English

Where can you be Titania Queen of the Faries or Beowulf King of the Geats, study how words change over time, imagine yourself piloting a space ship, discuss the rights and wrongs of the death penalty, re-enact scenes from The Canterbury Tales, become a news broadcaster or learn how to use onomatopoeia or metaphors with confidence?  Why, in English lessons at Chilton of course!

In the English Department at Chilton Cantelo we embrace the school philosophy of aiming to make each individual the best possible version of themselves. We are committed to providing students with an interesting, relevant, inclusive and differentiated curriculum which guides and challenges pupils to improve their English skills and which supports progression from KS3 to KS4 and beyond. 

We aim to provide our students with a wide range of language skills that will enable them to be effective communicators when they leave school — in their personal and social lives, in their working lives, and as citizens of a democratic society. We also aim to stimulate and stretch the imagination of students through their response to literature and their own creative work. 

The English Department is characterized by a love and enthusiasm for our subject, which we hope we pass on to our students so that they will enjoy their work in English lessons.  We strive to ensure that our curriculum offers a rich and diverse range of learning experiences.

The department aims to contribute to the making of articulate, literate, creative and cultured young people able to think critically and enjoy texts of all kinds.

More specifically we aim to develop the following in our students;

• an enjoyment and love of the written word, both fiction and non-fiction;
• the ability to become independent and discerning readers;
• the ability to present and discuss their ideas in a range of oral situations, formal and informal;
• an ability to analyse and discuss what they read objectively;
• a recognition of the differences between factual writing, opinion and fiction;
• the ability to express their ideas clearly in a range of forms, recognising that accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar facilitate communication;
• recognition of the need to plan a draft in order to write effectively;
• a recognition of the differences between spoken and written English;
• an appreciation of writers from other cultures and other times;
• the understanding that reading the writing of other people can help to improve their own writing;
• an understanding of how the media communicates ideas.
• an ability to use all multimedia within the English curriculum with skill and discrimination

Key Stage 3
Students in year 7 and 8 follow a structured programme of study linked closely to the National Strategy for English, They encounter fiction, non-fiction, prose, drama, poetry, personal writing and skill based grammar work.

In Year 9 students complete a Foundation GCSE year where they are introduced to the key reading, writing and speaking and listening skills assessed at GCSE.

Key Stage 4
Years 10 and 11 students work towards separate GCSEs in OCR English Language and English Literature. Controlled Assessments begin in Year 10 in a variety of Units covering  Language and Literature as well as Speaking and Listening. Formal Examinations begin at the end of Year 10 and continue throughout Year 11.

Key Stage 5
An exciting and challenging development for the department will take place in September 2012, when English Literature will be offered at ‘A’ Level for the first time.