The study of English is a means of developing skills in communicating with and interpreting the

world around us, building Literacy.  To achieve this we work in two areas:

Language – developing skills in talking, listening, reading for information and writing skills both

creative and functional.  The aim is to make ourselves understood, and to understand.

Literature – developing skills in studying fiction and non fiction texts, poetry, drama, and mass

media such as TV, radio and film.  The aim of this is to build the skills of analysing our culture and

the way it is represented.

The department is accommodated on one floor with seven classrooms, a small group classroom

and a room set up for the study of visual media, much like a small cinema.

In S1 and 2 pupils have four periods of English in sets of 20.  As part of the S1 provision, one period

a week for half of the year is spent in the School Resource Centre working on Library skills such as

research.

In S3 and 4 pupils have four periods in class sets of 20-30.  Classes are broad banded as Credit

and General Standard Grade classes.

In S5 and 6 pupils have six periods in classes of 20-30.  Classes are set by course at Intermediate

1, Intermediate 2 and Higher being taught separately.

There are currently eight full time teachers in the English department, including a head of

department.