Curriculum

The department follows the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy for English at Key Stage 3 (years 7, 8 and 9). Pupils have 4 periods per week at Key Stage 3, which emphasises the National Literacy Strategy with a focus on learning to enhance their speaking, reading and writing skills. There is also an opportunity in the lesson for drama, although it is not taught as a separate subject.

A wide range of material is used to deliver the curriculum textbooks, readers and media. K.D Grammar has recently furnished a new library with a new suite of laptops, which offers pupil a chance to read fiction and non-fiction. It also gives them assess to a wide range of topics to do with English on the Internet.

At Key Stage 4 pupils have five periods per week when they study GCSE English and English Literature. The department follows the AQA Specification A, which consists of an examination (60%) and five pieces of coursework (40%). This is a demanding course in which they study a wide range of texts.

Resources:

At Key Stage 3 pupils are given access to a range of textbooks and other resources including T.V, Video and OHPs. At Key Stage 4 each pupil is provided with the textbooks and literature needed for the course. The Department also arranges visits to the theatre.

Cross-Curricular Issues:

The government expects every department to teach literacy in their subjects so the English Department tries to help other subjects, such as the Humanities Department, to write extended answers and Science Department with key words. The department always aims to structure the teaching required for both the National Curriculum and GCSE Studies in a way that is sensitive to the Islamic Ethos.

English as an Additional Language-EAL

The majority of our pupils speak other Languages than English at home. They are at various stages of learning English as an additional language. The school has developed a strategy to develop literacy in all subjects, so as to raise standards of English of every pupil.