English

English Language

In English Language, our predominant aim is to develop a love of reading and writing for a variety of forms, audiences and purposes. We strive to increase the cultural capital and creativity of our students by exposing them to a breadth and depth of texts from across different time periods. We provide opportunities for them to develop their knowledge of how language shapes meaning and affects how we perceive the world around us. Our schemes of work have been designed to equip students with a range of reading, writing and speaking and listening skills – as well as providing them with opportunities for critical thinking and independent research. Ultimately, our curriculum establishes our students to be effective communicators, critical thinkers and judicious consumers of information. The English Language curriculum aims to ensure success in a variety of academic and career pathways.

English Literature

In English Literature, we endeavour for our students to become active and passionate readers who enjoy engaging with a range of challenging texts from a variety of genres and writers. We want to equip students with the ability to analyse and appreciate texts in relation to their cultural, social and historical contexts. Our aim is to encourage wider reading outside of the classroom so that students develop an intrinsic love of literature that enriches their ability to empathise with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. By exposing our students to a rich body of literature, we aim to nurture creativity and develop a strong authorial voice.

The Department

English is a creative and lively department, where we always strive to do the best for our students! We like nothing more than getting everyone involved in English whether that be competitions to guess teachers’ favourite books or dressing up for World Book Day. We have many different characters within the department but we are all one team and work well to support each other and in turn support our students. We have a range of both Language, Literature and Media specialists in the department who all have a vast range of knowledge. Our subject opens up many doors and lends itself so well to discussions about many different issues. We love reading and writing and this is reflected in the importance we put on developing those skills in lessons and also outside of class too. Check out the Belvedere Journal!

Course organisation

Year 7

Half Terms

1 & 2

Celebrating Identity

Key Texts: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Answerson + extracts from a range of other texts, incl. Boy 87, Cronton Knights and Great Expectations.

Celebrating Identity Continued

Half Terms

3 & 4

Shakespeare in Love

Key Texts: Romeo and Juliet and Sheakspearean Sonnets

Shakespeare in Love Continued

Half Terms

5 & 6

Literature Throughout Time

Extracts from: Mythos by Stephen Fry, Lycaon by Ted Hughes, Paradise Lost by John Milton, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and other extracts.

Literature Throughout Time

Year 8

Half Terms

1 & 2

World at War

Key Texts: The Diary of Anne Frank + extracts from The Book Theif by Marcus Zusak, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and a range of other non-fiction texts and poetry.

World at War Continued

Half Terms

3 & 4

Shakespeare’s Magic and Monsters

Key Texts: The Tempest and extracts from other Shakespearean plays

Shakespeare’s Magic and Monsters Continued

Half Terms

5 & 6

Imagining the Future

Key Texts: The Time Machine by HG Wells and a range of extracts from other texts.

Imagining the Future

Year 9

Half Terms

1 & 2

Powerful Poetry

The study of poetry through the lenses of feminism, postcolonialism, the policitcs of class and romanticism.

What the Dickens?

Exploring the Novels of Charles Dickens

Key Texts: Hard Times, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol.

Half Terms

3 & 4

What the Dickens?

Exploring the novels of Charles Dickens

Writing with Purpose: Exploring Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing

Half Terms

5 & 6

Narrative Journeys

Key Text: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Narrative Journeys

Year 10
Half Terms 1 & 2	Power and Conflict Poetry	Power and Conflict Poetry Unseen Poetry
Half Terms 3 & 4	Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing	Political and Social Views in Literature: An Inspector Calls
Half Terms 5 & 6	Political and Social Views in Literature: An Inspector Calls	Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Year 11
Half Terms 1 & 2	Shakespeare’s Macbeth	Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Half Terms 3 & 4	GCSE Language Revision	The study of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Half Terms 5 & 6	GCSE English Literature Revision	Exam Preparation

Year 12 Literature

Half Terms

1 & 2

Introduction to Tragedy and Crime Writing

Study of:

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

A Range of Crime Poetry, including poetry from Robert Browning, Oscar Wilde and George Crabbe

Study of:

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

A range of Crime Poetry, including poetry from Robert Browning, Oscar Wilde and George Crabbe

Half Terms

3 & 4

Study of:

TRAGEDY - A range of poetry by John Keats

CRIME - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Study of:

TRAGEDY - A range of poetry by John Keats

CRIME - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Half Terms

5 & 6

Non-Assessment Examination:

A study of different literary critical theories, including feminism, postcolonialism, marxism and narrative theory.

Planning and writting two independant NEA pieces (poetry and prose).

Non-Assessment Examination:

A study of different literary critical theories, including feminism, postcolonialism, marxism and narrative theory.

Planning and writting two independant NEA pieces (poetry and prose).

Year 13 Literature

Half Terms

1 & 2

Study of:

TRAGEDY - Shakespeare’s Othello

CRIME - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Study of:

TRAGEDY - Shakespeare’s Othello

CRIME - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Half Terms

3 & 4

CRIME - The History of Crime: Exploring extracts from different crime texts

TRAGEDY - Return to Death of a Salesman and Keats Poetry

CRIME - Creative Writing: Crime Writing

Return to Crime Poetry

TRAGEDY - Return to Death of a Salesman and Keats Poetry

Half Terms

5 & 6

Revision and Exam Preparation

Year 12 Language

Half Terms

1 & 2

Introduction to the Language Toolkit

Child Language Acquisition

Introduction to the Language Toolkit

Child Language Acquisition

Half Terms

3 & 4

Study of: Contemporary Language Change

Accent and Dialect

Study of: Language Change and Political Correctness

Accent and Dialect

Half Terms

5 & 6

Study of: Language, Gender, Age and Class

Study of: Language, Gender and Occupation

Year 13 Language
Half Terms 1 & 2	Introduction to the Non-Examination Assessment (NEA)	Study of: World English Return to Child Language Acquisition
Half Terms 3 & 4	Return to Age, Class and Occupation on Language	Return to Language Change and Gender
Half Terms 5 & 6	Revision of Core Topics	Revision and Exam Preparation

Enrichment

Belvedere Journal

Crime Fiction

Creative Writing

Relaxing Reading

Conspiracy Club

Trips

Chrystall Prize Public Speaking Competition

‘Othello’ theatre trip

‘An Inspector Calls’ at the Lowry

Staffing

Mrs A. Dickinson - Curriculum Leader of English & Media

Mr H. Woolley - Assistant Curriculum Leader of English and Media

Mr T. Lamb - Subject Leader of Media, English Teacher

Mrs J. Jones - Vice Principal, English Teacher

Ms E. Speed - Senior Assistant Vice Principal, English Teacher

Mrs H. Adam - Assistant Vice Principal, English Teacher

Miss C. Brooks – KS3 English Coordinator, English Teacher

Miss M. Johnson – Assistant Head of Sixth Form, English Teacher

Mr C. Brazier - English Teacher

Miss E. Woods - English Teacher

Miss M. McGowan – Music and English Teacher

Miss C. Shaw - English Teacher