The Grammar School for Girls Wilmington

The English Department at GSGW  is a dedicated and enthusiastic team committed to developing students abilities in all areas of language use as well as cultivating a real enjoyment of the subject.  We encourage students to develop intellectually through critical thinking and the opportunity to articulate and develop their ideas through lively group debate and discussion.  We seek to encourage students to be confident thinkers who can apply their skills in literacy to all areas of the curriculum. Students clearly enjoy the demands of this subject at GCSE making English Literature a popular choice at A level

Encouraging reading for pleasure is a priority as well as fostering and supporting a passion for literature.  Wider and independent reading provides students with an essential awareness and curiosity for the world around them and they are expected to develop an appreciation of the richness and diversity of language through their reading of prose, poetry, drama, media texts and through the dynamics of speech.

Students from Years 7 13 have been very successful in national writing competitions having their work regularly published in national anthologies.  Other successful and annual enrichment activities include the Readathon, production of the School magazine, the Kent Mobile Bookshop visits and termly library bookshop, the English Schools Debating competition and visiting Shakespeare workshops.  The Sixth Form is also actively involved in the mentoring of younger members of the school in the successful Spelling and Reading Buddy scheme.