“English is integral to every subject, every student and every lived experience.”
English at Boldon School is a captivating experience for all, revealing the wonders of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” to the very modern “Harry Potter” and ” A Monster Calls”.
Students will be immersed in the magical world of Hogwarts as they survey the delights of ” The Philosopher’s Stone” in Year 7. Exploring a varied diet of texts, as they journey through school, students will be introduced to the gothic wonders of: “Dracula “and “Frankenstein” , culminating with an immersive study of “The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde”.
In addition to this, our students will be taught how to write extensively and sophisticatedly, in a variation of styles. For example: students will learn how to structure an argument; analyse media adverts and copy the style of an article entitled: Do You Talk to your Dog? Students will learn how to write in a professional manner, being able to use exemplar materials to propel them to the great heights of the Grade 9.
English is threaded through and, indeed, embedded within all subjects and our intervention and enrichment programmes ensure that students master the skills that not only assist them in English but across the whole curriculum.
Students enjoy English because it is innovative, enticing and…fun! Every student is instilled with the belief that success awaits them; it is this belief which underpins our desire to support, stretch and challenge students so that they reach their full potential during their time with us. It is this impetus that shows our determination for our students to succeed in the classroom and aspire to be the best they can be – beyond it!
The English team is also passionately committed to delivering a varied and exciting English curriculum for all students. Our English teachers beautifully balance the core components of effective teaching and learning with fun, forward-thinking activities: they fully immerse themselves in English-themed events throughout the year, including World Book Day and celebrating Shakespeare’s Birthday.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term (Sep-Oct) |
Transition Unit: Fiction ‘Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone’ – J.K Rowling | Abomination’ – Robert Swindell’s Fiction Unit | Fiction Unit – ‘Lord of The Flies’- William Golding/ ‘Woman in Black’ – Susan Hill | Literature Paper 2: Modern Drama. Section A: “ An Inspector Calls” by J.B. Priestley | Literature Paper 1- Shakespeare Play- Section A: “ Macbeth”. |
| Autumn Term (Nov-Dec) |
Persuasion Unit/ Media: Non Fiction & Dolmio: Writing to argue, persuade and advise. | ‘Abomination’ – Robert Swindells Fiction Unit | Language Unit- ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Writing descriptively and creatively. | Language Paper 1: Skills for Section A and Section B | Language Paper 2: Skills for Section A and Section B |
| Spring Term (Jan-Feb) |
Shakespeare Unit: ‘Romeo and Juliet’- Shakespeare. | Shakespeare Unit: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ or ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Two classes, from January 2023, are trialling The Tempest by William Shakespeare. | Non-Fiction Unit: Writing to persuade, argue and advise. | Literature Paper 2: 7 poems Section B and C Poetry Cluster Unseen Poetry | Finishing Poetry Cluster. Literature Paper 2 Section B and C |
| Spring Term (Feb-April) |
Play: ‘A Monster Calls’ Extended Fiction Unit. | Non-Fiction Unit: Writing to persuade, argue and advise. | Shakespeare Unit: ‘Macbeth’ – William Shakespeare | Language Paper 2: Section B – Writing to Argue, Persuade, Explain. 45 mins. 40 marks A05/ AO6 | REVISION of Literature and Language |
| Summer Term (April-May) |
Poetry Unit: Poetry Anthology | Poetry Unit: Poetry of World War 1/Conflict Poetry. | GCSE Poetry Unit: Poetry Anthology / Comparative responses. | Literature Paper 1 Section B – 19th Century Novel “ The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and
Mr Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson
| Exam Preparation |
| Summer Term (May-July) |
Research project into Fiction Unit for Year 8. | Research project into ‘The Woman in Black’ – Susan Hill. | Research project into ‘An Inspector Calls’ – J.B. Priestley. | AP3 – Assessments for all Literature/Lang – Speaking and Listening Recordings. Research project of the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’. | Students to sit exam |
Year 7
Autumn Term
(Sep-Oct)
Transition Unit: Fiction ‘Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone’ – J.K Rowling
Autumn Term
(Nov-Dec)
Persuasion Unit/ Media: Non Fiction & Dolmio: Writing to argue, persuade and advise.
Spring Term
(Jan-Feb)
Shakespeare Unit: ‘Romeo and Juliet’- Shakespeare.
Spring Term
(Feb-April)
Play: ‘A Monster Calls’ Extended Fiction Unit.
Summer Term
(April-May)
Poetry Unit: Poetry Anthology
Summer Term
(May-July)
Research project into Fiction Unit for Year 8.
Year 8
Autumn Term
(Sep-Oct)
Abomination’ – Robert Swindell’s Fiction Unit
Autumn Term
(Nov-Dec)
‘Abomination’ – Robert Swindells Fiction Unit
Spring Term
(Jan-Feb)
Shakespeare Unit: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ or ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Two classes, from January 2023, are trialling The Tempest by William Shakespeare.
Spring Term
(Feb-April)
Non-Fiction Unit: Writing to persuade, argue and advise.
Summer Term
(April-May)
Poetry Unit: Poetry of World War 1/Conflict Poetry.
Summer Term
(May-July)
Research project into ‘The Woman in Black’ – Susan Hill.
Year 9
Autumn Term
(Sep-Oct)
Fiction Unit – ‘Lord of The Flies’- William Golding/ ‘Woman in Black’ – Susan Hill
Autumn Term
(Nov-Dec)
Language Unit- ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Writing descriptively and creatively.
Spring Term
(Jan-Feb)
Non-Fiction Unit: Writing to persuade, argue and advise.
Spring Term
(Feb-April)
Shakespeare Unit: ‘Macbeth’ – William Shakespeare
Summer Term
(April-May)
GCSE Poetry Unit: Poetry Anthology / Comparative responses.
Summer Term
(May-July)
Research project into ‘An Inspector Calls’ – J.B. Priestley.
Year 10
Autumn Term
(Sep-Oct)
Literature Paper 2: Modern Drama. Section A: “ An Inspector Calls” by J.B. Priestley
Autumn Term
(Nov-Dec)
Language Paper 1: Skills for Section A and Section B
Spring Term
(Jan-Feb)
Literature Paper 2: 7 poems Section B and C Poetry Cluster Unseen Poetry
Spring Term
(Feb-April)
Language Paper 2: Section B – Writing to Argue, Persuade, Explain. 45 mins. 40 marks A05/ AO6
Summer Term
(April-May)
Summer Term
(May-July)
AP3 – Assessments for all Literature/Lang – Speaking and Listening Recordings. Research project of the social and historical context of ‘Macbeth’.
Year 11
Autumn Term
(Sep-Oct)
Literature Paper 1- Shakespeare Play- Section A: “ Macbeth”.
Autumn Term
(Nov-Dec)
Language Paper 2: Skills for Section A and Section B
Spring Term
(Jan-Feb)
Finishing Poetry Cluster. Literature Paper 2 Section B and C
Spring Term
(Feb-April)
REVISION of Literature and Language
Summer Term
(April-May)
Exam Preparation
Summer Term
(May-July)
Students to sit exam