The English Department

English is central to life at Stafford Grammar School and our excellent results in English at GCSE and A-level come from a solid grounding in reading and writing skills in Years 7 to 9. We encourage and inspire pupils to explore their own ideas, write creatively and engage with some challenging concept s through the study of literature from a range of time periods and genres. We aim to develop enthusiastic, skilful and confident readers and writers. Pupils also have the opportunity to develop excellent oracy skills through a range of speaking and listening activities.

As well as delivering excellent examination results, the English department aims to enrich the lives of pupils at Stafford Grammar School through a range of writing and poetry competitions as well as regular theatre visits. The English department runs an annual ‘Readathon’, through which we raise money for a range of children’s charities. English Literature is a very popular subject at A-level and students studying English in the sixth form are encouraged to read widely and enter essays for a national essay competition run by Cambridge University.

The skills developed in English enable pupils to thrive in all of their academic subjects and they are inspired by passionate subject specialists to engage with complex and challenging ideas in literature in a sensitive way.

Click to view the AQA videos explaining the new English GCSE syllabus starring our own Mr Thomas.