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English
Here in the English Department, every student is given the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of a wide range of literature.
The KS3 curriculum offers students a rich, engaging and challenging experience that develops key skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening.
We aim to develop confident readers and challenge students to read widely in lessons and form time. Our students develop secure comprehension skills and we aim to develop vocabulary and experience cultures from worlds other than that which they inhabit.
Each scheme aims to enhance students abilities with regards to:
- Pre 19th century Literature
- Poetry
- Creative Writing
- Non-fiction texts in various forms
- Analysis and comparison
We believe that to be an effective writer, means that students are encouraged to be creative, analytical and freethinking in their language choices.
Equally important to us is to develop a natural pathway from the work we will do here, to the wide variety of exciting jobs that come with the right qualifications in English.
In KS4, we aim to help students understand English as a discipline and therefore understand how literature has developed over time. We teach our students to recognise that literary texts do not appear in a vacuum: each literary movement or text is built on the foundations of what came before and influences what came after. It is also vital to learn about the way social, cultural and political shifts are mirrored in the literature of that time. When studying Macbeth, consideration will be given to the events of the Elizabethan and Jacobean Era, and the relationships that Shakespeare had with the upper echelons of society. Following this, students will learn about the ways that people became popular without social media!
We want to develop an understanding of how the texts we teach came into being and their place within history and culture. Building on knowledge from KS2 and KS3, a Victorian text will be studied. This will also help to recognise that literature is a force for social change and political commentary, further strengthening the power of great literature. We will also study a modern text and an Anthology of poetry. We will visit the theatre where students can lose themselves in the past and truly understand how wonderful literature is!
KS3 English
Year 7 English
During Year 7 in English, students will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to Shakespeare Hamlet
- Fantasy and adventure Writing
- Introduction to Poetry
- Novel
- Modern play
- Non-fiction Writing
Fantasy and adventure Writing
During this scheme pupils will develop their creative writing skills by exposure to a number of different extracts from fantasy and adventure novels. Covering a range of writing skills including, characterisation, literary techniques, building a convincing setting and understanding the ingredients of this genre.
Suggested independent reading: Alice in Wonderland, the Harry Potter series & The Chronicles of Narnia.
Introduction to Poetry
Students will study a range of childhood/memory poems. Again, covering a range of skills including researching context, considering a range of perspectives and building confidence around reading and writing skills.
Students will begin to look at the use of literary techniques that are included in poetry as well as the use of rhyme and rhythm.
Suggested independent reading: Carol-Ann Duffy & Simon Armitage
Novel
When they study a novel, students will develop their ability to analyse language, make inferences and consider a text’s social, historical and cultural context.
Suggested independent reading: Wonder by R J Palacio; Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Ma.
Modern Play
We study ‘A Monster Calls’ by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd as our modern play. Throughout this scheme pupils will focus on characterisation skills and drama conventions. They will focus on the use of symbolism, inference skills and the interpretation of key themes.
Non-fiction Writing
We study ‘Writing The World’ in this section of Grammar for Writing. Continuing our focus on grammar, students will learn how to use persuasive, informative and descriptive writing techniques. They will read and analyse a range of non-fiction articles to support their writing.
Suggested independent reading: newspapers and magazine articles
Introduction to Shakespeare – Hamlet
During this topic students will further their knowledge and confidence in understanding Shakespearean language and dramatic techniques as well as considering the context in which the play is set. When studying Hamlet pupils will develop their inference skills and ability to understand key themes and symbols.
Suggested independent reading: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.
Year 8 English
During Year 8 in English, students will cover the following topics:
- Romantic & Modern Poetry
- The Gothic Genre
- Romeo and Juliet
- Non-Fiction Reading and Writing
- Novel
- Play
- Spy Stories
The Gothic Genre
During this scheme pupils will develop their creative writing skills by exposure to a number of different extracts from gothic novels. Pupils will become more familiar with 19th century writing and will learn how to decode old texts. Covering a range of writing skills including, characterisation, literary techniques and understanding the key ingredients of this genre.
Suggested independent reading: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Romeo and Juliet
Students will study Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. They will further their knowledge and confidence in understanding Shakespeaian language and drama conventions. Pupils will consider the context of the play and the relating themes in order to make comparisons with the modern day.
Since students study Hamlet in year 7, this scheme is about developing analytical skills. They will consider how Shakespeare constructed his plays by focusing on the language and structural devices.
Non-fiction reading and writing
We study a range of non-fiction texts in order to support students with their transactional writing. Continuing our focus on grammar, students will learn how to use rhetoric in order to persuade an audience. Some of the texts studied are Martin Luthur King’s ‘I have a dream’ and JF Kennedy’s ‘Man on the moon’.
Suggested independent reading: newspaper and magazine articles.
Novel
Throughout this scheme students will read ‘Private Peaceful’ by Michael Morpurgo in order to develop their ability to analyse characterisation and the structure of a novel. They will investigate the writer’s message and consider the social, historical and cultural context.
Suggested independent reading: War Horse by Michael Morpurgo and The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.
Play
In this unit students will read ‘Hobson’s Choice’ by Harold Brighouse. There will be opportunities for drama activities such as hot-seating and role play which will aid the understanding of characters and key events. The historical context will be studied in order to consider the key themes. This scheme includes analysis of language, structure and drama conventions.
Suggested independent reading: The Crucible by Arthur Miller and Journey’s End by RC Sherriff.
Romantic + Modern Poetry
Students will study a range of romantic poems. Again, covering a range of skills including researching context, considering a range of perspectives and building confidence around reading and writing skills. Students will explore the conversions of poetry and broaden their knowledge of contextual features in poetry. Pupils will also strengthen their understanding of the 19th century and develop critical written responses.
Suggested independent reading: poetry by William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats.
Year 9 English
During Year 9 in English, students will cover the following topics:
- Conflict Poetry
- Dystopian Writing
- Detective/Mystery Writing
- 19th Century Literature
- The Art of Persuasion
- Novel (Of Mice and Men)
- Play (An Inspector Calls)
Dystopian Writing
We study Dystopian texts in Grammar for Writing which is a module used to embed grammar into students’ creative writing. Students will focus on the setting and genre typical to dystopian writing. They will read a range of extracts from texts such as 1984, The Hunger Games and The Beach. At the end of the unit they will utilise their skills to write a dystopian piece.
Detective/Mystery Writing
Pupils start this year by exploring the ingredients of detective and mystery writing. They will have the opportunity to read a number of extracts from this genre such as extracts from Sherlock Holmes in order to become more familiar with the conventions. Pupils will learn new sophisticated vocabulary, literary techniques and structural devices that will be encouraged to use in their own writing. This topic will allow pupils to evaluate their own writing in order to understand the impact that it has on the audience and the purpose for which it was intended
Suggested independent reading: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and Paper Towns by John Green.
19th Century Literature
Students will study a range of 19th century extracts such as Dracula, Woman in Black, The Speckled Band and The Hound of the Baskervilles. They will deepen their knowledge and understanding of language and structure analysis, as well as understanding the context in which the novels were written.
Suggested independent reading: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte.
The Art of Persuasion
Students will study a range of non-fiction writing linked to topics such as, the death penalty debate, racism, sexism, education for all, and climate change. They will learn how to compare and contrast these texts with a focus on language, structure, theme, character and writer’s ideas. Pupils will further develop the ability to write in different styles and forms and understand the influence of the media in various forms.
At the end of the unit they will complete an argumentative piece of writing.
Novel (Of Mice and Men)
Throughout this scheme students will read ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck in order to develop their ability to understand mature themes and sophisticated use of language and structure. Pupils will explore the context of the novel and consider the American Dream and the Wall Street Crash in order to gain a better understanding of the writer’s message.
Students will have the opportunity to analyse and evaluate the texts in preparation for similar novels at GCSE.
Suggested reading: The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Play (An Inspector Calls)
In this unit, students will share the reading of An Inspector Calls. Dramatic techniques will be studied alongside the interpretation of character development and language and structure. Contextual features will also be explored and pupils will understand the play’s background and the writer’s message.
Suggested independent reading: Educating Rita by Willy Russell.
Conflict Poetry
Students will study 5 poems linked to the theme of Conflict. They will also revise their comparison skills and apply them to poetry. This unit will enable them to approach unseen poems and build confidence in the analysis of language, form and structure of poetry.
Suggested independent reading: poetry by John Agard, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Carol Ann Fuffy and Wilfred Owen.
KS4 English
The aims and objectives of the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in English Language are to enable students to:
- read a wide range of texts fluently and with good understanding
- read critically and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing
- write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately
- use grammar correctly, punctuate and spell accurately
- acquire and apply a wide vocabulary alongside knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- listen to and understand spoken language, and use spoken Standard English effectively. Spoken language will be reported as a separate grade on the student’s certificate.
Component 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing
(40% of the total GCSE)
Overview of Content
Study selections from a range of prose fiction
Develop skills to analyse and evaluate 19th-century fiction extracts
Develop imaginative writing skills to engage the reader
Use spelling, punctuation and grammar accurately
Overview of Assessment
Section A – Reading from a range of prose fiction
Section B – Writing: a choice of two writing tasks. The tasks are linked by a theme to the reading extract
Component 2: Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing
(60% of the total GCSE)
Overview of Content
Study a range of 20th- and 21st- century non-fiction texts (including literary non-fiction)
Develop skills to analyse, evaluate and compare non-fiction extracts
Develop transactional writing skills for a variety of forms, purposes and audiences
Use spelling, punctuation and grammar accurately
Overview of Assessment
Section A – Reading: two questions on thematically linked, unseen non-fiction extracts
Section B – Writing: a choice of two writing tasks. The tasks are linked by a theme to the reading extracts
Spoken Language Endorsement
(0% of the total GCSE)
Overview of Content
Developing spoken language skills
Overview of Assessment
The component is internally assessed under controlled conditions, and externally monitored
Candidates must undertake a prepared spoken presentation on a specific topic in a formal setting, listen and respond to questions and feedback, and use spoken english effectively
Students will be awarded a grade (Pass, Merit or Distinction)
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Course Specification
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Useful Links
The aims and objectives of the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in English Literature are to enable students to:
- read a wide range of classic literature fluently and with good understanding, and make connections across their reading
- read in depth, critically and evaluatively, so that they are able to discuss and explain their understanding and ideas
- develop the habit of reading widely and often
- appreciate the depth and power of the English literary heritage
- write accurately, effectively and analytically about their reading, using Standard English
- acquire and use a wide vocabulary, including grammatical terminology, and other literary and linguistic terms they need to criticise and analyse what they read.
Component 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature
(50% of the total GCSE)
Overview of Content
Study a Shakespeare play and a post-1914 British play or novel
Develop skills to analyse how the language, form, structure and context of texts can create meanings and effects
Develop skills to maintain a critical style and informed personal response
Overview of Assessment
Section A – Shakespeare: a two-part question, with the first task focused on an extract of approximately 30 lines. The second task is focussed on how a theme reflected in the extract is explored in the play
Section B – Post 1914 British play or novel: ONE essay question
Component 2: 19th-century Novel and Poetry since 1789
(50% of the total GCSE)
Overview of Content
Study a 19th-century novel and poetry collection from the Pearson Poetry Anthology
Develop skills to analyse how the language, form, structure and context of texts can create meanings and effects
Develop skills to maintain a critical style and informed personal response.
Develop comparison skills
Overview of Assessment
Section A – 19th-century novel: a two part question, with the first part focussed on an extract of approximately 400 words. The second part is an essay question exploring the whole text
Section B – Part 1: ONE question comparing a named poem from the Pearson Anthology collection to another from that collection. The named poem will be shown in the question paper. Part 2: ONE question comparing two unseen contemporary poems
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Course Specification
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Useful Links
English Teachers
Mrs A Fletcher
Subject Leader of English
Mrs M Kelly
Assistant Subject Leader of English KS4
Miss R Owen
Assistant Subject Leader of English KS3
Ms L Mallon
Assistant Headteacher & Teacher of English
Mr I Carey
Deputy Headteacher & Teacher of English
Ms B Farrell
Teacher of English
Mrs C Petrucci
Teacher of English
Mr M Robertson
Teacher of English
Mrs E Runagle
Teacher of English
Mr T Shaw
Teacher of English
Ms A Spink
Teacher of English
Mrs C Stringer
Teacher of English
Mr D Ashton
English HLTA