The English Department at Ercall Wood Technology College aims to foster a love of English that leads to both academic success and a life long love of learning. We make learning interesting and rewarding through a diverse range of experiences in English and English Literature to help pupils succeed. We select learning experiences that build on pupils’ previous work in addition to their present knowledge and understanding and work to enable each pupil to achieve his or her potential. The English department shares a commitment to continuous improvement in standards of teaching and learning.

Department Staff: Mrs B. Dale-Jensen (Head of Department), Mrs G. Mole, Mrs G. Burke, Mrs E Haywood, Ms L. Dodd and Ms A. Smith.

Department Facilities: The department is housed at the centre of the college with excellent ICT facilities in each classroom and a suite of computers.

KS3:
Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 receive 4 hours of English lessons per week. Within their English lessons pupils learn skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening, in addition to literacy.

Pupils begin their first term in year 7 with a transition project, taught in their form groups whilst they settle into school life. After the first half term pupils will be set by ability. These setting arrangements continue through years 8 and 9. Formative assessments take place every half term in order to ensure that all pupils are making progress and to enable appropriate target setting. It is during year 9 that final preparations will take place for the end of key stage tests.

KS4:
Pupils in years 10 and 11 receive 3.5 hours of English lessons per week. Each pupil has the opportunity to gain a GCSE A*- G in both English and English Literature.

The AQA syllabus awards on the basis of a coursework folder and examination assessment. Pupils are required to produce a minimum of 5 pieces of coursework in addition to 3 speaking and listening assessments. The majority of this work is completed in year 10. During year 11 pupils will study a range of texts including a set text and an anthology of poetry. An understanding of writing for different purposes and reading non-fiction/media material is also a requirement of the examination process. Pupils will sit two examinations for English and one for English Literature at the end of year 11.

Additional information:

Pupils have the opportunity to enrich their experience of English further through a number of extra-curricular activities and visits. The department regularly runs trips to the theatre and Poetry Live in Wolverhampton. We also participate in local and national literary competitions and organise internal drama performances in addition to extra-curricular clubs and booster sessions. All pupils are encouraged to read widely and have the opportunity to participate in a mentor reading scheme