The English Department’s Philosophy:

 
In the English Department at Portchester Community School, we aim to make each student’s experience a diverse, interesting and highly enjoyable one. English is vital as our tool of communication, making it crucial that each student is able to read, write and speak with fluency and competence. We also believe that students should be given the opportunity to develop a keen critical sense of the world around them and so aim to provide a wide range of topics, texts and tasks to allow them to explore and enjoy the rich diversity of the subject and to develop themselves as thoughtful, creative and culturally aware individuals.

In Key Stage Three, students study a range of topics including novels, Philosophy for Children, speeches, debating, original writing, media texts, poetry and a Shakespeare play. Throughout the Key Stage, students producenpieces of formally assessed work to add to their portfolio, which forms the basis of their end of Key Stage grading. 

 

In Key Stage Four, the department follows the AQA Syllabus A courses.  Students will take either a two year GCSE course in English for a single award, or a two year course in English Language and English Literature for a double award. 

 

The Controlled Assessment of GCSE English consists of studies of a Shakespeare play, a novel, a selection of poetry, speaking and listening and the production of a piece of original writing, whilst the examination component covers a range of non-fiction reading and writing for different audiences and purposes. 

 

The Controlled Assessment of English Language consists of studies of a novel, spoken language and the producion of two pieces of creative writing, whilst the examination covers a range of non-fiction reading and writing for different audiences and purposes. 

 

The Controlled Assessment assignment for English Literature is based on Shakespeare, whilst the two required examinations cover poetry and exploring modern novels.

Teaching Staff:

Miss E Deathers (Assistant Subject Leader of English and teacher of Media)

 

Mrs V Beaumont (English Teacher) 

 

Miss R Green (English and Media Teacher) 

 

Miss N Hoad (Subject Leader, Media and English Teacher)

 

Mrs T Pemberton (English Teacher)

 

Mrs J Rixon (House Leader, Henry House and English Teacher)

Mrs J Povey (House Leader, Kelly House and English Teacher)

Mrs P Ryder (English Teacher) 

 

Mr T Wood (English Teacher)

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