English
Welcome to the Kingsmead School English Department.
The English Department at Kingsmead School are passionate about Language and Literature and we want our students to be as passionate as we are. We believe that reading is of fundamental importance for students to be able to excel in English as it opens their minds and imagination as well as helping to develop their vocabulary and grasp of grammar. Our aim is to develop the skills of our learners so that they become effective communicators whilst also developing an appreciation of the writing of others.
We also aim to ensure that the children benefit from a wide diet of literature by contemporary and established authors including poetry and drama as well as novels and short stories that are embedded into varied schemes of learning.
Our dedicated English team use a variety of styles in the classroom to make English an exciting experience at Kingsmead.
At Key Stage 3 (Years 7 & 8) students are exposed to a wide range of texts, both with a Language and Literature focus, with a view to encouraging enjoyment of the subject as well as preparing students for the demands of GCSE. Topics covered include: novels, poetry, Shakespeare and contemporary drama and creative writing. Reading, spelling and grammar are approached in an engaging way through lessons and in the school Library using Accelerated Reader and inter house competitions such as the Spelling Bee.
In year 9 students study a range of different topics designed to prepare them for GCSE English Language and Literature.
In years 10 and 11 students undertake courses of study for AQA GCSEs in both Language and Literature and enjoy a wide range of texts determined by the exam board. Currently this includes: a range of poetry from the 19th century to the present; Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’; J B Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls; Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ or ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. Alongside the literature content, students read a range of non-fiction texts and write for various purposes including creative writing.
Extra-Curricular English Events Include:
Carnegie Reading Challenge
Reading Groups
GCSE Revision sessions
Public Speaking
Creative Writing and Poetry Competitions
Theatre Trips
Poetry Slam Event
Sequence of Learning in English
This is a summary of the topics studied in English at Kingsmead School.
|
Key Stage 3 Sequence of Learning |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
|---|---|---|
|
Term 1 (Sept-Oct) |
Autobiography
Diary reading and writing Language paper 2 |
Murder Mystery
Creative writing
Language paper 1 |
|
Term 2 (Nov-Dec) |
Private Peaceful Novel Study Language Paper 1 Literature Paper 2: character study |
Great Expectations Literature Paper 1 Writing about character – Magwitch/Miss Havisham |
|
Term 3 (Jan-Feb) |
Scary Stories Creative Writing Language paper 1 |
Political Speeches/Argument
Writing for different purposes/speaking Language Paper 2 |
|
Term 4 (Feb-Mar) |
Introduction to Shakespeare
Literature Paper 1 |
The Tempest
Literature paper 1 |
|
Term 5 (Apr-May) |
Humpty Dumpty
Literature Paper 2 |
Writing from Other Cultures Reading fiction and non-fiction Language Paper 2 |
|
Term 6 (June-July) |
Poetry Introduction to form and language Literature Paper 2 |
Writing from Other Cultures Poetry Literature Paper 2 |
|
Key Stage 4 Sequence of Learning |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Term 1 (Sept-Oct) |
Of Mice and Men Novel Study Language Paper 1 Literature Paper 2 |
Language Paper 1
Creative reading/writing mock |
Literature paper 1: revision for mock Prep for S & L assessment after half term |
|
Term 2 (Nov-Dec) |
Noir Fiction Creative writing Language Paper 1 |
Literature Paper 1
C19 Novel A Christmas Carol |
Language Paper 1
Reading c20th fiction Creative writing |
|
Term 3 (Jan-Feb) |
Poetry
Poetry comparison Literature Paper 2 |
Literature Paper 1 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet
|
Language Paper 2 Reading c19th and c21st non-fiction Functional Writing |
|
Term 4 (Feb-Mar) |
Journeys Language Paper 2 reading skills Mock |
Literature paper 2: Poetry
AQA Poetry Anthology |
Literature paper 2 Revision Inspector Calls Poetry |
|
Term 5 (April-May) |
Literature Paper 2 c20th prose An Inspector Calls |
Language Paper 2 C19 & c21st non-fiction Transactional writing |
|
|
Term 6 (June-July) |
Literature Paper 1 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet intro |
Literature Paper
Unseen poetry |
|
Top 5 Websites
For additional learning and revision in this subject, see these websites:
GCSE
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zxqncwx
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zcbchv4
https://studywise.co.uk/gcse-revision/english-literature/
Grammar and spelling games
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/english.htm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/skillswise/english/zjg4scw
https://literacytrust.org.uk/resources/?phase=secondary
English Progress Overviews
These are designed to outline the progression of English based learning within each year group. They make clear the skills, understanding and knowledge within each category of our language for learning