English

 

Welcome to the English Department

In English we love exploring how writers use language to create an impact on readers. We do this by examining and reading a range of different texts, from poetry, to novels to a range of fiction and nonfiction texts from different times and places. Once we understand how writers create exciting effects on their readers we can begin to improve our own writing. In English we write creatively and for different purposes, improving our use of language, organisation, punctuation and grammar. Communication includes speaking as well as writing, which is why in English we expect our students to work in groups or independently to present information to the class to help improve all aspects of communication.

 

Meet the English Department
The department team consists of ten members of staff. These are:

NameTitle
Mrs D WrightHead of Department
Miss S EggletonAssistant Headteacher
Mrs R MahmudTeacher of English & Progress Lead Year 9 & 10
Miss K RobinsonTeacher of English
Ms L StuartTeacher of English
Mrs Rachel DanielsTeacher of English
Miss S BrooksTeacher of English
Ms R SouthernTeacher of English & Progress Lead Year 7 & 8
Ms M HealeyTeacher of English
Mr J DicksonTeacher of English
Ms S ElmahdiTeacher of English

Year 7 – Recommended Reading List Year 7 English Reading List

Curriculum OverviewTopicContent & skills
Term 1HeroesStudents will explore heroes through the ages! From Spartacus to Muhammad Ali to Greta Thornburg. They will use their analytical skills to unpick how language has been used in the various modes used and then apply it in a form of a persuasive text.
Term 2
Victorian LiteratureStudents will explore the social and historical context of the Victorian period, they will meet some of the writer’s best love characters and analyse how the famous authors used language to appeal to Victorian readers. They will then use the Victorian style of writing and apply it to their own piece of description based on 1900s London
Term 3CrimeStudents will explore a variety of writing styles based on the theme of crime, analysing how writers use language, structure and form to put across their ideas, before they create their own piece of writing around this theme.
Explicit vocabulary and Recovery Writing SkillsVocabulary and grammarStudents learn and use the Frayer Model to explicitly learn new words and to expand their vocabulary. The practice is mirrored in other curricular areas. In addition to the English curriculum offer, students will have weekly writing lessons. These lessons use discrete grammar teaching to improve the precision and accuracy in students’ work.

Year 8 – Recommended Reading List Year 8 English Reading List

Year 8 Curriculum OverviewTopicContent and skills
Term 1GothicStudents will explore a range of texts within the Gothic genre. They will begin by focusing on contextual information, helping them understand the writer’s purpose when analysing language and structure in texts. They will also get the opportunity to use the Gothic conventions to write a descriptive piece themselves.
Term 2War PoetryStudents will explore the social and historical context of WW1 and how poetry was used to influence people at the time, from Propaganda to the works of Owen and Sassoon students will analyse a variety of poetic structures and forms and analyse how war poetry helped to change people’s minds about the great war. Students will also complete a Poetry Performance, memorising a short poem and performing it to the class using drama and role play.
Term 3Shakespeare's Heroes and Villains Students will explore the social and historical context of Shakespeare’s plays and analyse how Shakespeare presents key themes and characters and uses language to impact his audience.
Explicit vocabulary and Recovery Writing SkillsVocabulary and grammarStudents learn and use the Frayer Model to explicitly learn new words and to expand their vocabulary. The practice is mirrored in other curricular areas. In addition to the English curriculum offer, students will have weekly writing lessons. These lessons use discrete grammar teaching to improve the precision and accuracy in students’ work.

Year 9

Year 9 Curriculum OverviewThemesUnit content
Term 1Why EnglishWhy do we study English? Students will be introduced to the importance of English in the curriculum. Year 9 will explore a range of texts through the ages, including poetry, that have contributed to the society we live in now. They will explore how English is a powerful tool within society for criticising, raising awareness, understanding and empathy. Students will be taught how to structure their writing in order to communicate their ideas and voice their opinions on English.
Term 2Shakespeare’s TragediesStudents will explore a range of Shakespearian tragedies focusing on how Shakespeare uses language, structure and dramatic techniques to present characters and themes. As well as completing written analysis in response to their reading of different plays; students will take part in drama activities to deepen their understanding of the key characters and ideas, and write creatively in response to key events in the play.
Term 3DystopiaStudents will begin the term looking at a range of fiction and non-fiction dystopian texts, utilising their skills of inference, language analysis, comparison and maintaining a critical style of writing and informed response. Students will then work on their speaking and listening skill and create a persuasive speech to end a form of discrimination within society.
Explicit vocabulary and Recovery Writing skills.Vocabulary and grammarStudents learn and use the Frayer Model to explicitly learn new words and to expand their vocabulary. The practice is mirrored in other curricular areas. In addition to the English curriculum offer, students will have weekly writing lessons. These lessons use discrete grammar teaching to improve the precision and accuracy in students’ work.

Year 10

Year 10 Curriculum OverviewTopicContent and skills
Term 1GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section A – reading and analysing fiction textsStudents will explore a variety of writing styles of fiction writers from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, analysing how writers use language, structure and form to put across their ideas and evaluating the texts to equip them with the skills needed for their GCSE Language exam.Students will also complete a cold read of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and discuss theme, characters and intentions.
An Inspector Calls Students will explore the social and historical context of the Edwardian period and analyse how the famous author used language, themes and structure to appeal to Edwardian readers and address social inequalities of the Edwardian period. Students will be required to analyse a theme or character within the play analysing characters, themes and Priestley’s’ use of language whilst developing skills of critical interpretation.
Term 2A Christmas Carol Students will read and explore A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens focusing on how Dickens uses language, structure and literary techniques to present characters and themes. Students will be preparing for their GCSE Literature exam by planning, editing and crafting their essay writing skills in response to an unseen extract and question on the novel.
GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section B – Writing imaginativelyStudents will focus on honing their writer’s voice in a series of lessons that develops students to think like a writer and write like one! They will be exploring a range of genres including thriller, gothic and detective fiction. Students will be exposed to a range of challenging texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st Century to explore and analyse how writers create atmosphere and tension to apply their findings to their own writing.
Term 3Unseen PoetryStudents will explore the language and structural techniques used by authors to present ideas in poetry. Students will analyse a variety of poetic structures and forms and explore how poetry is used to communicate big ideas about life throughout history.
GCSE English Language Paper 2 Section A – reading and analysing non- fiction textsStudents will focus on developing a clear writing voice in a range of transactional writing styles and formats. Students will look at topics that are relevant in today’s society such as Education, Careers and the NHS. Students will be given opportunities to discuss their own viewpoint and opinions, whilst developing the skills needed to be successful in communicating their viewpoint in writing to equip them with the skills needed for their GCSE English Exam.

Year 11

Year 11 Curriculum OverviewTopicContent and skills
Term 1A Christmas CarolStudents will explore the social and historical context of the Victorian period and analyse how the famous author used language, themes and structure to appeal to Victorian readers and address social inequalities of the Victorian period. Students will be required to analyse a theme or character within an extract and elsewhere in the play as a whole so will study plot, characters, themes and Dickens’ use of language whilst developing skills of critical interpretation.
GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section A – reading and analysing fiction textsStudents will explore a variety of writing styles of fiction writers from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, analysing how writers use language, structure and form to put across their ideas and evaluating the texts to equip them with the skills needed for their GCSE mock exam this term.
Macbeth Students will explore this tragedy focusing on how Shakespeare uses language, structure and dramatic techniques to present characters and themes. Students are required to analyse a given extract and explore themes, ideas and characters presented in the extract and elsewhere in the play, we will work on developing skills of written analysis in response to their reading of the playStudents will explore the language and structural techniques used by authors to present ideas in poetry.
GCSE English Language Paper 1 Section B – Writing imaginativelyStudents will focus on honing their writer’s voice in a series of lessons that develops students to think like a writer and write like one! They will be exploring a range of genres including thriller, gothic and detective fiction. Students will be exposed to a range of challenging texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st Century to explore and analyse how writers create atmosphere and tension to apply their findings to their own writing.
Term 2Unseen Poetry and Power and Conflict PoetryStudents will explore the language and structural techniques used by authors to present ideas in poetry. Students will analyse a variety of poetic structures and forms and explore how poetry is used to communicate big ideas about life throughout history. Students will also study poems from the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for GCSE English Literature, considering how the social, cultural and historical context of poems has influenced writers whilst developing skills of critical interpretation, analysis and comparison.
GCSE English Language Paper 2 Section A – reading and analysing non- fiction textsStudents will focus on developing a clear writing voice in a range of transactional writing styles and formats. Students will look at topics that are relevant in today’s society such as Education, Careers and the NHS. Students will be given opportunities to discuss their own viewpoint and opinions, whilst developing the skills needed to be successful in communicating their viewpoint in writing to equip them with the skills needed for their GCSE mock exam this term.
Term 3 RevisionStudents will recap knowledge and skills learnt throughout the year, focusing on key areas in which they need more practice, in order to prepare for their final exams.