Head of Department
Mrs R Cunnington
2nd in Department
Mrs N Siddiqui
Please click below for Important links for pupils:
Of Mice and Men revision – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z8q3dmn
English Language revision – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/ztjmv4j
Please click on the links below for some revision materials/guidance for KS4 pupils.
Improve Literacy skills and follow the link….
Advice leaflet READING Revision
Editing and proofreading task booklet
English Language GCSE Revision Booklet
Only the educated are free – Epictetus
The English department at Cwmbran High School is committed to engaging pupils in learning key skills that will prove essential both now and in their future beyond school.
Writing well means never having to say, ‘I guess you had to be there’.– Jef Mallet
Our aim is to challenge pupils to engage with a variety of texts; to write in a number of different styles and to open up to enjoyable experiences with Shakespeare, poetry, and writing. Pupils are encouraged to express themselves and their ideas through paired work, small group work and independent study. The skills that pupils learn in English are life-long skills that will benefit them in all subjects and in whatever path they wish to follow once they leave school.
A room without books is like a body without a soul – Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC)
Our success relies on a dynamic mix of interesting teaching strategies, a variety of learning opportunities and the focus of our intervention programme when it is needed. During Key Stage 3, pupils study a range of novels, plays and poetry. They will also learn effective writing techniques and begin to develop their skills and opinions in relation to what they learn. They have plenty of opportunities to build up their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through a broad and interesting curriculum.
The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man that can’t read them – Mark Twain
The learning that takes place in Years 7, 8 and 9 is a great foundation for dealing with both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature.. At GCSE, pupils study different types of writing, novels such as Of Mice and Men, plays like An Inspector Calls, and develop their confidence through presentations and group discussions.
I find television very educating. Every time someone turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. – Groucho Marx
The English department offer a range of ways to enrich pupils’ learning with extra-curricular activities, which, this year, include theatre trips; a tour of the Harry Potter studios; Film Club; and participation in competitions, such as the BBC School’s News and The Power of Poetry national competition, in which we had almost forty pupils’ poems selected for publication.