English General overview & picture: A highly qualified and collaborative team of English specialists offer very high standards of learning and teaching.  The aim is to empower all students with the ability to use language effectively and to inspire in them a love and a passion for literature.  Our progressive two year KS3 curriculum offers a solid foundation for a rich and challenging three year programme for GCSE English and English Literature. We foster creativity through developments in ICT, with interactive whiteboards and an expanding Virtual Learning Environment that encourages dialogue with exciting and challenging research tasks. Our Gothic unit provides breadth of study by encouraging cross-curricular links which last year were explored through the Gothic Studies Day. Beyond the curriculum there are regular features such as reading buddies, performance poetry and shadowing the Carnegie Book Award.  In 2008, Y7 and Y8 students published their articles on the web as part of the 'BBC School Report' scheme. English A level enjoys huge popularity in the 6th Form, with many students going on to top universities each year. Reading groups, theatre trips, conferences and visiting writers such as John Mullan, Simon Pegg and John O'Farrell enrich the experience. KS3 Pupils explore a range of topics within literature and language study including our 'Shakespeare Research Project' and 'All About Poetry'. These units are designed to give pupils a firm basis in essay writing, reading for meaning, creative writing and speaking and listening skills as a preparation for GCSE study. KS4 Pupils study a challenging three year curriculum with a range of stimulating topics. Our Y9 Gothic unit received praise from Haringey English advisors and was the springboard for an exciting cross-curricular day to study the influence of the Gothic in art and culture. Other units such as 'Poetry from other cultures' promote wider thinking skills and essay skills required for A Level study. Post 16 Our English Language and Literature and English Literature A Level courses are popular and successful. Both courses prepare students for the demands of degree study in language, literature, drama, history, culture and more. Extra-curricular activities include a Y12 'Battlefields' trip linked to Wilfred Owen's poetry and lecture days. Extra Curricular We provide a range of exciting trips, clubs and competitions. In Key Stage 3, students are invited to join the BBC school report club and take part in the Carnegie Shadowing group. Our Y7 -Y12 paired reading scheme supports struggling readers and visiting authors and poets create fun opportunities for pupils to experiment with language. Our close links with the library ensure that pupils have a broad experience of reading and writing beyond the curriculum. The 'Poetry Live!' day for Y11s allows pupils to hear their GCSE poets performing their work. The poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and the popular John Agard and Simon Armitage spoke at last year's event. The Y12 reading club uses classic texts such as 'Great Expectations' as a starting point for personal wider reading. Visiting university lecturers ensure pupils are prepared for the challenge of degree study. This year, John Mullan, from UCL, offered pupils new insights into their set A Level Literature text 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan. Click here for the english dept blog