English
The ability to listen, read, understand and interpret information is at the heart of every subject, thus English is of vital importance. Students are bombarded with information in every area of their life, and the ability to decipher that information and communicate effectively has never been more important.
Reading is pivotal to communication, and this is reflected in our curriculum. Reading is a part of every lesson, and students are expected to read every day, and carry a reading book with them at all times. The benefits of regularly reading – fiction in particular – cannot be overstated. The life chances of students are dramatically increased if they develop a regular reading habit, and we do everything possible to nurture this.
Our staff believe in teaching students to love literature, as well as providing them with the skills and knowledge to talk about texts and the writer’s craft with confidence and accuracy. In English, we explore as many different texts as possible in as many different formats as possible. We encourage students to ask questions and to try to understand the world through language.
Key Stage 3
- We study a range of both fiction and non-fiction texts from across time and place, including Shakespeare
- Students study a writing mastery unit across KS3 in order to support their understanding of writing in a grammatically correct manner. This unit is designed to enhance their SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar), developing them as confident young writers
- Students also spend one lesson a fortnight in the library, where we build in both vocabulary instruction work, reading skills and the opportunity to read for pleasure.
- We also utilise the SPARX reading programme to enhance and encourage pupils to both develop independent reading skills, but also to foster a love for reading
Key Stage 4
- Students will study for two GCSEs in English – Language and Literature.
- In Literature, students study a play by Shakespeare, a nineteenth-century novel, one modern text and a collection of poetry.
- Students will also study the context of each of these texts in order to gain a better understanding of how each text was created.
- In Language, students will study a collection of fiction and non-fiction from the nineteenth-century to the modern day.
- They will learn how and why writers from different time periods have presented various issues, and explore how writers use language to provoke readers to respond in alternative ways.
- In Year 10, we also utilise the SPARX reading programme to enhance and encourage pupils to both develop independent reading skills, but also to foster a love for reading.
Useful Links
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | The Odyssey | The Odyssey | The Tempest | The Tempset | Poetry from Other Cultures | Poetry from Other Cultures |
| Year 8 | Animal Farm | Animal Farm | An Introduction to Sonnets/ Romeo and Juliet | An Introduction to Sonnets/ Romeo and Juliet | An Introduction to Rhetoric | An Introduction to Rhetoric |
| Year 9 | The Gothic | The Gothic Tradition | Literary Perspectives of the First World War/ Comparing poetry of the First World War | Literary Perspectives of the First World War/ Comparing poetry of the First World War | An Introduction to Fiction and Non Fiction Extracts | An Introduction to Fiction and Non Fiction Extracts |
| Year 10 | A Christmas Carol Paper 1 - Section A | A Christmas Carol Paper 1 - Section A | Macbeth Spoken Language - Section B | Macbeth Spoken Language - Section B | An Inspector Calls / Unseen Poetry Paper 2 Section A | An Inspector Calls / Unseen Poetry Paper 2 Section A |
| Year 11 | Poetry Anthology Paper 2 Consolidation / Mock Preparation | Poetry Anthology Paper 2 Consolidation / Mock Preparation | Exam Revision / Preparation Mock Paper 2 Lang/Lit | Exam Revision / Preparation Mock Paper 2 Lang/Lit | Final Exam Revision / Preparation | Final Exam Revision / Preparation |
| Year 12 | Introduction to Tragedy 'Othello | Introduction to Tragedy 'Othello | Othello / Death of a Salesman | Othello / Death of a Salesman | Keats / NEA | Keats / NEA |
| Year 13 | The Kite Runner and The Handmaid’s Tale | The Kite Runner and The Handmaid’s Tale | Blake and Unseen | Blake and Unseen | Final Exam Revision / Preparation | Final Exam Revision / Preparation |
Mrs L Jardine
Head of English
Mrs J. Greenway
Teacher of English
Ms R. Kidman
Teacher of English
Mrs H. Morrin
Teacher of English
Ms H. Frampton
Teacher of English
Ms L. Gale
Teacher of English
Ms J Turner
Deputy Head
Miss A Stafford
English Teacher
English Curriculum
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | The Odyssey | The Odyssey | The Tempest | The Tempset | Poetry from Other Cultures | Poetry from Other Cultures |
| Year 8 | Animal Farm | Animal Farm | An Introduction to Sonnets/ Romeo and Juliet | An Introduction to Sonnets/ Romeo and Juliet | An Introduction to Rhetoric | An Introduction to Rhetoric |
| Year 9 | The Gothic | The Gothic Tradition | Literary Perspectives of the First World War/ Comparing poetry of the First World War | Literary Perspectives of the First World War/ Comparing poetry of the First World War | An Introduction to Fiction and Non Fiction Extracts | An Introduction to Fiction and Non Fiction Extracts |
| Year 10 | A Christmas Carol Paper 1 - Section A | A Christmas Carol Paper 1 - Section A | Macbeth Spoken Language - Section B | Macbeth Spoken Language - Section B | An Inspector Calls / Unseen Poetry Paper 2 Section A | An Inspector Calls / Unseen Poetry Paper 2 Section A |
| Year 11 | Poetry Anthology Paper 2 Consolidation / Mock Preparation | Poetry Anthology Paper 2 Consolidation / Mock Preparation | Exam Revision / Preparation Mock Paper 2 Lang/Lit | Exam Revision / Preparation Mock Paper 2 Lang/Lit | Final Exam Revision / Preparation | Final Exam Revision / Preparation |
| Year 12 | Introduction to Tragedy 'Othello | Introduction to Tragedy 'Othello | Othello / Death of a Salesman | Othello / Death of a Salesman | Keats / NEA | Keats / NEA |
| Year 13 | The Kite Runner and The Handmaid’s Tale | The Kite Runner and The Handmaid’s Tale | Blake and Unseen | Blake and Unseen | Final Exam Revision / Preparation | Final Exam Revision / Preparation |