| Departmental Staff | |
| Mrs D Davis-Leigh | Curriculum Leader |
| Mrs E Clifford | Assistant Curriculum Leader |
| Miss S Grainger | Assistant Curriculum Leader |
| Mrs B Elliot | Assistant Curriculum Leader |
| Mrs L Lathall | Literacy co-ordinator |
| Mrs S Evans | English Teacher |
| Miss H Dunstan | English Teacher |
| Miss J Harvey | English Teacher |
| Mrs L Johnson | Deputy Head Teacher |
| Mrs R Elgenia | English Teacher |
In English, the curriculum is designed to provide specific knowledge regarding literary history, writer’s craft and an extensive vocabulary that students are able to call upon to both interact with and create imaginative texts. Students will be able to analyse and evaluate the choices made by writers, whilst making connections between elements within a text and contextual factors beyond the text itself. In turn, students will be able to craft their own writing with an intended effect in mind. They will have a secure grasp of grammar which will enable them to express themselves fluently.
Year 7
The History of English
An exploration of key literary influences across time, from the ancient Greeks to Chaucer.
Prose Writing
Students will work to create their own pieces of creative writing, alluding to Greek myth and the Bible, influenced by their study into the history of English.
Comedy: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Students will study Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and its comedic aspects, and they will write their own comedic narrative.
Injustice: Sawbones Modern Novel
Catherine Johnson’s modern tale of a surgeon’s apprentice in 18th century England allows us to consider central themes such as prejudice, bravery and friendship. The setting of this novel at the Age of Enlightenment will pave the way for our exploration of the Gothic in Year 8.
Year 8
The Gothic
We open Year 8 through our study of The Gothic genre, reading Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Telltale Heart’ as inspiration for our own Gothic short story.
The Art of Rhetoric
Students will study masters of rhetoric from ancient Greece to the modern day. Ethos, Logos and Pathos are at the heart of unit and will be used to help dissect famous speeches from history and will lead to students writing their own speech on a cause close to their heart.
Tyranny: Animal Farm
George Orwell’s allegorical text will be used to further embed the study of rhetoric and will give us the opportunity to look at a text where context is key. Students will engage with Orwell’s intentions and will analyse he crafted the text to influence the reader.
Tragedy: Romeo and Juliet
Students will observe how character and plot are developed and linked throughout the play. Key scenes will be studied in greater depth. Shakespeare’s masterpiece will give students an insight into contextual influences from another time and a chance to reflect on how society has changed.
Transactional Writing
Students will write a ‘Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England’ inspired by their study of Romeo and Juliet.
Year 9
Dystopian fiction
Students delve into the dismal world of fictional dystopia. Through sampling some of the most ground-breaking literature and social commentary through the decades, students are inspired to imagine the greatest disasters and injustices that could befall humanity and bring them alive in their own writing.
As students reflect on ideas put forward in dystopian texts, we move to the GCSE Spoken Language component. Students will create a short presentation on a topic of their choosing.
Spoken Language certificate
Students select a topic of their choice to craft a speech around, which they will perform to the class in order to gain their certificate in Spoken Language.
Anthology Poetry war cluster
Students will study a range of poems from the GCSE Eduqas poetry anthology, clustered together around the theme of war. We will study the various ways that poets present war as futile across the ages.
Tragedy: Macbeth: Acts 1 and 2
Students are challenged to consider the validity of Banquo’s main claim against Macbeth, “Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for ’t.” Students are encouraged to engage in the great story at the heart of this great literary tradition and discover how Shakespeare’s stories also ring true in our lives today.
GCSE
| Students access the linear 1-9 Eduqas GCSE.
English Language Year 10 Skills and knowledge needed for approaching the English Language paper is explored throughout the year. Students consider the differences and connections between non fiction texts written in 19th and 21st century which composes of Paper 2. They craft their own narrative and will write transactional text types such as guides, reviews, articles, speeches and reports, utilising the knowledge from KS3 study. Year 11 Students are introduced the GCSE papers in more depth and teachers take them through key techniques and approaches to set them up for success. English Literature Year 10 Tragedy: Macbeth We continue our study of the play ‘Macbeth’ from the end of Year 9, fully reading from Act 3 through to Act 5. Anthology Poetry – relationships/nature clusters We finish our study of the Eduqas poetry anthology through the remaining poetry clusters, centered around the themes of relationships and nature, and spanning the ages. Year 11 A Christmas Carol We study Charles Dickens’ famous tale of Scrooge, a miserly misanthropist who undergoes a radical transformation at the hands of three ghosts sent to help him change his ways. We consider Dickens’ message about the value of family, Christmas and philanthropy. Blood Brothers We study Willy Russell’s modern tragedy about two brothers separated at birth through the overpowering forces of fate and class inequality. We consider Russell’s powerful message about the damaging effects of Thatcherite economics on the working class. Revision Students will then revise all the areas of the GCSE course and complete mock examinations for all their English papers. Key Stage 5- Years 12 and 13 At Key Stage 5 the Department offer two courses, AQA English Literature Spec B and AQA English Language. Both of these offer candidates the chance to examine English language and culture from a number of perspectives. English Language Breakdown You will create texts and reflect critically on your own processes of production, while analysing the texts produced by others. We will explore the study of English Language both as a medium of communication and as a topic in its own right, with an emphasis on the ability to pursue lines of enquiry, debate different views, and work independently to research aspects of language in use. Language is seen as a creative tool for expression and social connection, as well as for individual cognition. English Literature Breakdown English Literature has a distinct philosophy which centres on different ways of reading and on the connections which exist between texts. Study of texts within the chosen literary and cultural genres in the examined topic areas is enhanced by the study of critical theory in the non-exam assessment. In this way, you can gain a solid understanding of how texts can be connected and how they can be interpreted in multiple ways so that you can arrive at their own interpretations and become confident autonomous readers. You will not only equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for both exams and non-exam assessment, but also experience a rich, challenging and coherent approach to English Literature that provides an excellent basis for studying the subject at university. |
English Language Course Elements
English Literature Course Elements
Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 13)
At Key Stage 5 the Department offer two courses, AQA English Literature Spec B and AQA English Language- both of these are new courses. Both of these offer candidates the chance to examine English language and culture from a number of perspectives.
English Language Breakdown
English Literature Breakdown
Key texts students will need are Othello, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Death of a Salesman, Atonement, Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Oliver Twist.
Other Support Materials
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Level-English-Literature-Student-Book/dp/1107468027
Software and Links
For students with smart phones or ipads – there are Apps available to download to support with spelling and literacy. Most are free and some cost as little as a few pounds.
Key Stage 3
We recommend Mr Thorne’s Spellbook – this App will take students through the phonic stages / spelling rules and build towards more complex words.
Key Stage 3 and 4
The TES Spelling Bee website is also a free resource to practice spelling at all levels.
www.educationquizzes.com – Free interactive quizzes for Key Stage 3 and GCSC English
Applications
A+ spelling test – is a free downloadable app for ipad and similar devices. You can add your own spelling lists and record your own voice for each word. Students can play unscramble, practice tests and complete spelling tests based on their personalised lists. Scores are kept and results can be emailed to whoever you choose. A fantastic app for those wanting to practice spellings independently.
