English Curriculum

At Alder Grange we view English as an essential tool for success in today’s society.  Our children need to be able to express themselves clearly and effectively through their written work but also through their ability to communicate orally and face to face.  Spoken and written English help to develop the individual.  They are essential for accessing the curriculum as a whole and a sound command of English contributes towards overall confidence, comprehension and future success.

It is our vision to promote English and English Literature as enjoyable subjects that have a clear relevance to pupils’ individual experiences and interests.  Our courses are designed around relevant and interesting texts, ranging from classical prose and poetry to modern teenage fiction; broadsheet newspapers to witty travel writing; Greek mythology to current affairs.  At all key stages, there is a clear and explicit focus on vocabulary. We aim to expose students to an eclectic range of materials, furnishing them with the transferrable skills required in final examinations, but also instil a love of literature that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Our pupils will learn to write persuasively, informatively and for entertainment purposes.  They will use their imaginations to create exciting works of fiction, or their knowledge of language and structure to write and deliver convincing arguments.  Ultimately though, it is our goal to pass on our passion and love of English to our pupils so that they too can become enthusiastic readers and writers.

The English Department’s vision for every ‘Alder Granger’ is clear and simple:

• to ignite passion and enjoyment in our pupils;

• to furnish our pupils  with the skills and abilities to access the English curriculum, and indeed other curriculum areas, confidently and competently;

• to give our pupils the gift of communication, so that they can use English to their advantage in the real world;

• to encourage and push our children to reach their potential and be proud of them when they do.

KS3

English

KS4

GCSE English Language and English Literature

KS5