William Farr (Church of England) Comprehensive School
English Department 
At William Farr School the English Department has been focussing on challenge both within the curriculum and beyond. Over the last year we have concentrated on encouraging and developing wider reading across all key stages in the belief that reading is at the heart of success in English. We have introduced a reading passport in Key Stage 5 and a reading challenge in Key Stages 3 and 4 designed to encourage students to respond to more challenging texts than they might normally choose themselves.
Beyond the curriculum, we have extended the provision for Gifted and Talented students through a range of activities including the development of the school newspaper which won the Regional Schools Newspaper competition last year. We have also taken part in a Newsday with Lincoln University where a newspaper was completed in one day by students from all Key Stages. Students have attended a series of Shakespeare workshops as well as staging their own productions of Macbeth and As You Like It. This year we were delighted to host a district heat of the Slam Jam performance poetry competition.
Maths and Science Dep
artments
Science and Mathematics are high performing subjects within the school. Prior to taking part in the schools programme each department had promoted high attainment through the effective teaching of the curriculum. The PTI encouraged us to focus on promoting enthusiasm through opportunities for rigorous study beyond the syllabus within lessons and through encouraging wider participation in the range of extracurricular activities that we offer.
In Science, membership of the PTI has given our teachers the opportunity to engage with cutting edge research via access to academics through CPD days or podcasts on the website. This has allowed us to go beyond the national curriculum to give new insight into familiar concepts such as evolution. We have launched a range of new enrichment opportunities from developing a zen garden to writing a book on the development of the jet engine.
In Mathematics a greater emphasis has been placed on problem solving and proof to promote better understanding and greater challenge. Competitions are thriving. In preparation for the UKMT team challenges, pupils meet weekly to compete and decide who they want to represent the school at the regional finals. There has also been particular interest in this year’s Cipher Challenge.
William Farr C.E. Comprehensive School is a mixed school, with pupils aged from 11-18 and is based in Lincoln.