English and English Language
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Year 7
Overview
The English department do their best to make the transition from primary to secondary school a smooth one. We try and build on the excellent work done by our primary colleagues and continue to encourage wide and independent reading. The library inductions, reading lessons and the 'Booked Up' initiative certainly help with this. Students will also hone their reading, writing and speaking and listening skills through a varied curriculum which is detailed below:
The English department do their best to make the transition from primary to secondary school a smooth one. We try and build on the excellent work done by our primary colleagues and continue to encourage wide and independent reading. The library inductions, reading lessons and the 'Booked Up' initiative certainly help with this. Students will also hone their reading, writing and speaking and listening skills through a varied curriculum which is detailed below:
'Getting to know you' Autobiography
To help to get to know their new friends in their classes, Year 7s start off the year by writing their autobiographies, utilising their knowledge of synchronised sentences.
Problem solving
With the onus of the new National Curriculum being on skills, students get to grips with working as team as they work collaboratively to survive being washed up on a desert island.
With the onus of the new National Curriculum being on skills, students get to grips with working as team as they work collaboratively to survive being washed up on a desert island.
'A Christmas Carol'
To tie in with a school trip to the theatre, students study the Dickens' classic in the run up to Christmas.
To tie in with a school trip to the theatre, students study the Dickens' classic in the run up to Christmas.
Speaking and Listening
Speaking and listening is an important component of English. Students aim to improve their communication, drama and presentation skills through retelling a story and studying an abridged version of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.
Speaking and listening is an important component of English. Students aim to improve their communication, drama and presentation skills through retelling a story and studying an abridged version of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.
Poetry
What's the difference between a haiku, an acrostic poem, a sonnet, a shape poem and a ballad? Students will get to experience all of the above, culminating in writing their very own poetry anthology.
What's the difference between a haiku, an acrostic poem, a sonnet, a shape poem and a ballad? Students will get to experience all of the above, culminating in writing their very own poetry anthology.
Non-Fiction
The debate about functional skills is becoming increasingly prevalent in the media. Students will analyse a range of non-fiction texts to support them in this.
The debate about functional skills is becoming increasingly prevalent in the media. Students will analyse a range of non-fiction texts to support them in this.
Fiction
To tie in with their independent reading, students will be exposed to a range of fiction. After appreciating the author's craft, they will put these techniques into practice in their own writing.
To tie in with their independent reading, students will be exposed to a range of fiction. After appreciating the author's craft, they will put these techniques into practice in their own writing.
Year 8
Overview
Creative reading continues to be a focus in Year 8, and the 'KS3 Escapes' are a perfect way to explore new fiction. Students have the opportunity to read a range of texts and even become part of the judging panel that decide which title should win. Taught in conjunction with synchronised sentences, students should have the tools and imagination to enjoy the Year 8 curriculum which is detailed below.
Creative reading continues to be a focus in Year 8, and the 'KS3 Escapes' are a perfect way to explore new fiction. Students have the opportunity to read a range of texts and even become part of the judging panel that decide which title should win. Taught in conjunction with synchronised sentences, students should have the tools and imagination to enjoy the Year 8 curriculum which is detailed below.
Where do words come from?
Where did the following words come from: Google, girl power, spyware? These are all words that have been 'invented' in the last ten years. In this topic, students will study how words come about and the importance of context.
Where did the following words come from: Google, girl power, spyware? These are all words that have been 'invented' in the last ten years. In this topic, students will study how words come about and the importance of context.
Cross curricular project with Mathematics
One of the features of the new curriculum is the focus on cross curricular skills. In this topic, students will focus on the marketing of a new theme park somewhere on the outskirts of south Birmingham.
One of the features of the new curriculum is the focus on cross curricular skills. In this topic, students will focus on the marketing of a new theme park somewhere on the outskirts of south Birmingham.
Speaking and Listening
Students continue to hone their functional skills in Year 8 by discussing how to decorate the quad.
Students continue to hone their functional skills in Year 8 by discussing how to decorate the quad.
Shakespeare
In this topic, students must write a play script transferring the themes of Shakespeare into a modern day context.
In this topic, students must write a play script transferring the themes of Shakespeare into a modern day context.
Poetry
Students will study a range of poetry from across the ages and focus on how poets present a particular theme.
Students will study a range of poetry from across the ages and focus on how poets present a particular theme.
Pastiche of holiday brochures
Students will utilise their knowledge of synchronised sentences in this topic as they write a leaflet promoting the local area in the style of the purple prose found in holiday brochures.
Students will utilise their knowledge of synchronised sentences in this topic as they write a leaflet promoting the local area in the style of the purple prose found in holiday brochures.
Fiction
Students study a range of fiction in the form of short stories and a novel, ranging from David Almond to Roald Dahl and Anthony Horowitz.
Students study a range of fiction in the form of short stories and a novel, ranging from David Almond to Roald Dahl and Anthony Horowitz.
Non-Fiction
How do charity adverts persuade their readers to donate money? In this topic, students learn how to use a range of persuasive devices.
How do charity adverts persuade their readers to donate money? In this topic, students learn how to use a range of persuasive devices.
Year 9
Overview
With the abolition of the SATs and the advent of the new national curriculum, Year 9 is an exciting time to study English. There is a new freedom and a lack of exam pressure, but not at the expense of focus or challenge. Year 9 students enjoy a thematic approach with the onus on honing the skills necessary for the rigours of GCSE and the opportunity to foster cross curricular links. The importance of reading for pleasure is an important component and students provide evidence by submitting reading blogs. There is also opportunity for enter poetry and short story competitions, with many of last year's KS3 students being published writers! All of the resources, many interactive, are available on the school's VLE.
War
World War I and II shaped our history but also gave birth to a new era of writing. Students, using their historical knowledge gleaned from the History's departments 'Battlefields trip', focus on a range of war literature from the writing of Anne Frank to war poetry. There is also scope to analyse and compare multimedia texts such as 'Schindler's List and Blackadder'.
Fair Trade
As we live in a global economy, the effect on workers - particularly in the developing world - deserves our attention. Students will focus on case studies and consider how best to use presentational devices and language to persuade others to buy fair trade goods. Knowledge gleaned from Geography allows students to take part in a debate and improve their speaking and listening skills.
Gothic Horror
Historical and social context is the renewed focus of the new GSCE specification due in 2010. In this topic, students will read a range of literature and examine the link between context and text. They will read a range of gothic horror literature and focus on authors' craft: namely how writers create horror.
Homelessness
In the topic, students read a range of texts, both literary and multimedia and examine the effect on the audience. There is scope for students to read a novel and practice their reading and writing skills as well as examining how charity campaigns are designed.
Heroes and Villains
Perhaps the biggest benefit coming from the abolition of the SATs is the shift in focus in studying Shakespeare. Rather than studying two set scenes, the enjoyment and humour of Shakespeare can be restored. Following on from the RSC's 'stand up for Shakespeare' manifesto, students have the opportunity for hone their drama skills and discover some of the bard's most exciting heroes and villains.
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English Writing and Creativity
We give students opportunities to write about everything from Shakespeare to Shrek, and we expect the very best from every student who enters an English classroom. Synchronised sentences is a whole school initiative designed to encourage students to use a wide variety of sentence structures that will help give full expression to their imaginations. There are opportunities for students to create websites, ,run internal newspapers, to see their work published and put on display, and to join our after school clubs.ReadingMost students pursue English Language and English Literature as discrete GCSE courses. At the moment a Yr 10 student could expect to encounter the following texts: Romeo and Juliet; Jekyll and Hyde, or Great Expectations; The Crucible or an Inspector Calls as well as a wide range of poetry from around the world and across the centuries. The yr 10 reading blog allows students to exchange ideas about their current favourite reads.
- Speaking and Listening
Students and parents are often surprised at the 20% weighting given to S & L assessments at GCSE. Completion of three formal assessments is a minimum course requirement. Three discrete clusters of skills are to be assessed in three different ways. Although it is by no means compulsory to match activities to skills in the following way, I find it a useful way of working Students are encouraged to recognise the power of talk as a means of exploring language and ideas, persuading and gaining confidence. They have opportunities in the classroom to talk in small groups, class discussions, role-plays and drama. An important aim of oral work is that students should learn to be good listeners, able to appreciate the views of others as well as articulating their own.
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Drama as an English tool.
Drama is a powerful means of developing students' confidence, self-control, articulateness, ability to co-operate, tolerance and awareness of self and others. Where opportunities exist within the English curriculum, we aim to teach students how to use language of movement and speech effectively, so that they can explore and interpret experiences, ideas, issues and a variety of texts especially scripted drama.
We aim to give students a practical experience of theatre as an art form with the opportunity of theatre visits.
English Language and Literature 'A' Level
This course looks at how English works and the ways in which it can be manipulated for a specific purpose or effect. It allows students to explore plays, poetry and novels via a fresh and exciting approach, which includes the analysis of the ways in which people talk to one another in real life and in literature and the examination of a range of texts, including the page of a passport. Students are encouraged to engage creatively and independently with a wide range of spoken and written texts and they are expected to develop their own ideas in terms of a response to the texts studied.In addition, students independently study and research aspects of both modern and classic literary texts in order to develop their own writing and interpretive skills. Students should bring with them an interest in English and the desire to analyse, investigate and research a range of texts, literary and non literary. They should have a willingness to offer a personal impression and response to writers, speakers and texts and an enjoyment of writing creatively, using individual ideas, whilst incorporating those of others.
Gifted and able
As a department we are committed to raising the achievement of all learners; we recognise the need to provide for those who are particularly able students or have exceptional talents in English. Through creative and diverse teaching methods we provide opportunities within English lessons for able and gifted students to learn about challenging, and sometimes new, concepts. Our curriculum has been developed to ensure able and gifted students realise their full potential.We believe that our job does not begin and end at the classroom door, so we aim to provide support for able and gifted students outside lessons. There is a full enrichment schedule which offers wide-ranging opportunities for gifted and able students across the key stages: theatre visits; book awards; writing competitions; poetry competitions; the literacy leader awards; reading forums.In partnership with a number of other local schools we create interesting and exciting programmes. These events give gifted and able students from the different schools to meet and work with each other. In the past, the 'Leading Edge' partnership organised author visits, trips and media activity days.
Enrichment
The English curriculum is rich with stimulating and thought-provoking material but the department is committed to inspiring a passion for English that extends beyond the pupils school life.Our enrichment events utilise and extend the English skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening and leadership outside of lessons - in to the 'real world'. Personal reading is given a high profile in a number of ways, for example: reading is monitored and pupils are encouraged to choose challenging texts; all pupils take part in activities to celebrate literary events such as National Poetry Day, World book day and literary competitions; classes make use of the Library in lessons and it is open to all during the school day.Students are given many chances to enter writing competitions throughout the year. Recently we have had several students worked published. Bishop Challoner students work has appeared in poetry anthologies and one piece was used as part of the IAAC World Half-Marathon promotional material.Speaking and listening skills are developed through theatre workshops and visits, debating competitions and other opportunities. Our students have appeared on Midlands Today, as part of the 'School Report' segment, interviewing English International Karen Carney. There is an opportunity for students to participate in the Literacy Leaders Award in year 9. This qualification is designed to develop leadership skills and to enable our students to support each other in and outside of lessons.