Senior English

Kings Ely senior

Academic

English 

We are dedicated to nurturing a lifelong passion for reading in our students, empowering them to engage critically with the world around them and to challenge its prevailing narratives.

 

King's Ely Senior students in class studying on the King's Ely campus in Cambridgeshire

We enable students to question the world around them rather than passively accept its ideas.

'The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.' Ludwig Wittgenstein

We explore a diverse range of literary texts, from classic novels to contemporary poetry, with the aim of exposing students to the full range of human expressive potential. At the same time we teach them to develop their own voices through both discursive and creative writing as well as mastering the mechanics of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

We stay closely connected to the GCSE and A Level examination boards, ensuring our teaching aligns with the latest curriculum developments to give students the best possible preparation for exams.

To foster a deeper appreciation of language and literature beyond the classroom, we also offer enriching experiences such as theatre trips, debating, creative writing club, student magazine, and a literary society.

GCSE English Language

 

English Language

The aims of the English course are that students should:

  • Understand facts, ideas and opinions as they pass on information.
  • Be critical of what they read and be able to sort out ideas for particular purposes.
  • Be able to talk about experiences, and know how the English language is constructed.
  • Be able to write well for a variety of tasks and situations, and use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.
  • Enjoy reading texts which expresses mind-widening ideas.

Assessment

English Language is examined through two final written papers taken at the end of Year 11. Both English Language exams are 2 hours.

Candidates will be asked to show their understanding of written passages from literary or media sources; they will also be expected to write essays, including creative writing. Speaking and Listening is now assessed separately from the rest of GCSE English Language and is awarded a separate mark.

Candidates taking English Language and English Literature will be awarded two grades for the two separate GCSEs.

English Language GCSE Exam Specification
GCSE English Literature

 

English Literature

The course aims to give students a grounding in the treasures of English Literature. There will be opportunities for students to explore their literary interests and to hone the skills necessary for literary study. In particular, students will develop:

  • The ability to read, understand and respond to a wide range of literary texts, and to appreciate the ways in which authors achieve their effects.
  • Awareness of social, historical and cultural contexts and influences in the study of literature.
  • The ability to construct and convey meaning in speech and writing.

The course is closely linked to the English Language examination and students will study a variety of 20th and pre-20th century Literature, including a Shakespeare play, a 19th-century novel, a 20th century novel or play and a selection of poetry.

Assessment

Assessment is by two written examinations, one at 1 hour and 45 minutes and one at 2 hours 15 minutes. These exams will take place at the end of Year 11.

English Literature GCSE Exam Specification

 

The Porta Library

Housed in an original fifteenth-century building, the Porta Library supports curriculum teaching and reading for pleasure across senior school. With over fourteen thousand books and a strong collection of e-books and e-resources, the Library has something for everyone to enjoy reading.

Current students from Year 7 onwards and current members of staff can access and borrow from the Porta Library. Alongside providing a wide range of fiction and non-fiction, the collections aim to embody the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout.

The Library is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm including during breaktime and lunchtime, and also from 6.30pm to 9pm four nights a week. The Librarian welcomes recommendations and feedback is always encouraged. 

Meet the Head of english 

Daniel Gabelman

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EMAIL DANIEL GABELMAN


"I'm passionate about getting students to read as widely as possible and about literature as a means of thinking deeply and critically about the world and oneself.
I have a PhD from the University of St Andrews where I specialised in Victorian fairy tales, particularly the writings of George MacDonald, the Scottish writer who inspired C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and the modern fantasy genre.
I've written or edited several books, including George MacDonald: Divine Carelessness and Fairytale Levity (Baylor University Press 2013), and The Form and Theory of Literary Doodling (Cambridge University Press 2024) which looks at writers who were prolific doodlers. I'm currently editing The Cambridge Companion to George MacDonald." 

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King's Ely Sixth Form Pupils doing the hoop trundle outside Ely Cathedral

King's Ely Sixth Form Pupils doing the hoop trundle outside Ely Cathedral

  • PURPOSE
  • PRACTICE
  • PLACE
  • PEOPLE

To prepare each individual to live positive, productive, successful and fulfilled lives, for the betterment of themselves and the world around them.

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To ensure every child feels that they are known, and receives an excellent academic education that inspires curiosity and intellectual adventure. 

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To give a sense of place and belonging to all our pupils, and to celebrate our unique environment and make the most of its ecological, historical, artistic, spiritual and economic resources.

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To create a genuinely diverse community, outward and forward-looking and with a shared purpose. To bring into this community the best teachers, pastoral and support staff and students, and to be a source of friends for life. 

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