Kesteven and Sleaford High School
History Department
The History Department is a tight knit team of specialists who seek to enthuse the students about our subject. We have introduced a new A level in Classical Civilisation and a new coursework module in Ancient History to broaden the curriculum we offer at Key Stage 5. We continue to offer many extra curricular activities, such as a Tudor day and trips abroad to Normandy, The Somme and Berlin. Last year we organized and ran a very successful element of the Visual Arts days. The year 7 students were immersed in medieval crafts through a trip to the Collection at Lincoln, where they participated in a study of the Luttrell Psalter and a workshop in tile making, based on imagery from the Psalter. They also visited the Castle
to consolidate their study of the development of castles. The following day, they were involved in cross curricular work with the DT department and visiting specialists. Workshops were run in making trebuchets, embroidery, spinning and dyeing.
English Department
The English department comprises seven committed and enthusiastic teachers. The level of subject knowledge is high, and this is applied across all key stages. It enables us to offer English Language and English Literature as separate A Level subjects.
Our targets were linked by an underlying philosophy: to extend students’ experience of language and literature, and also to deliver cultural entitlement to students who live in an area which is distant from major ‘cultural centres’.
In Key Stage 3 we have concentrated on introducing students to the ‘best’ of contemporary fiction written for their age group. We have also provided them with experience of live theatre through the use of a visiting theatre company.
The same theatre company has been used to support GCSE study of Shakespeare. Year 11 students also attended a ‘Poetry Live’ event, where they heard poets read and speak about their own work. This event not only supported their GCSE studies, but also added to their wider cultural experience.
In another exciting development, we have introduced a programme of A-level ‘master-classes’ delivered by department staff and by visiting speakers. The highlight of this programme has to be the lecture delivered by Professor David Crystal.
Kesteven and Sleaford High School is a girls' grammar school, based in Lincolnshire.