In their first English lessons in Year 7, the girls will continue with their Read-it-Kit which they will have been given towards the end of Year 6 as part of a bridging project.

All their subsequent half-termly units involve reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Literacy skills are taught and consolidated throughout the course. In the first term the focus will be on giving information and analysing advertisements followed by the class novel, ‘Holes’ by Louis Sacher.

A range of drama texts are studied in term two, including extracts from Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and an adaptation of ‘The Woman in White’ as well as a selection of poetry.

The skills of argument and persuasion, both in speech and in writing are practised in term three including debating.

One lesson each week is devoted to Drama in which the students learn the basic social and group skills, the importance of body language and the use of space. They also learn about improvisation, characterisation and presentation. These skills are particularly useful for those students who wish to participate in school productions.