Secondary English News

This year, across all English classes, our goal is not only to continue developing students’ writing skills, but also to strengthen both their written expression and reading comprehension. A key focus this term has been on improving writing through regular practice, reflection and targeted feedback.

We began the term with a whole-school English department moderation session, where teachers collaborated to review and discuss student writing across year groups. This valuable professional dialogue helped us identify the key features of expected writing at each stage and ensured consistency in supporting students’ progress.

Year 11

The IGCSE examination season is now underway, with English Language and Literature papers taking place in the coming weeks. We would like to wish all our Year 11 students the very best as they prepare to showcase the reading, analytical and writing skills they have developed over the years. We are proud of their hard work and commitment, and we encourage them to approach these important examinations with confidence. “A little progress each day, adds up to big results. ”

Year 10

This term the students have continued to explore, critique and analyse poetry through in-class essay writing, sharpening their analytical and evaluative skills.

An exciting highlight this term has been their work on career exploration by identifying career pathways aligned to their interests, then sending formal application letters to various organisations in Mombasa to apply for work experience placements. This authentic writing task not only strengthened their formal writing skills but also encouraged students to take meaningful steps towards planning for their futures.

Year 9

This term, Year 9 students have been introduced to the IGCSE syllabus and have begun developing the critical reading skills needed for success. They explored a range of poems, comparing writers’ styles, analysing themes and evaluating how effectively authors communicate their ideas.

As writing remains a key development area, students have also been introduced to formal literary essay writing, alongside the structure of five-paragraph argumentative and personal response essays, essential foundations for the years ahead.

Year 8

The Year 8 students have continued to build their grammar and vocabulary knowledge through an extensive programme of review and practice. Lessons have focused on improving sentence structure, punctuation and clarity of expression, with students expected to actively apply these skills in all written tasks.

Alongside this, they also explored figurative language and completed creative writing tasks inspired by Myths from different cultures. After researching myths from around the world, they crafted their own engaging narrative pieces, demonstrating both imagination and growing technical accuracy.

Year 7

The students have been focusing on developing their writing skills through language study. Beyond simply recognising and understanding vocabulary encountered in texts, students have been learning how to use new words effectively in their own writing to make it richer, more precise and engaging.

As always, we are proud of the enthusiasm, effort and progress shown by students across the department, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth throughout the rest of the year.

“A little progress each day, adds up to big results. ”

Laetitia Mkok

English Department