City has a high regard for the imagination and individuality of our pupils and places considerable emphasis on creative writing and oral and performative aspects of English. Girls go to the theatre, enter national creative writing competitions and work with visiting poets and theatre groups who run workshops in school.

KEY STAGE 3

Both literary and non-literary material provides the basis for language study and serve as resources for developing writing, and speaking and listening skills. Girls learn to understand and use English accurately for practical purposes and to appreciate the variety and flexibility of English so that they are aware of the possibilities for creative and imaginative expression that it offers.

The practices and conventions of English usage are taught and attention is given to:

• spelling, punctuation and presentation;
• broadening vocabulary;
• essay structure;
• planning, drafting, improving and proof-reading work;
• appropriate presentation for a range of purposes such as newspaper articles, reports, etc.

All pupils read a wide range of literary texts, including Shakespearean plays, and pay specific attention to background, themes, characterisation, diction, imagery, symbolism and other effects such as use of rhythm and rhyme. Pupils experiment with a variety of forms and styles such as letters, diaries, play scripts, autobiography, articles, book and theatre reviews, factual records and instructions.

Year 7 produced Chaucer's 'The Wife of Bath Tale'   Click here to see their work [ Download/View the_wife_of_baths_tale.wmv ]

GCSE: English and English Literature.

Students at GCSE level study English as two complementing subjects. As part of the English GCSE, girls focus on the further development of their oral, reading and writing communication skills. The course requires students to study several literary and non-fiction texts and present ideas orally and in a variety of written formats, including creative writing. Similarly, within the English Literature course, students study prose, poetry and drama including a Shakespearean play. As several of the areas overlap considerably, it is not uncommon for work completed for English Literature to be submitted for English coursework. Girls also attend local theatrical productions which relate to subjects covered in class.