01273 581100 | 
01273 575859 | 
enquiries@phcs.org.uk
The English Faculty
The English faculty at Peacehaven Community School is vibrant, dynamic and energetic. Any one day at PCS could see our students reciting poetry, creating paragraph models, working collaboratively in groups, engaged in drama activities and, of course, honing their critical skills.
Our expert staff in the English Faculty deliver English, Drama and Media lessons. These subjects are at the heart of the curriculum. We aim to:
• Encourage our students to read with enjoyment and write creatively.
• Help our students analyse books, plays, films, news articles, TV – and any other texts they come across!
• Give our students confidence in talking and presenting.
• Make opportunities for our students to perform at their best – on stage, in the classroom and in exams.
• Promote high levels of literacy.
A Leading Faculty
We are described by East Sussex County Council as a Leading English Faculty. Our schemes of work, resources and systems are recognised as excellent. We have high expectations of behaviour and results. From Year 7 to Year 11, students in our classes have a range of abilities and strengths. We create exciting lessons and set realistic, challenging targets for all.
In our classrooms, our students will take part in a range of activities:
• Giving presentations
• Writing in different styles for different purposes
• Using technology
Reading novels
Analysing texts and images
• Writing about their own and others ideas
• Creating and performing scripts
• Reviewing their own and others work
The English Curriculum
All English classes are mixed ability and taught by subject specialists.
Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3, as in the rest of the school curriculum there are five modules in each academic year.
Year 7
• Skellig by David Almond
• Poetry
• Pre 19th century short stories
• Travel writing
• Introduction to Shakespeare
Year 8
• Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
• Knowledge about Language
• Non fiction module: Celebrity
• War poetry
Modern drama: Billy Elliot
Year 9
• Stone Cold by Robert Swindells
• Non fiction: controversial issues
• Love Poetry
• Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Introduction to GSCE
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 most students will be following the AQA GCSE English Language and Literature course.
The course will comprise of:
• Study of Shakespeare; pre 1914 and modern poetry and prose; study of language and Speaking and Listening
• Students will be assessed through a combination of examination and controlled assessment
literacy skills
We believe that the best, and most enjoyable, way for our students to improve their literacy skills is to read for pleasure. Because of this, all students in years 7, 8 and 9 are given a reading journal to record their thoughts about what they read at home.
Click on the image above to open the gallery
To help our students choose their reading material we provide supplementary reading lists for each of our fifteen modules and we expect our students to read at least five books a year.
Each reading list suggests titles which are in some way linked to what we are studying in our English lessons that module.
One of the two homework tasks set every week in English is to read. Parents are asked to support this by signing the back page of their child’s reading journal to say that they have seen their child completing this task.
A leaflet is available from the school if you would like more ideas about how to support your child with their reading,
or click here to download a copy.
We have a brilliantly stocked library and our librarian, Mrs Hussey, is always on hand to help students choose reading material. Please see the library’s page on this website for information on joining the Southern Schools Book Award reading group or the Carnegie Award shadowing group.
Other Downloads:
Information about GCSE English Language and English Literature 2013-14
Reading List for Year 7
Helping Your Child to Become a Good Reader
Supplementary Reading List for Stone Cold
Supplementary Reading List for The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time
