English

The English Department is made up of four members of staff including the Head of Department.  In addition, the department is supported by the Learning Support Team who provide one-to-one withdrawal lessons throughout the school.  Students receive six thirty-five minute lessons throughout the week (Form V receives eight) as well as one session of Prep.

The study of English centres upon communication, be that through the spoken or written word.  As a Department we seek to develop and nurture this ability in the boys, with an emphasis upon creativity and imagination, whilst maintaining accuracy and intelligibility.  We also hope to foster in them a love of reading fiction and an ability to analyse, interpret and critically appraise the material they are bombarded with day by day through the media.  Our aim is to provide enjoyment and stimulation throughout our lessons and to encourage a positive attitude towards every aspect of the subject.

In each year group we aim to cover the following areas: Literary Heritage, Media, Non-Fiction, Novel, Poetry, Genre and Plays.  As pupils mature and progress through the school, each area is covered in greater depth and detail in preparation for the Common Entrance exam.

In addition, the Department is fully involved in the extra-curricular side of school life.  On a weekly basis there is Book Club held in the school library; the annual House Debating Competition is a two-round competition that takes place in the Lent and Summer terms with proposals ferociously debated in front of the whole school.  The Poetry Competition is held each November with external adjudication and a fabulous presentation evening timed to coincide with Guy Fawkes Night and the school fireworks display.  The School Play is another area in which the English department is fully involved.  The past few years have seen productions of Unman, Wittering & Zigo, Julius Caesar, Smike, Lord of the Flies, Smike, Joseph, Wind in the Willows, Pirates of Penzance,and this year: A Midsummer Night's Dream.