English
Department Staff
Mrs S White
Head of English
Miss S Roberts
2 i/c English
Mrs E Drury
SENCo / Teacher of English
Mrs S Johnson
Teacher of English
Mrs N Desmond
Teacher of English
Miss S Myers
Teacher of English / Drama
Miss S Jackson
Teacher of English
Mr K Stevens
Teacher of English
Mrs K Croft
Teacher of English
Mrs L Laming
Headteacher
Mr C Davison
Teacher of English
Assistant Headteacher
Introduction
The study of English provides many opportunities for students to develop their understanding of language and literature and become analytical readers.
Students develop many skills while studying English, namely:
- Speaking and listening –ability to formulate, clarify and express ideas within a range of circumstances
- Reading –ability to read, understand and respond to a wide range of texts and appreciate the ways authors achieve their effects
- Writing –ability to organise, present and develop ideas in an effective style, using accurate expression.
Key Stage 3
Students in Year 7 start work on the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for English, providing continuity with Key Stage 2 work. Lessons involve a wide range of language and literature activities, focusing on:
- Writing to entertain: All About Me!
- Reading for meaning: The Gothic
- Writing to inform, explain and advise: Surviving LCA
- Author study: Roald Dahl
- Writing to persuade: Balloon Debate
- Developing interpretations: Poetry
In Year 8, students use the skills they have learnt in Year 7 to access more challenging tasks and texts, including:
- Transposing, form and structure: Writing a Script
- Exploring how writers use language: Travel Writing
- Writing to inform: Non-fiction and Newspaper Articles
- Author study: Arthur Conan Doyle
- Writing to argue: Hobbler’s Hole
- Developing interpretations: Elizabethan Drama
Year 9 is designed to prepare students for the demands of KS4, where students will study:
- Controlling writing: Short Stories
- Author study: Charles Dickens and ‘A Christmas Carol’
- Writing to argue, inform and persuade: Creating your own newspaper
- Reading for meaning: Armitage and Duffy
- Writing: The Tempest
- Reading: The Tempest
During KS3, students have lots of opportunities to enjoy extra-curricular activities, including competitions, projects, trips, workshops and author visits. Our new schemes of work provide students with a wide range of engaging activities and through this, students develop key skills throughout the Key Stage. Pupils are assessed on reading, writing and spoken language throughout the three years.
Key Stage 3 Recommended Reading
Contemporary |
|
Gone | Michael Grant |
The Mortal Instruments | Cassandra Clare |
Uglies | Scott Westerfeld |
Divergent | Veronica Roth |
Skulduggery Pleasant | Derek Landy |
Shiver | Maggie Stiefvater |
Chaos Walking | Patrick Ness |
The Joshua Files | M.G. Harris |
The Garbage King | Elizabeth Laird |
The Ellie McDoodle Diaries | Ruth McNally Barshaw |
Classic Literature |
|
Oliver Twist | Charles Dickens |
Robinson Crusoe | Daniel Defoe |
The Secret Garden | Frances Hodgson Burnett |
The Jungle Book | Rudyard Kipling |
The Railway Children | E. Nesbit |
Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson |
Black Beauty | Anna Sewell |
Short Stories |
|
Duel in the Sky | Tom & Tony Bradman |
Drawing a Veil | Lari Don |
Franny K. Stein | Jim Benton |
First Strike | Craig Simpson |
Lost! | Helen Orme (series) |
Non-fiction |
Many autobiographies, biographies and fact books can be found in the school’s library |
www.bbc.co.uk/newsround |
www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site |
The department is well resourced and includes six interactive whiteboards, a computer room and 15 iPad minis for use in lessons. Students are encouraged to enjoy their English studies by a team of staff who provide lively, stimulating and interactive lessons.
Key Stage 4
Students in English follow the national curriculum. They will build upon the skills and knowledge developed throughout Key Stage 3. Enrichment opportunities will enable students to value English as a subject which affects their daily lives and has the potential to bring pleasure and enjoyment. English at Key Stage 4 will develop independence and encourage resilience. Students will study a variety of text types across a range of time periods and will develop their own interpretations of texts.
In year 10 students will study English Literature and will sit the AQA 1 / 2 Certificate ( IGCSE). They will complete an extended project where they will compare two texts. The summer examination will include a response to unseen poetry and a response to a set text.
In year 11 students will study Cambridge IGCSE English. They will study a variety of non fiction texts and will complete a portfolio comprising of three pieces of writing. Students will also complete three tasks as part of their speaking and listening coursework. The summer examination will consist of three responses to two unseen texts.
Key Stage 5
A-Level English Literature
AS/A2 English Literature gives students an exciting opportunity to read, discuss and interpret some fascinating and important literature in depth and detail, and to reach a good understanding of the underlying factors which shape our literary culture and interpretation. Strong commitment and motivation are necessary to make a success of this course, it is therefore important that AS and A2 literature should only be undertaken by those for whom reading is a great pleasure.
Creative Writing
Our AQA Creative Writing A level course has been incredibly popular with students. This is a new A level course and we are currently one of only a few schools to be offering this opportunity.
English Department on Twitter
Department Resources
Key Stage 4 Resources
Our Ethos and Values
At Lincoln Castle Academy, we value:
Hard work, perseverance and academic excellence
The development of character, compassion and responsible citizenship
Ourselves, each other and boundless ambition