In English we aim to provide all our students with a diverse and intellectually challenging curriculum that reflects upon both local and global communities. We encourage our students to be pro-active learners, nurturing their confidence so that they are willing to challenge themselves, working both independently and collaboratively, to realise their potential.

In engaging our students with experiences beyond their own, as well as experiences that may resonate with them, we aim to develop their skills as effective communicators, critical readers, analytical thinkers and original, creative writers. It is a curriculum with strong cross-curricular and extra-curricular links which equips them well for their next steps, either in higher education or future employment.

At Key Stage 3, our students follow the National Curriculum. We aim to instil a love of reading through the Accelerated Reading programme, developing vocabularies and skills through explicit teaching. We encourage our students to find their own voice in writing while enjoying literature from our literary heritage as well as from other cultures and traditions. They have the opportunity to participate in a diverse range of activities, from a choral reading of a ballad or dub poetry; performing the 32-second Macbeth; shadowing the Kate Greenaway and Carnegie Award; to writing their own dystopia, documentary or podcast. Our students learn to talk, to read and write as experts, to develop informed opinions, reasonable argument and critical analyses as well as writing imaginatively, and remembering the emphasis we can create through the dash – or a rat lurking in separate!

We expect the very best from all our students, building on the skills taught from Key Stage 3 through to GCSE, where they follow the Edexcel programmes of study in both English Language and English Literature. Their learning is underpinned by reading between the lines and interpreting texts, writing with increasing clarity, coherence and cohesion, and speaking with increasing fluency and flair. We are very proud of our students’ achievements at GCSE where they make “strong progress” (Ofsted, 2017), and we are a very popular choice at A Level where our students can study either English Literature or the combined course of English Language and Literature. At A Level, our students enjoy continued success, usually ranking in the top 25%.

Our team of English specialists are committed to providing the best quality teaching and learning of our students. We work collaboratively, drawing on a range of expertise, skills and knowledge to develop excellent resources to engage and enthuse our students. Throughout the year, students are invited to extra-curricular activities, such as theatre trips, author visits and writers’ workshops, to complement and enrich their learning. We have our own suite of rooms in the E block which is colourfully decorated with student work and the records of their successes in school and in local and national competitions.

KS3 Banding Criteria

If you child is in years 7-9, their report will be graded in bands. To understand the criteria behind these bands, please see the assessment document below:

English-KS3-Assessment-Criteria.pdf

GCSE English Language

Exam Board: Edexcel

Find out more about this course: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/english-language-2015.html

GCSE English Literature

Exam Board: Edexcel

Find out more about this course: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/english-literature-2015.html

A-level English Language & Literature

Exam Board: Edexcel

Find out more about this course: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/english-language-and-literature-2015.html

A-level English Literature

Exam Board: Edexcel

Find out more about this course: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/english-literature-2015.html

Teaching Team

Miss N. Webb, Head of English/ ITT Mentor:
nwebb@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Ms S. Pereira, Teacher of English & Lead Practitioner:
spereira@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Miss J. Chowdhury, Teacher of English (Mat Leave)
jchowdhury@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mrs M. Wray, KS4 Coordinator, Teacher of English and Drama:
mwray@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mrs T. Edwards, Head of Year 9/Teacher of English & Religious Studies: tedwards@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mrs E. Kotseroni, Teacher of English, Literacy Analytics and Intervention lead:
ekotseroni@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mr C. Mooney, Assistant Head of Faculty of Performing & Community Arts/ English Teacher:
cmooney@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mrs G. Norris, Teacher of English and Year 9 Curriculum Co-ordinator:
gnorris@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Miss C Eveleigh, Teacher of English, Dance and Drama 
ceveleigh@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mrs A. Zalaki, ITT Co-Ordinator/ English Teacher:
azalaki@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Dr S Smith, Teacher of English and Year 7 Curriculum Co-ordinator: 
stsmith@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Ms H McNamara, Teacher of English and Whole School Literacy Lead:
hmcnamara@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mrs A. Woodfin, Teacher of English:
awoodfin@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Miss N Heath, Teacher of English:
nheath@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Dr N Jigounova, Teacher of English:
najigounova@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Resources for GCSE:

English Literature - An Inspector Calls Student Booklet

English Literature - Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Student Booklet

English Literature and Language - Be GCSE Ready top tips

GCSE English language - Writing Question examples

GCSE English Literature - An Inspector Calls Knowledge Organiser

GCSE English Language - Writing Tasks

GCSE English Literature - Macbeth Knowledge Organiser

GCSE Edexcel English Language BBC Bitesize

GCSE Edexcel English Literature BBC Bitesize

English Literature "Sparknotes"

English GCSE Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

English GCSE MacBeth - Modern English Translation

Pearson YouTube Channel

Further Information

Subject information and course content can be found below. If you have any further queries, please contact the Faculty Leader, Miss N, Webb nwebb@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk
 

English Department Long Term Plans: