English at Kingsmead offers pupils the chance to develop a full range of reading and writing skills.  English is taught by specialists at both KS3 and KS4.  Working with fiction and non-fiction texts, we explore how to write for different purposes, both creatively and transactional writing.  Learners read a range of texts, looking closely at writer’s craft; evaluating form, structure and language.  Where Literature is studied, learners engage with poetry, Shakespeare and 19^th 20^th and 21^st Century fiction. Across the schools we hold competitions to raise the profile of reading and we encourage learners to read a full range of texts they can find in our library.   English teaching is differentiated and individualised so learners develop into confident readers.  If required we also offer a Functional Skills pathway in English which provides a pathway into GCSEs.