English

Mission Statement

Our collective departmental vision for English at Gravesend Grammar School is focused on a shared desire to raise the attainment of all pupils, while promoting a love of the subject. Throughout their school career, students will experience a spiral curriculum that embeds a rich knowledge of essential texts while simultaneously developing the subject-based skills required for academic success.  

Communication is at the centre of all our lives. The English Department is committed to building an English classroom that will produce young people who can articulate their ideas well; verbally and in writing. We understand that literature offers students the opportunity to understand themselves by examining the world around them. We study vocabulary to become better articulators; we study grammar to become more efficient writers; we study literature to understand how authors use words and sentences to create meaning. At all levels, the English Department is looking to make English teaching a meaningful process, one that will encourage lifelong learning and appreciation for the written word. The English Department must take a lead role in fostering Communication for Meaning skills across the entire school and a lead role in demonstrating what is meant by writing fluency and technical accuracy. 

English lessons at Gravesend Grammar School are full of lively and engaging discussion, always with a focus on oracy, questioning skills and paired/group collaboration. Through a blend of in-class and out-of-lesson learning, students focus on the specific exam skills required to be successful. Students can expect to achieve a mastery of the subject through ever-present opportunities to write both creatively and formally in response to exam-accurate tasks.  

Key Stage 3 English focuses students on the skills that will be assessed in Key Stage 4, while also retaining the freedom required to make English thoroughly enjoyable and at the same time challenging. Key Stage 4 sees an enhanced focus on exam strategy and maximising student progress. Year 9 is especially well-enjoyed by students, with each component being a mirror of their GCSE content while also including a wealth of thoroughly engaging multimodal units. Year 10 and Year 11 see students engage with their specific GCSE texts, with numerous opportunities for assessment and feedback that simulate the conditions of the exams themselves. Our A-Level Literature course is very popular with students. The key focus on coursework and critical reading skills prepares students for the rigours of university study and also provides students with the freedom to pursue their own literary interests.  

At Key Stage 3 students experience:

• A number of modern novels, including: War Horse; Boy 87; Woman in Black
• An enhanced focus on Shakespeare, with a mixed unit in Year 7 and Hamlet in Year 8 
• A wealth of poetry, ranging from war poetry to poems from other cultures
• English Language non-fiction and creative writing skills embedded throughout the course, ensuring that students are well prepared for Key Stage 4  
• A vocabulary and grammar programme that is embedded throughout the course, delivered through the Bedrock platform 
• Engagement with wider reading opportunities through regular library time and opportunities for private reading
• Super curricular opportunities such as visiting theatre groups, visiting authors and writing competitions

At Key Stage 4 students study:

• A number of novels, including: Lord of the Flies; Jekyll and Hyde; Animal Farm
• A number of plays, including; Romeo and Juliet; An Inspector Calls; Macbeth
• Thematic and genre-specific studies, focussing on the theme of Outsiders and also Dystopian Fiction 
• An enhanced focus on poetry and unseen poetry
• A multitude of Speaking and Listening opportunities, assessed against the rubric of the GCSE Spoken Language Endorsement 
• A strong presence of English Language in the curriculum. Students fully explore both papers in equal measure, and also experience bespoke units that develop their creative and non-fiction writing skills to develop sophistication and flair

At Key Stage 5 we want:

• To provide opportunities for students to work independently
• To provide opportunities to learn outside of the classroom
• To encourage a love of literature and encourage students to read widely
• To introduce a university inspired, seminar-style of learning
• To challenge students to produce excellent (60/60) coursework responses 
• To encourage students to continue their English education at top UK universities.

Student Voice

Key Stage 3

‘English at Gravesend Grammar School is enjoyable. I have been learning new techniques, themes and genres in lessons; I have particularly liked the gothic genre because of how gruesome it is, but before joining GGS I did not know what it was. The assessments on character creation and gothic analysis have challenged me because writing summaries, analysing, describing settings and writing stories has not been my strongest skill in English, but I can definitely see that I have improved with these so far and my teacher has helped me feel much more confident with the subject.’

Key Stage 4

‘In KS4 English lessons we have studied a variety of sophisticated texts such as Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde, Lord of the Flies and Macbeth and in great depth. I have enjoyed English Literature as it has given me an abundance of transferable skills such as analytical abilities and being able to make inferences when reading. With English Language, we have developed our exam skills and have spent a significant amount of time completing past papers and looking at exemplars. As well as this, the English Department has provided me with a lot of resources to help me further my studies, which has helped me to achieve some top grades.’

Key Stage 5

‘A-Level Literature has developed my passion for books and reading. I am also learning how to express myself fluently in extended essays. I'm not sure what I want to study at University and A-Level Literature will help to present me as a student with a wide range of skills and interests.’