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English

The study of English lies at the heart of our curriculum, both as an academic discipline in its own right and as the foundation of meaning in all subject areas.  

The department aims first to develop in our pupils an awareness of language by developing skills in reading, writing, talking and listening. Alongside this, the department aims to foster an appreciation of literature, encouraging each individual to realise their potential through the development of creativity and imaginative endeavour. This combination is reflected in English courses from S1 to S6.  

The department encourages pupils to extend this blend of skills, cultural appreciation and creativity beyond the normal confines of the classroom through staff and pupil involvement in public speaking, debating and photography clubs, by encouraging submissions to school publications such as the Hutchesonian, as well as entering pupils for external competitions encouraging creative writing, journalism and handwriting. Members of the English department also contribute significantly to the P7 ‘Shakespeare Festival' that is the bridge between pupils' study of Shakespeare at primary and secondary levels.

S1 and S2

Pupils study English for 4 hours per week in S1 and S2.

A key objective in S1 and S2 is to develop amongst pupils a common approach to the study of English as an academic subject and as a means of enlarging their awareness of the world.  Through the creative use of prose fiction, poetry, drama and critical analysis our pupils develop confidence in learning the names and functions of central grammatical concepts, the basic rules of punctuation, argument, comprehension and composition. In addition our pupils become skilled in these critical years in oral, reading and writing skills, the application of specific knowledge about language and literature; personal writing conventions and close reading skills.