English

The English Curriculum at Wales High School is designed to ensure that students have the knowledge and skills they need in order to be able to know more, remember more and do more. The curriculum is structured and sequenced to allow students to build on their prior knowledge and to lay the foundations upon which to build, and make connections with, future knowledge.

We aim to ensure breadth and diversity in the curriculum by exploring literary and non-literary texts from a range of genres, perspectives and time periods across KS3-5. The texts chosen as part of our curriculum are examples of high quality literature and are there to expand students’ cultural capital, encouraging them to think deeply about some of the wider social issues they may encounter and to see literature as a response to events of the time. Students are taught to become critical readers and thinkers and to see the world from different perspectives. We want them to be able to write functionally, fluently and beautifully, according to their purpose, in order to effectively communicate their ideas about the world around them. We also want our students to be confident in expressing themselves verbally, becoming articulate speakers and presenters. Our curriculum is designed with a view to ensuring progress for all students and encouraging young people to engage with the diversity and beauty of the world around them.

The English department at Wales has 27 staff, and with this number comes a real range of experiences and different passions. We have staff who are expert in different areas of English, ranging from Medieval and Norse Literature to modern and postmodern fiction.

All teachers in the English department are passionate advocates of a quality curriculum, delivered in exciting and engaging ways. Our ultimate vision is to equip students with a love of the English Language, as well as being well-versed in its use.