Our intent in English is to promote respect for all people and groups through exploring characters and settings in a wide range of different texts. We want students to discuss and explore moral conundrums, social/cultural divides in society, as well as religious and spiritual issues. We aim to give opportunities for class debate  that explore big world issues. We want students to respect each other’s viewpoints, challenge stereotypes and support each other in the classroom, working as a team so all can succeed. We also aim to use a variety of texts from around the world to introduce students to different cultures and ideas, so they leave school as well-rounded individuals. We want students to feel safe and secure in a nurturing environment where current affairs can be discussed openly, and accessed through different mediums. Literacy media is also important: we aim to ensure students are respectful with their internet use and also know how to interpret what is fact and what is fiction on the internet and in newspaper articles by decoding and identifying sensationalist language.

Achieve

We endeavour to secure excellent outcomes for students in KS3, their GCSEs, and equip students to be able to study Language or Literature at A-Level if they chose. We have constructed the curriculum in a specific order to allow particular skills, knowledge and themes to be introduced and built upon throughout KS3 and 4.  This enables students to master core skills and knowledge whilst maintaining a love of learning. We are unashamedly academic in our approach, but aim to ensure lessons allow all learners to achieve and feel motivated by differentiating and scaffolding work appropriately. We aim to show students the importance of English and why being highly literate and an effective communicator are critical life skills.  We aim to give feedback to students regularly and in a variety of ways, using verbal and written feedback as well as using online testing platforms that show students immediately what their strengths and weaknesses are. We aim to give students time to reflect and improve their work post assessment, and re-draft or revisit skills and knowledge where needed. Technology allows us to offer students revision and homework material at the touch of a button, allowing parents to help and support with homework and revision where necessary.