"Literacy is one of the greatest gifts a person could receive"
In the English Department we have high expectations and an aspirational curriculum. We want students to enjoy lessons and be confident that they are well-supported and encouraged to meet the challenges they are given.
We organise whole school Literacy Days throughout the year. In September 2016 all staff and students participated in Roald Dahl Day where activities included: experiments about the melting point of Mr Wonka’s chocolate in Science, following Mr Wonka’s recipes in Food Technology, researching Dahl’s career in the air force, building planes and plotting his travels on maps in Geography and every student was involved in painting a section of a life size BFG in Art. A fantastic day was had by all.
In addition, we held a whole school cross curricular, Charles Dickens’ day. During the day we performed a topic related quiz, created Fezziwig’s festive fruits, Victorian Christmas cards and a host of subject specific Dickens themed activities.
Key stage 3
In the English department we aim to promote a love of literature by reading a variety of prose, poetry and plays from different genres, cultures and periods of time. We want to inspire students to read for information and for pleasure. We also aim to encourage good standards of language and literacy. Students should develop the skills to write accurately in a range of forms and for different audiences and purposes. We aim for all students to develop an understanding of the importance of spoken language and to encourage confidence in using spoken language for a variety of purposes.
Once each fortnight students take part in ‘Writers’Cafe’- a less formal setting in which to produce a piece of individual extended writing from their personal menu. Work is shared with peers and read by other members of the department to select a ‘writer of the fortnight’- prizes and certificates are presented in assembly.
In the summer term all students undertake an author study.
We study a variety of texts across the Key stage, each unit of work will include:
- Reading- developing comprehension skills, analysis of character, plot and setting, understanding of features of genre, learning key skills and terminology for analysis of poetry and figurative language, exploring personal response to texts.
- Writing- developing accurate writing using texts as a starting point, planning and drafting skills, organising writing effectively, writing stories, scripts, poems, letters, blogs, diaries, using appropriate vocabulary, grammar and structure.
- SPaG- taught throughout each unit, integrated into written work and work based on text.
- Spoken Language: learning and developing appropriate techniques for a variety of tasks both formal and informal including: role-play, classroom discussion, giving speeches and making presentations, improvisation, performing playscripts and poetry.
Year 7
- HEROES AND ADVENTURES ANTHOLOGY: students study a selection of short stories and extracts including fiction and non-fiction, pre C20th and contemporary
- POETRY ANTHOLOGY
- ROMEO AND JULIET: Shakespeare.
- A non-fiction detailed Study of festivals celebrated in other cultures.
Year 8
- GHOSTS AND MONSTERS ANTHOLOGY: students will study a selection of short stories and extracts including fiction and non-fiction, pre C20th and contemporary
- POETRY ANTHOLOGY:
- MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: Shakespear
- A non-fiction detailed Study of festivals celebrated in other cultures.
Year 9
- MYSTERY ANTHOLOGY: students will study a selection of short stories and extracts including fiction and non-fiction, pre C20th and contemporary
- POETRY ANTHOLOGY:
- OTHELLO: Shakespeare
- A non-fiction detailed Study of festivals celebrated in other cultures.
Key Stage 4
In Year 10, students begin the 2 year AQA GCSE English course, many students will also study AQA GCSE English Literature. Some students begin the Step up to English qualification, which is taught alongside GCSE English Language.
Students will be taught the skills required to analyse features of a variety of texts including: information retrieval, inferential reading, comprehension skills, language analysis, analysis of structure, comparison of content and form and making personal judgements about texts.
Students will also develop their writing skills by writing in response to written prompts and visual images. Spoken Language will be used to discuss and explore texts as well as assessment by a formal presentation.
Across the two years GCSE students will study:
- Macbeth
- An Inspector Calls
- AQA Poetry Anthology
- A Christmas Carol
Theatre/cinema trips are organised wherever possible to ensure students have first-hand experience. The current Year eleven students enjoyed watching Macbeth performed at Billingham Forum.
Students following Step Up to English will explore a variety of topics including: Detectives, Exhibitions, Travel and The next step. Practical activities, talks and trips are organised to support each area of the course. In previous years, students have visited the Animals Inside Out Exhibition at Newcastle Centre for Life.
Questions regarding the curriculum for English
If you have any questions about the curriculum for English, please contact Mrs. J Fenton, Head of English Department, on 01642 855010 or send an e-mail marked for the attention of Mrs. J. Fenton to: Julie.Fenton@horizonstrust.org.uk
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