English

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant" Robert Louis Stevenson.

our vision for English at All Saints Academy

English at All Saints Academy aims to develop a love of the subject which is nurtured and builds upon vital foundations in preparation for GCSE in both Language and Literature. Through English, we promote a passion for wider fiction and non-fiction reading of 19^th to 21^st Century content (linked to GCSE Language) to enable students to fully access unseen material. This enables students to develop critical and analytical reading skills to understand how writers achieve effects and influence readers. Also, students will develop creativity in both the written and spoken word by adapting tone, style, register and form linked to specific audiences. Throughout the curriculum, we promote awareness of social, cultural, historical and moral contextual factors, enabling students to become better thinkers and more empathetic human beings.

Through utilising a wide range of teaching and learning strategies, we encourage students to work independently, taking responsibility for their own learning and showing resilience in preparation for future education and career pathways. There are three to five one-hour English lessons per week. Students who fall behind in their expected progress can be offered extra literacy lessons. We also provide additional support through our student leaders.

 

how will we achieve this

                                

How will we Assess English?

Curriculum-Outline-Y7

Curriculum-Outline-Y8

Curriculum-Outline-Y9

Curriculum-Outline-Y10

Curriculum-Outline-Y11

 

Year 7 English 

The Year 7 English curriculum prepares all students to express themselves coherently, accurately, and concisely in writing and speech.

AUTUMN 1: DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
AUTUMN 2: GHOST
SPRING 1: GHOST
SPRING 2: WRITING TO PERSUADE/ARGUE
SUMMER 1: POETRY FROM OTHER CULTURES
SUMMER 2: INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE AND THE TEMPEST

Year 8 English

The Year 8 English curriculum builds on knowledge from Year 7 and focuses on deeper understanding and analysis.

AUTUMN 1: RANTS – WRITING TO ARGUE
AUTUMN 2: DYSTOPIAN / GOTHIC FICTION
SPRING 1: RUBY IN THE SMOKE
SPRING 2: RUBY IN THE SMOKE
SUMMER 1: ROMEO AND JULIET
SUMMER 2: BLOOD BROTHERS

Year 9 English

In Year 9, students are introduced to the literature set texts as we challenge them to develop more analytical viewpoints.

AUTUMN 1: THEMATIC POETRY
AUTUMN 2: MACBETH
SPRING 1: FICTION ANALYSIS
SPRING 2: AN INSPECTOR CALLS
SUMMER 1: SPEECHES
SUMMER 2: THE SIGN OF THE FOUR (SHERLOCK HOLMES)

KS4 English

Students will sit AQA GCSE English Language and AQA GCSE English Literature at the end of Year 11.
The GCSE courses provide access to a broad range of texts from the literary canon, building on their knowledge from Key Stage 3.

English Language

1. C19 Fiction: reading
2. Descriptive/Narrative writing
3. C20 and C21 non-fiction: reading
4. Transactional writing

English Literature

1. The Sign of the Four
2. Power and Conflict Poetry
3. Macbeth
4. An Inspector Calls

Year 10 English

In Year 10, students revisit the literature set texts in more depth whilst developing more independent learning skills to prepare them for examinations.

AUTUMN 1: AN INSPECTOR CALLS
AUTUMN 2: FICTION ANALYSIS
SPRING 1: MACBETH
SPRING 2: NARRATIVE/DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
SUMMER 1: THE SIGN OF THE FOUR (SHERLOCK HOLMES)
SUMMER 2: POWER AND CONFLICT POETRY

Year 11 English

In Year 11, students thoroughly revise the literature set texts alongside honing their writing and analytical skills linked to language.

AUTUMN 1: WRITERS’ VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVES
AUTUMN 2: THE SIGN OF THE FOUR / MACBETH MOCK EXAM REVISION
SPRING 1: POWER AND CONFLICT POETRY
SPRING 2: ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE BESPOKE REVISION
SUMMER 1: EXAMINATION PERIOD

Please check AQA for updates: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700

what is the IMPACT of our work?

 

English Cultural Capital Opportunities

• A range of writing competitions
• ESU - English Speaking Union Debate Club
• Theatre trips
• Live performances of set texts
• World Book Day activities
• Peer mentoring
• Blind date with a book P6
• Film Club
• Reading Leaders
• Author Visits
• Book Vending Machine

We had our first book reward given out from the vending machine. OC in Y11 has read over 10 books and reviewed them so she got to choose her prize. She chose a signed copy of 'Bea's Witch' by Daniel Ingram-Brown (who visited the academy last year)

English Prefects

English Literature Prefect
Hello, I’m Adam and I am the English literature prefect here at all saints. English literature has always been one of my favourite subjects as I love reading (especially the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings) and I thoroughly think that it has helped me in my lessons to achieve my goals. I am pleased that I can help improve the subject for other students who may find it less enjoyable or challenging.

I wanted to become a prefect as I wanted to have the chance to help people who are struggling with their work or just generally in school.

I aim to make English more enjoyable for everybody while showing the importance of it whilst also helping students achieve their goals and go above and beyond in this subject which I enjoy. I want to use my knowledge of English and reading to help students who find it challenging.

 

English Language Prefect

Hello, my name is Lily, within my role as English Language prefect, I aim to ensure more students enjoy English Language, and can develop skills to help them unlock their creativity and express themselves through their words. I want more students to understand the importance of the subject and the positive impact it can have from helping to develop skills in analysis, vocabulary, and structure, through fostering skills such as collaboration, resilience and creativity.

I find English is one of the subjects where it is easy to succeed if you devote time to making progress. I have always found English enjoyable and hope to foster this attitude to make the subject more interactive and enjoyable.

 

 

Library Leader
 

Hello, my name is Sophie, and I'm the Library Prefect at All Saints Academy. I've loved reading for as long as I can remember, devouring everything from classical literature to modern dystopia and fantasy. In my new role I hope to nurture a similar love for books in others by making our library an even better, more welcoming resource for all. 

In my time at this school, I've been involved in several extracurricular programmes and leadership opportunities that have helped me to grow and develop. For example, I took part in the Brilliant Club's Scholarship Programme, which taught me to think critically and gave me an understanding of life and work at university. I've also now achieved Bronze Cultural Capital Champion status, and as a result went on a highly educational trip to Liverpool. Moreover, taking part in the sports Girls United programme helped to develop my confidence and sense of adventure, while being a Learning Mentor for two years has improved my communication and leadership skills. 

I possess a firm belief in the power reading can have: providing a sense of escapism as you lose yourself in worlds with political corruption, deadly mysteries, and fantastical dragons; developing empathy and understanding; teaching about real-world themes and issues such as friendship, justice, sexism and morality; and improving grammar, language and vocabulary in frequent readers. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope to see you in the library! 

 

English suggested reading lists:

The Reading Journeys are used to promote wider reading for pleasure across the curriculum and give students a wide range of fiction and non-fiction to choose from. In English, students are rewarded for making progress through the Reading Journey.

Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Key stage 4

 

Click to download out Reading Around the World map

 

How to help your child at home