English Course Descriptions

Children can expect significant input both in forming a detailed understanding of the core texts and developing skills to become increasingly confident writers. Our reading provides a deep dive into poetry with The Roar on the Other Side by Suzanne Rhodes, followed by an introduction to Shakespeare through studying Richard II. Students are given a historical overview of the period and we discuss the way in which political and theological events shaped the literature written during this time. We also follow the Renaissance example of practising effective rhetorical skills.

We explore the Elizabethan classics of Spenser's The Faerie Queene (Book 1) and Milton's Paradise Lost (Books 1-4), and consider the value of modern historical fiction novels as we read Rosemary Sutcliff's Simon (set during the English Civil War). Along the way, we also enjoy extracts from Utopia by Thomas More, a selection of essays by Francis Bacon and pages from Samuel Pepys' diary - all provided in the course materials. Considering such different styles of writing provides ample opportunity to cover the full teaching syllabus for an IGCSE in English Language.

As always do get in touch if you would like to adapt the reading schedule for your child - the course is planned in such a way that the book list can be reduced to suit students who would prefer a lighter reading load. The full homework schedule is expected to take 2½ hours. Students will also be provided with optional copy work prompts and a glossary of terms.

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We will study a variety of literature from the 18th century; examining and analysing texts such as Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Shelley's Frankenstein, and considering them within the context of their culture and Enlightenment philosophy. We will explore how poets such as Blake, Wordsworth, Keats and Byron developed the movement of Romanticism. The course also covers the exam texts of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Orwell's Animal Farm, as well as giving particular attention to the skill of analysing a previously unseen poem and examining successful writing techniques with Zinsser's On Writing Well. A final component of our study will be learning how to argue well! Students will be guided through the logical framework of constructing, understanding and responding to strong arguments.

There will be a narration slot each week for students to share their thoughts on the texts from the reading schedule and explore the various analysis topics. As well as providing an introductory course for a GCSE/IGCSE in English Literature, the essay topics will give scope for students to practise written analysis for the English Language IGCSE as they evaluate the ideas, style and structural choices made by the authors. The course has not been developed to fit a particular literature syllabus, but rather keeps a breadth of topics and incorporates texts often chosen by examining boards. The aim is to encourage the children to become confident writers able to appreciate and discuss a wide variety of texts, including poetry, drama and novels. 

Each lesson will involve two teaching slots - one taking a methodical approach to the 'nuts and bolts' of essay writing, and the second exploring the core texts in depth. As well as reading homework, there will be a weekly written assignment to be submitted via email for marking. Feedback will be emailed to both children and parents in order that you can see how your child is progressing. Homework is expected to take 3 hours in total. 

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The Art of Fiction builds upon the content of Essay Skills as we study nineteenth-century novels, drama and poetry. We discuss the related analysis topics in depth and each week's homework will include a written assignment that will be marked and returned with feedback so that you can keep track of your child's progress through the year. During the course, we will examine how the Victorian literary scene reflects the popular ideas and influences of that time, whilst it also connects back to much earlier literary traditions. This provides a great opportunity to consider the role of literature in everyday life, and as part of the Great Conversation. We will also cover a variety of critical thinking skills that support students in constructing logical and effective arguments; the aim is to improve clarity of thought and expression by using methods that are applicable to a range of subjects.

Our reading list includes Dickens' Great Expectations, Brontë's Jane Eyre, Gaskell's North and South, Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd, and Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. We will read a selection of essays and short stories, and work through poetry from an anthology of Victorian poems. In each lesson we also look at a different creative technique used by fiction writers and encounter a variety of extracts on topics such as narrative structure, character development and diction. This helps students to grow more confident in their approach to literary analysis, as well as improving their own writing style. The course works well as a final preparation for a GCSE/IGCSE in English Literature or in providing depth for students who want to take the next step towards AP or A-level studies. Please allow 3½ hours for homework each week, although this will vary depending on reading speed.

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We study the A-level texts Heart of Darkness and A Passage to India, placing these within a wider context of colonial literature, as we explore how both authors develop a sense of place and lead the reader to question the nature of the world around them. This allows for a more in-depth study of how authors from Virgil, Dante and Shakespeare, through to today’s Wendell Berry, have engaged with the natural world in writing. We look at the various ways in which an author’s worldview influences their engagement with nature and place, as well as reflecting on the relationship between Christianity and literature through reading essays by writers including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Students read weekly primary source extracts to see how theologians (from the patristic period to present day) have approached concepts relating to creation, faith and the person of Jesus. The focus of our theology study is on discussion and debate as students are encouraged to respond to different ideas and are equipped for future independent study.

We reflect on the value of humour as we study Twelfth Night and Austen’s Persuasion, and compare how comedic effects are achieved in different genres of writing. Studying a realist drama, A Raisin in the Sun, provides a contrast and opportunity to see how irony is developed within more serious contexts. We delve into a range of poetry, from the medieval Gawain and the Green Knight to a selection of modern poems, with a particular focus on the Romantic era. The teaching also covers a review of critical thinking skills and guidance on writing excellent literature essays, with weekly feedback on written assignments.

Completing the full course will require a weekly time commitment of 5 hours to cover the reading and written assignments. Students opting to take the course solely as a reading and discussion group have a reduced reading list of 2 hours per week with no written assignments (and a later class start of 4.30pm). Please refer to Qualifications for details on how the course meets English Literature A-level and AP requirements.

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The best literature is both beautiful and powerful. This course teaches the skill of close reading each text in order to better analyse the artistic and linguistic techniques. We ground our reading in a thorough understanding of the history of English literature, which enables students to also trace the overlap between philosophical ideas and literary endeavour. As we reflect on the process of creating engaging characters and themes, we explore how characters such as Spenser’s Sir Guyon, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Lewis’ Ransom offer a response to the questions of ‘who am I?’ and ‘how do I live?’. Students also read weekly primary source extracts to look at how theologians (from the patristic period to present day) have approached ideas about salvation, church and the Trinity. The focus of our theology study is on discussion and debate as students are encouraged to respond to different ideas and are equipped for future independent study. 

Our study will involve a detailed look at the A-level texts Hamlet and Life of Pi. We enjoy a slow read of Eliot’s Middlemarch, and appreciate the finer aspects of Victorian poetry, including writing by Tennyson, Emily Dickinson and Christina Rossetti. We also discuss how modern writers have approached old ideas with new expression and context, with reference to the twentieth-century novel Fahrenheit 451 and a selection of recent poetry. Students receive extensive guidance on writing essays and we cover exam practice exercises together, with weekly feedback on written assignments.

Completing the full course will require a weekly time commitment of 5 hours to cover the reading and written assignments. Students opting to take the course solely as a reading and discussion group have a reduced reading list of 2 hours per week with no written assignments (and a later class start of 4.30pm). Please refer to Qualifications for details on how the course meets English Literature A-level and AP requirements.

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