English in Senior School: Connect, Empower, and Lead

Studying English in the Senior School can be daunting for some pupils; however, we strive to make the experience as immersive, engaging and meaningful as possible by developing a curriculum and learning approach that puts the pupils first.

In KS3 English, our strengths are a diverse, critically challenging and culturally rich curriculum, and high-quality feedback, tailored and personalised for each pupil, provided on all assessments.

Our bespoke, British-style curriculum covers all four key areas of content required for robust language study: Poetry, Prose, Plays and Non-fiction. It includes diverse writers from English-speaking countries to help pupils develop a deeper cultural and critical understanding of English and build empathy for others.

Writers include Patrick Ness, John Steinbeck, Louis Sachar, Grace Nichols, John Agard, Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare and many more.

Our curriculum also requires all pupils to hone their skills in: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Our regular, rigorous assessments enhance English creativity and competence across these four skill areas. In Reading, for example, pupils of all English proficiency levels complete analytical tests based on texts they have studied. They also write for a variety of purposes, such as persuading, entertaining, informing and describing. These pieces are assessed, and formative and summative feedback is provided. In Oracy assessments, pupils recite poems, present research on their lives and travels, and debate ideas.

In addition to these two English Language pillars of Content and Skills, our enhanced Oracy focus across the school helps pupils build their confidence and resilience, empowering them to find their 'voice' and participate in discussions and critiques.  Every morning, pupils are given texts to discuss and analyse, helping them build confidence daily.

The Key Stage 4 English curriculum prepares pupils for up to three IGCSE courses: IGCSE English Language, IGCSE English Literature and IGCSE English as a Second Language. Our strengths are tailoring pathways for each pupil to ensure they are fully supported and achieve the best possible outcome, based on their English ability.

Each course spans two years, and final grades are the primary entry requirement for top global universities. Pupils complete regular in-class assessments and mock exams, as well as completing 'real-world' projects, to enhance their English proficiency. 

Pupils complete coursework for 40% of the IGCSE English Language and IGCSE English Literature courses and obtain a Spoken Language Endorsement. Pupils on the IGCSE English as a Second Language course find that this is the ideal preparation for KS5 IELTS study and are encouraged to use their burgeoning English skills in as many real-world situations as they can, such as travelling abroad in the holidays.

At Key Stage 5, our English provision ranges from A Level English Literature to IELTS preparation, ensuring that all pupils can apply competitively to top universities worldwide and feel confident when interviewing with these institutions. The English skills we nurture enable pupils to integrate and interact abroad and to feel confident participating fully with those they meet in their chosen country upon arrival.

In our Sixth Form, at Lower Sixth level, pupils study Academic English. This course includes IELTS training, LAMDA and The Economist Education Foundation. As well as teaching the four IELTS areas of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, our expert teachers also work with pupils individually to develop their presentation and discussion skills. 

The strengths of this approach are that it helps pupils become more confident in their spoken English and perform more effectively in university interviews. Universities favour applicants with confident communication skills, and our team works hard.

Pupils can choose to study a two-year Advanced Level English Literature course for one of their A Level options. This course is well-suited for pupils who enjoy reading in English and covers plays, prose and poetry. 

The strengths of studying A Level English Literature with us are that pupils are taught by teachers with extensive experience in Literature and highly trained in delivering exam-specific feedback, giving pupils the confidence to perform well in their final exams.

In the Senior English Department, we host weekly and monthly Writing Competitions and participate in the annual China Spelling Bee. We also host visiting authors during Literacy Week and organise a Poetry by Heart competition, in which pupils recite English poetry from memory.

The English Department in the Senior School is a gateway to connection, empowerment and leadership. From the diverse and critically engaging curriculum in Key Stage 3 to the tailored pathways of IGCSE and the rigorous academic challenges of A Level and IELTS, we ensure that every pupil develops the skills, confidence, and cultural awareness needed to thrive in a globalised world.

Our commitment to fostering analytical thinking, creative expression and confident communication prepares pupils not only for top universities but for life beyond the classroom. Through literary exploration, real-world applications and enriching extracurricular opportunities, we cultivate a lifelong love for language and literature.