English

The English team at UHS are committed to ensuring that through the study of language and literature students are given opportunities to develop life-long skills which transcend beyond the classroom and school context.

We offer a creative and rigorous curriculum which promotes motivated readers, inquisitive, critical and reflective thinkers. Students explore contemporary issues through the study of a wide range of literature and non-fiction texts across a range of historic periods.

We ensure that our students are provided with opportunities to work collaboratively, and practice public speaking and debating skills within our curriculum plan. Additionally, we embed values linked to morality, social responsibility, perseverance and resilience.

We ensure that students can develop their independent learning and we make certain that students are able to develop their research skills, revision skills and creativity, in addition to honing their reading and writing skills.  This is achieved through the careful planning of home-learning projects, workbooks and on-line revision tools which complement our units of work across all year groups.

The English team ensure that students with low literacy skills and weaknesses are supported through the Accelerated Reading programme and additional English booster lessons. These lessons have units of work which are designed to motivate, engage and create an enjoyment of English whilst facilitating progress and improvements in literacy.

The design of our curriculum from the very first Foundation year is based on the ethos of engagement, developing well-rounded learners. We strive to ensure our students are equipped for the world outside academia and are fully prepared and confident by the time they reach their GCSE and GCE external examinations.