English Secondary

Year 7: We have been working on our poetry analysis skills. Students have been learning a range of poetic techniques, and then they have been attempting to identify these in the poems we have studied. I have been really impressed with their ability, and it has been a pleasure to read some of their creative ideas.

Year 8: Year 8 have been focusing on poetry from other cultures. We have been studying poems by Maya Angelou, Lucille Clifton, John Agard, Rupi Kaur, Wendy Cope and Imtiaz Dharker. They have even written their own poems celebrating their own lives and the lives of their families.

Year 9: This term, we have been reading the dystopian novel The Wall. The students have been learning all about the conventions of dystopian texts, and they have also been developing their analytical skills too, especially focusing on how writers create tension. They have also been thinking about how the media cannot often manipulate people's thoughts through the power of language.

Year 10: Year 10 are now well under way with their IGCSE. This term, we have been working on our creative writing skills and our poetry skills too. I've been really impressed with their attitude and approach. All of the students have risen to the challenge of IGCSE fantastically. Long may it continue.

Year 11: Year 11 have been focusing on Language Paper 2 this term. They have been recognising how to build and develop arguments, and they have also learned how to evaluate arguments too. This is a challenging part of the course, but they have all strived to master the expectations of the task. The students seem well prepared for their post Christmas mock exams.