Faculty Leader
Miss C Davy – Head of Faculty English
Staff
Miss L Carry – Assistant Head of Faculty
Mrs J Brugger – English Teacher
Mrs J Brooke-Battersby – English Teacher
Mr K Sweetman – English Teacher & Head of Year 7
Mr T Whittingham – English Teacher
Miss N Busby – Librarian
Curriculum
Key Stage 3
Years 7 & 8
Following baseline assessment for Year 7, study is organised into half termly Schemes of Learning, focusing on key skills in line with the National Curriculum and GCSE expectations. The curriculum affords students to study a wide range of literature across all genres of writing.
Texts include Alice in Wonderland, Stormbreaker, Our Day Out, Animal farm, Stone Cold, The Hunger Games, Martyn Pig, Of Mice and Men, Blood Brothers and extracts from nineteenth century texts. Students also study some of Shakespeare’s plays and poetry and both modern and heritage poetry is also studied.
Reading for Years 7 & 8 is monitored through the Accelerated Reading programme through weekly Library sessions. Formal assessments take place each half term with the results informing future planning and movement between groups.
Homework Workbooks are provided for each pupil which link directly to the key skills and GCSE expectation and homework is set regularly, including spelling and reading – all pupils are expected to read for a minimum of twenty minutes a day. Extended Learning Tasks (ELTs) may also be set, allowing students to work creatively and independently, using research skills.
Students are rewarded using the school credit system as well as receiving half termly postcards home and a variety of other, in-class initiatives.
Key Stage 4
Years 9, 10 & 11
Subject Specification English Language: AQA GCSE English Language. Click on the link here for further information. AQA GCSE English Language
Subject Specification English Literature: AQA GCSE English Literature. Click on the link here for further information AQA GCSE English Literature
Year 9
As a transition between KS3 and KS4, pupils continue to follow Schemes of Learning which focus on key skills in line with the National Curriculum and GCSE expectations.
Texts studied include Martyn Pig, Of Mice and Men, Blood Brothers, Poetry (including pre-learning of GCSE Poems) and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Formal assessments take place each half term with the results informing future planning and movement between groups.
Homework Workbooks are provided for each pupil which link directly to the key skills and GCSE expectation and homework is set regularly, including spelling and reading – all pupils are expected to read for a minimum of twenty minutes a day. Extended Learning Tasks (ELTs) may also be set, allowing students to work creatively and independently, using research skills.
Students are rewarded using the school credit system as well as receiving half termly postcards home and a variety of other, in-class initiatives.
Year 10
English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2 with half termly assessments and end of year mock exam in both papers.
English Literature: An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol and Conflict and Unseen Poetry with assessments on the completion of each text.
Spoken Language Assessment – internally moderated speaking exam. (AQA)
NB: Class performance is closely monitored and informs intervention strategies which include after school, weekend and holiday sessions.
Year 11
English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2 with regular assessments and mock exams in December. English Literature: Macbeth and revision of Year 10 texts. Regular assessment and mock exams in January. Examination preparation is addressed through Walking Talking Mocks.
NB: Class performance is closely monitored and informs intervention strategies which include after school, weekend and holiday sessions.
Extra-Curricular Activities
- Guest authors and poets invited for workshop sessions
- Visits to theatre for curriculum related performances
- Visiting theatre groups and professional actors
- Dickensian Christmas Interactive Experience
- Y7 Macbeth Enhancement Experience –
- Y9 Book Group – Leeds Book Awards Graphic Novel Group
Useful Links & Resources
Summer reading lists;
Advanced readers, Confident readers, Developing
Year 7 reading lists
