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A love of language and literature

A love of language and literature is at the very heart of Westbourne’s dynamic and exciting English department. With that love of words comes a confidence that allows our pupils to express themselves with clarity, originality and flair, becoming experienced at writing for a variety of audiences and purposes. The end result is that pupils are equipped with vital transferable skills that stand them in good stead for life beyond Westbourne.

Whilst the English Department at Westbourne prides itself on its excellent results and its ability to ensure every student achieves the best grades they can, we also aim to instil in them a life-long love of reading, writing and performance. With this in mind, the department offers pupils a wealth of extra-curricular activities in which they can become involved. They may opt to be a student librarian, join a book club or enter one of the many creative writing competitions which we run. Pupils in Yr 9-11 can become a member of the Westbourne Word team, our Pupil led magazine which is published each half term. We take advantage of Sheffield’s excellent theatres and frequently run trips to see plays at a variety of venues. Pupils are often given the opportunity to become involved in creative writing or poetry workshops, some of which are run by our own HAPs scholars.

Outside of the classroom, pupils are encouraged to read widely for pleasure. During their Middle School years, pupils complete several independent and group reading challenges which requires all pupils to read a range of texts at home. All pupils complete a reading log to track their reading progress and every Wednesday, SS tutor time is given over to the The Midweek Read.

What will I learn?

Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, pupils have three English lessons a week, studying a wide range of texts and subject matter. Texts are frequently updated so that pupils experience material that is fresh, dynamic and relevant to the world around them. The KS3 curriculum also exposes pupils to many of the skills required for success at GCSE. They explore and produce different types of writing and in all tasks, pupils are encouraged to develop a broader vocabulary which should equip them for the demands of both the KS4 syllabus and for their life as an adult.

Typically, each year, pupils will be exposed to a variety of literature. They will study a class novel, analyse a range of poetry, read and analyse pre-1914 prose and study a Shakespeare play. They will also read and analyse a variety of non-fiction texts and learn how to write for a variety of audiences and purposes.

Texts studied include:

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo; Holes by Louis Sachar; Wonder by RJ Palacio; The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne; Trash by Andy Mulligan; The Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle; a wide selection of poetry including war poetry and poems from other cultures and traditions; and a range of Shakespeare's plays including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing.

GCSE

At Key Stage 4 pupils currently follow the AQA syllabus and study for 4 terminal exams, two for English Language and two for English Literature. This is set to change for the 2027 GCSE cohort who will study a hybrid syllabus of AQA for English Language and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE for English Literature. The department has a wealth of experience in both teaching and examining the AQA GCSE Language course and in recent years, half of the students entered have gained a grade 7-9 with this syllabus. The International Literature GCSE offers the same rigour as the AQA syllabus but it also encourages students to engage with a wider range of texts from around the world alongside texts from the English literary heritage. In addition, this syllabus allows students to opt for a coursework module which counts for 40% of the final grade. This option will enable us to ensure more personalised learning with coursework tasks tailored to the needs of the individual pupil.
Currently, KS4 pupils study:
✔ A Shakespeare play (Macbeth)
✔ A 19th Century Novel (A Christmas Carol)
✔ A piece of modern prose or drama ( Animal Farm or DNA)
✔ Power and Conflict Poetry from the AQA Anthology; a variety of Unseen Poetry
Our 2027 Cohort will study:
✔ A Shakespeare play (Macbeth)
✔ A selection of poetry from the Pearson anthology
✔ A piece of modern prose (Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird or Things Fall Apart)
✔ A modern drama text (A View from the Bridge)

Your choice. Their future.

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