English
The English Department consists of three members of staff. Mrs Mitchell, the new Head of English, joined St. Mary’s in January 2010 and teaches in the department, alongside Mrs Gowing and Miss Long, who joined the school in January 2011. The Librarian also plays a huge part of our success. We pride ourselves on being a highly motivated innovative team.
In Year 7 the girls are taught in Form groups – in Years 8 and 9 we mix the groups according to ability. This way we feel we can target and stretch every individual to ensure they achieve their best in each year.
In Years 7, 8 & 9 the girls have 2 and a half hours of English per week including a session in our Library which is run by a highly organised enthusiastic Librarian, Mrs Cassell. We offer a “Reading Passport” scheme where the girls are encouraged to read a range of fiction so that they progress with their vital reading and analytical skills.
Our girls are very keen readers and we take real pleasure from arranging high profile authors to visit and work with us wherever possible.We have compiled an exciting new reading list in time for the Christmas holiday . CLick here to link to our 2011 KS3 recommended reading list. And here for KS4.
BOOK WEEK 2011
During Book week the girls of Year 9 studied the gothic genre and composed their own poems for Halloween.The best entry was from Emily Abbott
Halloween Poem
On this night children walk the street
Giggling and laughing looking for treats,
DRESSED UP AS MONSTERS, GHOSTS AND WITCHES
Or Zombies and Frankenstein with his many stitches.
They knock at each door shouting ‘TRICK OR TREAT!
And watch as their bags fill up with sweets,
For this is a child’s favourite time of year
When sweets start piling up here and near.
Children of all ages love this very night
Trying to give each other a big fright,
Telling stories of the walking dead
Or werewolves and vampires or a man with no head.
Theatre visits are also an important part of our English Curriculum and we regularly attend local and national productions to help the girls with appreciating texts in performance beyond the classroom.
We also run various clubs such as Creative Writing and Poetry and enter national competitions.
The English Department sets regular meaningful homework and are currently reviewing our methods of Assessment to allow the girls to reach and exceed their potential in every year. Above all we endeavour to promote an enthusiastic and fun approach to English Literature and indeed the spoken Language.
We enjoy excellent examination results which are very much down to the care, support and attention to detail that the English Department provides.
We continually update and improve our resources to help the girls relate to the modern world and to appreciate and develop an understanding of other cultures too.
Stimulating displays of pupils’ work can be seen in our classrooms and around the rest of the school.
