English department

Pimlico Academy has an excellent English department that sees success across Key Stages 3 to 5. At Key Stage 5, pupils achieved 75% in English Language at A Level, 95% in English Literature, and 100% in Media (A-C). Last year’s Year 11 cohort achieved 82% in English Language, 84% in English Literature (A*-C). At Key Stage 3, pupils work chronologically through the years from Ancient Greek writing, The Odyssey, to modern texts such as Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses. Our classrooms have visual literature timelines to ground the context of the literature they are studying in its historical contexts. Please see the video for an in-depth look at Key Stage 3 English at Pimlico Academy.

One of the aims of our Key Stage 3 curriculum is to expose pupils to a plethora of good literature. By the end of Year 9, pupils will have read the following books:

Books we read in Year 7: Cirque Du Freak – Darren Shan; A Series Of Unfortunate Events: A Bad Beginning – Lemony Snickets; Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White; Goodnight Mister Tom – Michelle Magorian; Skellig – David Almond; Shadow – Michael Morpurgo; Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

Books we read in Year 8: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – Mark Haddon; Holes – Louis Sachar; Ruby in the Smoke – Philip Pullman; Stone Cold – Robert Swindells; The Book Thief – Markus Zusak; The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne; The Secrtet Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

Books we read in Year 9: 1984 – George Orwell; Gun For Sale – Graham Green; Al Capone Does My Shirts – Gennifer Choldenko; Short Stories – Roald Dahl; Private Peaceful – Michael Morpurgo; The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger; Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins; Things Falls Apart – Chinua Achebe; To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee; Witch Child – Celia Rees

Extra-curricular provision - The English department has close links with First Story, an organisation aimed at helping students to find their voice through intensive, fun writing programmes. Roland Chambers, an award winning author, runs workshops with English teachers to help pupils develop their writing skills. So far Pimlico and First Story have published six anthologies of original work from students at the Academy. A member of Pimlico staff also won the First Story national writing competition, open to staff and students across the country.

Every year the English department takes pupils from Year 9 to see a Shakespeare play at The Globe Theatre. This always receives great feedback from the pupils. At Key Stage 5, pupils regularly attend the theatre to see performances of plays or novels they are studying.

The English department at Pimlico has had close link with the PTI for many Years, and has benefited from the training they provide, and the PTI research projects completed in schools. This year sees the culmination of a three-year project looking at uptake of English at Key Stage 5.

History

Pimlico Academy’s specialism in History is reflected in both our chronological Key Stage 3 curriculum and our fantastic exam results; last year achieving 84% at GCSE and 100% at A-Level (A*-C). The KS3 Pimlico Curriculum encompasses a rigorous sweep of international and British history from the modest beginnings of the civilisation to the technologically supreme yet politically uncertain world of the twenty-first century. Our goal is to create keen and rigorous students who are able to apply their study of history to their future education in a diverse range of fields as well as to mould rounded citizens whose values reflect those upon which our society is based.

Year 8 pupils discuss model castles as part of work on the Norman Conquest

Year 8 Holocaust project - A group of Year 8 pupils spent a month in May working with staff from the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) to learn about the causes, events and lessons that can be learned from the Holocaust. The students helped the HET produce a fundraising film in the process and had the opportunity to meet and speak to a Holocaust survivor, Harry Bibring who complemented the students on their insightful questions.

Y12 Auschwitz visit - In October, a group of Year 12 students took part in a study visit to Holocaust sites around Auschwitz and the town of Oświęcim. The students worked with other schools to discuss their thoughts in seminars before and after the visit and are now working on a plan to increase awareness of the Holocaust and genocide within the school.

Somme Battlefields visit - In February, a group of Year 9 pupils took part in a trip to the WWI battlefields of the Somme. Students interacted with pupils from a range of other schools and came back ready to share their knowledge and understanding by producing a video with their reflections of the visit.

WWI Somme Battlefields Trip - Students outside the Menin Gate

Sixth Form academic speakers - A range of academic speakers have been invited to address the Sixth Form. These have included Professor Ansari of Royal Holloway and Professor Sean Lang of Angela Ruskin University, both of whom delivered lectures on India and Empire, to help pupils with their British Empire coursework.

Y12 Simon Schama lecture - In the autumn, the new Year 12 cohort attended a lecture delivered by Simon Schama at the National Portrait Gallery on historical portraiture. The Year 12s had the opportunity to ask questions and went on to watch his BBC series which featured some historical figures they had been studying throughout their time at Pimlico.

Somme Overnight Vigil (Westminster Abbey) - In June a group of teachers and students from a range of year groups took part in a special memorial ceremony on the eve of the Somme centenary at Westminster Abbey. The all-night event was broadcast on live on the BBC and featured readings from the students and teachers.

Students participating in the Somme centenary overnight vigil at Westminster Abbey

Local history documentary - Year 8 and 9 students are currently working on a historical documentary to chart change over time in their local area. Students have been on guided historical walks of the neighbourhood (led by a London ‘Blue Badge’ guide), interviewed local residents and worked with an historical mapping expert as part of their research. Students are filming their project which they hope to premiere in the New Year.

King’s College London – Children’s History Conference - In the spring, a group of Year 8 pupils took part in a project with the Museum of Childhood about the history of child migration. Students visited the exhibition, interviewed the curator and then the fed back on their experience as a panel during the King’s College London Children’s History Conference in June. Students interacted with academics from as far afield New Zealand and Mexico, as part of this.

Students from a range of year groups have taken part in educational trips and visits to:

  • The British Museum
  • Tower of London
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Jewel Tower
  • House of Commons “Kids Takeover Day”
  • Roman Amphitheatre (Guildhall) 

Modern Languages

Year 7 students celebrated European Day of Languages in style by learning a French/Spanish song and performing it on camera. For the week, lots of loud singing could be heard down the ML corridor.

Last year we hosted the Chinese Road Show, where pupils learned about a culture and language that they have not come across much before.

Year 9 students have had great fun exchanging letters in Spanish and French to counterparts in schools in Tenerife and in France. It has been very rewarding for them to see how their hard work helps them communicate with other people around the world.

In November we were delighted to immerse our Year 10 and 11 students in culture through on-off workshops in lessons kindly given by visiting Spanish teachers from Cádiz. Pupils learned about typical Spanish celebrations and food, preparing them nicely for the new GCSE and its exciting emphasis on culture. 

Pimlico Academy is a mixed secondary school and Sixth Form with academy status located in Pimlico in the City of Westminster, London.