The English Department is literary in bias: we aim to stimulate interest in literary matters, to stretch girls intellectually, and to spark curiosity in (and a deeper life-long sense of) the subject's ability to help us consider what it is to be human.  As Dr Johnson put it: "The only end of writing is to enable the readers better to enjoy life, or better to endure it."   

There is no streaming by ability at any age.  Entry to Year 7 is by means of the School's own entrance examination, set and marked by the Department.   In the first three years, teachers follow a core curriculum which includes the teaching of Shakespeare, pre and post-C20th novels and poetry.  At the end of Year 11, all girls take IGCSE English and IGCSE Literature in English.   Typically around 40 pupils continue to study the subject in the Sixth Form, where they follow the Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English.  A good number of candidates gain entry to read English at universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. 

We make every effort to ensure that each girl achieves the best examination results possible.  At the same time, however, we believe that girls should also encounter a wide range of challenging and inspiring reading matter and be asked to respond in a variety of ways which challenges them to think beyond themselves and the requirements of examinations.

We therefore also promote lively and creative work.  For the past twenty-five years the English Department has presented a Poetry Evening.  Every girl writes a poem, from which the best are selected and then read by the authors, following a workshop run by a visiting poet (these have included Carol-Ann Duffy, Andrew Motion, Jo Shapcott and Daljit Nagra).  A selection of eighty poems - Writing Drawing Seeing - has recently been published in conjunction with girls' work from the Art Department.

Another important event is the Middle School Debating Competion run during English lessons.  There is also a thriving Debating and Book Club.   For Book Week in October, there is a wide range of activities, including visits from writers and a sponsored reading scheme (Readathon).  When good productions arise, there are theatre trips.  Sixth Form English seminars (both teacher and pupil-led) are a weekly fixture; some of these are shared with Dulwich College, as is a trip to the Lake District to study Wordsworth.