English Department

The aim of the department is, where possible, to cater for the needs of the individual student. The tuition provided and the approach adopted is always influenced by this primary consideration.

In order to promote competence of ‘basic skills’, the department aims to not only provide effective, direct tuition but also to give the student as many opportunities as possible to experience language being used for a wide variety of purposes.

The department seeks to encourage experimentation with varied forms of written expression. Assignments set provide the student with experience of writing in a range of genre for different audiences and purposes. The main concern is with developing versatility and quality.

The department aims to provide each student with the opportunity to read as widely and constructively as possible. Full use is made of poetry, prose, drama, non-literary and media texts. The student also gains experience of reading works from other cultures and a range of pre-20th century literature. It is expected that the range of texts read will allow the student to consider and discuss social and personal issues and thus provide opportunities for moral and spiritual development. Close study of texts encourage an appreciation of language as well as promoting critical skills. The department aims to utilise wider reading as an important means of increasing the student’s own written competence, degree of comprehension and level of imagination.