English

Studying English at Dormston is an exciting and challenging experience – in what other subject could you travel to different worlds? Dip into Dickensian London? Be transported to Jacobean England? Create gripping narratives? Discuss, explore and imagine?

The English Department runs the AQA English Language GCSE and the Eduqas English Literature GCSE. We are fortunately staffed with subject specialists who love their subject and are passionate and enthusiastic teachers. Staffing is as follows:

Mrs Moseley (Lead Practitioner and Curriculum Leader English), Mrs Millership (Key Stage 4 Co-ordinator), Mr Corns (English Lead Teacher), Mr Fox (Literacy Co-ordinator), Mrs Barley (Key Stage 3 Co-ordinator), Mr Wilkes (Head of Severn House), Mrs Ainge, Miss Timmins Mrs Lyman, Ms Hall and Mrs Nicholls-Steed.

KS3

The aim of our Key Stage 3 curriculum is to develop creativity and passion for reading and writing and to sufficiently challenge students in preparation for the GCSE courses. In Years 7, 8 and 9, students receive seven lessons of English over their two week timetable.

All Key Stage 3 schemes of work blend language and literature skills and are rooted in fiction and non-fiction texts in order to develop an appreciation of reading. These texts have been chosen to deliver a challenging mix of classic and contemporary plays and novels. They are:

Year 7:

Throughout their first term they will study a variety of texts based around the topic of Myths and Legends in the Origins of Literature Unit, before moving onto Childhood poetry before Christmas. Later in the year they will study a whole novel (‘The Bone Sparrow’) and have the opportunity to look at a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts to hone their reading and writing skills.

Year 8

Students in Year 8 are building upon the skills and knowledge gleaned from previous years, whilst continuing to develop their understanding. They begin the year by studying a range of Dystopian fiction, before moving onto the study of a whole text later in the year. As in Year 7, students will also have the opportunity to study a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts. The culmination of the year sees the Shakespeare Festival, where all classes will have the opportunity to put together a Shakespeare play for performance.

Year 9:

The final year of Key Stage 3 equips students with the skills required to access and succeed in both the Literature and Language components that they will address in the final two years of their school career. They will begin the year with studying Romeo and Juliet, and will look at a variety of poetry, a range of texts and complete a study of a contemporary novel. This year builds upon the challenge of prior texts and encourages an understanding of intertextuality.

Each scheme of work is developed by the department and incorporates:

Creative writing: a hugely enjoyable part of our curriculum and now a significant part of the English Language GCSE;
Poetry linking to themes and ideas explored in the main texts;
Learning and revision of Tier 2 vocabulary (Tier 2 high frequency words are used by mature language users across several content areas. Because of their lack of use in oral language, Tier 2 words present challenges to students who primarily meet them in print) to enable students to communicate their ideas in an increasingly sophisticated style;
Reading and writing of fiction and non-fiction texts to develop comprehension, analysis and critical thinking;
Regular opportunities for discussion to prepare students for their GCSE Spoken Language certificate and to nurture confidence in oracy skills crucial to wider school life and beyond.

To develop confidence in reading, students will also read different a class novel in addition to the main areas of study. One lesson a fortnight is dedicated to reading time. Every English lesson begins with a ten minute read. The texts are diverse and challenging, exploring often controversial world issues.

If students are absent but are well enough, please direct them to the English Learning Journeys / Parental Intervention booklets which can be found below, to ensure that there are no gaps in their knowledge.”

Year 7 Parental Intervention Booklets

Y7 Childhood Poetry Parental Intervention Booklet

Y7 Planet Earth Parental Intervention Booklet

Year 7 Myths Legends Creative Writing Parental Intervention Booklet

Year 8 Parental Intervention Booklets

2024 Y8 Romantic Poetry Parental Intervention Booklet

Y8 Heritage Poetry Parental Intervention Booklet

Y8 Salt to the Sea Parental Intervention Booklet

Year 8 Dystopian Creative Writing Parental Intervention Booklet

Year 9 Parental Intervention Booklets

2024 Y9 Gothic Fiction Parental Intervention Booklet

2023-24 Y9 Gothic Parental Intervention Booklet

2023-24 Y9 Heroes Parental Intervention Booklet

Year 9 Romeo & Juliet Parental Intervention Booklet

KS4

Here at Dormston we believe that success in Key Stage 4 is built on success at Key Stage 3. Students study a diverse and challenging curriculum throughout their first years at the school which is designed to develop key skills and guide learners towards becoming independent and motivated students ready for the GCSE course in Year 10. At the end of two years, students will receive two separate qualifications in GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. GCSE qualifications are reported on a nine point scale from 1 to 9, where 9 is the highest grade. All course components are assessed via examinations at the end of the two year course. Students’ progress is tracked through a series of half-termly assessments, along with mock examinations at the end of Year 10 and during Year 11.

Students follow the Eduqas English Literature specification and the AQA English Language specification.

Year 10/ 11 Materials

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (AQA) LANGUAGE PAPER 1: EXPLORATIONS IN CREATIVE READING AND WRITING. 50% (1 HOUR 45 MINUTES)

Section A (25%) – Reading (40 marks) This exam will be an unseen extract from one 20th century literary prose text with 4 structured questions. Section B (25%) – Descriptive or Narrative Writing (40 marks) This section is one 40 mark task and it will be inspired by the topic that they have responded to in section A. Pupils are required to demonstrate their narrative and descriptive skills in response to a written prompt, scenario or visual image.

LANGUAGE PAPER 2: WRITERS’ VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVES 50% (1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES)

Section A (25%) – Reading (40 marks) The exam will be two linked sources from different time periods and genres in order to consider how each presents a perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader with 4 structured questions.
Section B (25%) – Writing (40 marks) This section is one 40 mark task and will test the ability to produce a written text to a specified audience, purpose and form in which pupils give their own perspective on the theme that has been introduced to them in section A.
Pupils may be required to write either a speech, a leaflet, an essay, a letter or an article.

COMPONENT 3 – SPOKEN LANGUAGE Formal presentation

(40 marks) Students will be required to complete one formal presentation or speech and will be assessed on responses to questions and feedback following the presentation. Spoken language will be reported on as part of the qualification, but it will not form part of the final mark and grade.

ENGLISH LITERATURE COURSE COMPONENTS (EDUQAS) COMPONENT 1: SHAKESPEARE AND POETRY 40% (2 HOURS)

Section A (20%) – Shakespeare (40 marks) Study of Macbeth. One extract (15 marks) and one essay question (25 marks) based on the reading of the play. (Students are not permitted to take copies of the text into the examination) Section B (20%) Poetry from 1789 to the present day Two questions based on poems from the WJEC Eduqas Poetry Anthology. One question will be on a named poem (15 marks) and one which involves comparison of the named poem with another from the anthology (25 marks) (Students are not permitted to take a copy of the anthology into the
examination)

COMPONENT 2: POST-1914 PROSE/DRAMA, 19TH CENTURY PROSE AND UNSEEN POETRY 60% (2 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES)

Section A (20%) Post-1914 Prose/Drama (40 marks) An Inspector Calls (Priestley) One source -based question on a post 1914 prose/drama text. (Students are not permitted to take copies of the text into the examination) Section B (20%) 19th Century Prose (40 marks) A Christmas Carol (Dickens) One source-based question on a 19th Century prose text. Answers must include knowledge of the context of the novel. (Students are not permitted to take copies of the text into the examination).

An Inspector Calls

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

Resources for Revision

Some resources have been supplied with kind permission of @spryke2

A Christmas Carol

EMC A Christmas Carol

Mastering the Exam Video

A Christmas Carol Stave I

A Christmas Carol Stave II

A Christmas Carol Stave III

A Christmas Carol Stave IV

A Christmas Carol Stave V

A Christmas Carol Revision Booklet

10 x 10 Recall Questions

Poverty in A Christmas Carol

The Simplified Story

A-Christmas-Carol-Revision-Booklet-SPryke2 s

Year 11 Key Quotes – Cratchit Family

Year 11 Key Quotes – Fred

Year 11 Key Quotes – Scrooge

A Christmas Carol

An Inspector Calls

Full Text and Revision Materials (Context not assessed)

Tracked Quotations

Quick Revision Resources

Sparknotes Revision

The Structure of An Inspector Calls Video

An Inspector Calls Overview

Bitesize Revision

An Inspector Calls – Example Question

An Inspector Calls One Sheet Revision

Poetry Anthology

Afternoons by Philip Larkin

Mametz Wood by Owen Sheers

Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes

Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Excerpt from The Prelude by William Wordsworth

Death of a Naturalist by Seamus Heaney

Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

Living Space by Imtiaz Dharker

London by William Blake

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Sonnet 43 by ERB

The Manhunt by Simon Armitage

A Wife in London by Thomas Hardy

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron 1

Cozy Apologia by Rita Dove

As Imperceptibly as Grief by Emily Dickinson

Unseen Poetry

Eduqas Resources

Unseen Poetry Exemplars

Unseen Poetry Tips Video

Eduqas Overview

Macbeth

Macbeth Revision Guide with Practice Questions

Macbeth Walkthrough Video

Eduqas Resources

Sparknotes Macbeth

Key Extract Booklet

Aim Higher Articles – Lady Macbeth

Aim Higher Articles – The Witches

Exploring Big Ideas in Macbeth – Ambition

Exploring Big Ideas in Macbeth – Appearance v Reality

Exploring Big Ideas in Macbeth – Gender

Exploring Big Ideas in Macbeth – Guilt

Big Ideas in Macbeth – Supernatural

Exploring Big Ideas in Macbeth – Violence

Character Adjectives

Macbeth Example Question

Macbeth One Sheet Revision Introductions

Macbeth Section A

English Language Paper 1

Padlet: https://padlet.com/MrDowling/Language_Paper1

Paper Overview

Practice Revision Materials

Practice Questions

How to Revise GCSE English Language

Paper 1 Strategy Pack

English Language Paper 1 Section A

Language 1 Top Tips

English Language Paper 2

Padlet: https://padlet.com/MrDowling/Language_Paper_2

Paper 2 Strategy Pack

Paper 2 Revision Booklet

Revision Blog

Paper 2 Walk Through

Overview Paper 2

Paper 2 Revision Tasks

Revision Activities

English Language Paper 2 Section A

English Language Paper 2 Section A 1

Language 2 Top Tips

Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice

Extra Non-Required Work

There are additional resources in the ‘Year 11 Final Push’ group on Teams.

Create your own timetable

Non-required work to support the exposure to writers/producers related to Black History Month.

Black History Month 2021 –

How we assess

Assessment at Key Stage Three

Formative assessment

Students will complete regular formative assessments in lessons such as quizzes, do it now activities and more extended writing opportunities. This will allow teachers to identify any gaps in knowledge and address these through teacher feedback and student response tasks.

Summative assessment

Students will sit a summative assessment during exam weeks. They also sit an end of unit assessment each half term.

Subject specific websites to support independent learning and revision

Get Revising – At getrevising.co.uk you can filter through the hefty bank of resources and narrow it down by level, subject, examining body and curriculum area to get exactly what your class needs.

Get Revising

Studywise – Free GCSE AQA Language Revision guide

Studywise free GCSE AQA Language Revision Guide

Goconqr – The concise and well-presented info on goconqr.com’s revision guides should be well suited to young people’s tastes, so it’s worth pointing them in the direction of this English language-based guide.

Goconqr.com

Englishbiz – This set of skills-focused resources lets pupils test their skills at analysing poems, pieces of writing and more, or indeed create their own piece.

Englishbiz

Revision World – Literature past papers

Revision World

Young Minds – Links for parents to support students in a variety of areas.

Young Minds

Parents in touch – Subject specific support for parents

Parents in touch

Trips & Visits

The English department have enjoyed many visits to the theatre.

We have watched Romeo & Juliet at the Globe Theatre in London, An Inspector Calls at Wolverhampton Grand and A Christmas Carol at the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon and at Birmingham Hippodrome.

New York trip to Broadway

We believe plays should be seen as well as read and enjoy taking our students out to experience the magic of theatre.

Non-Required Work KS3

Year 7

Year 7 Childhood Poetry NRW

Year 7 Myth & Legends NRW

Year 7 Planet Earth NRW

Year 7 The Bone Sparrow NRW

Year 8

Year 8 Dystopia Writing NRW

Year 8 Romantic Poetry NRW

Year 8 The Tempest NRW

Year 8 Salt to the Sea NRW

Year 9

Year 9 Gothic Fiction NRW

Year 9 Heroes NRW

Year 9 Romeo & Juliet NRW

Year 9 Words that Burn NRW

Non-Required Work KS4

Language & Creative Writing

English Language Paper 1 Q5 Creative Writing NRW

Short Story Anthology 2 AQA

NRW Short Story Anthology NRW

Literature ACC

Bitesize Academic Reading – Ignorance and Want pdf

Bitesize Academic Reading – The Ghosts and Scrooge’s capital pdf

Bitesize Academic Reading – Would Scrooge change pdf

Macbeth

Academic Reading –

Darkness in Macbeth

Academic Reading – Lady Macbeth misunderstood

Academic Reading Act 1 Scene 5

Academic Reading- Act 1, Scene 3

Bitesize Academic Reading – Is this a dagger PDF

Bitesize Academic Reading – Knocking pdf

Bitesize Academic Reading – Sleep no more PDF

Darkness in Macbeth British Library Article

Lady Macbeth British Library Article Lady Macbeth misunderstood BBC article

The Witches British Library Article Library Article

Literature Poetry Anthology

eduqas poetry anthology revision challenge grids pt 1

eduqas-anthology-aim-higher-booklet-1

eduqas-poetry-anthology-revision-challenge-grids-pt2

An Inspector Calls

AIC NRW

English Language

Language Paper 1 NRW

Language Paper 2 NRW

Knowledge Organisers

Year 7

Myths & Legends Knowledge Organiser

Knowledge Organiser Y7 Planet Earth

Knowledge Organiser Y7 Childhood Poetry

KO The Bone Sparrow

Year 8

Dystopian Fiction Genre Knowledge Organiser

Knowledge Organiser Y8 Heritage Poetry

Year 9

YR9 Romeo and Juliet Knowledge Organiser FINAL

KO Gothic Yr9 Autumn2

YR9 Words That Burn -KO

Year 10 / Year 11

Language-P1-and-2-Knowledge-Organiser-updated

Poetry Anthology

ENGLISH

Curriculum Intent

Click Here

English Department Keystage Three Summer reading J K Rowling’s The Ickabog

During lockdown, J K Rowling has released her tale of “The Ickabog”. The link to the website and also to an exciting competition to illustrate it can be found here.

We are aware as a Department of the importance of reading to continue to develop student vocabulary and word recognition as well as firing students’ imaginations. Therefore Team English have recorded themselves reading the tale on a series of videos. The text appears on screen so you and your child may like to listen – we will release enough videos toy keep your son/ daughter engaged in reading over the summer break.

We have also added the most recent advice for parents from the Education Endowment Foundation. Their infographics are a useful tool for parents to maintain their child’s interest and engagement with reading. Some of the statements are geared more to Primary children but they will give an idea of what conversations around reading could sound like.

Loom Videos

Instalment 1 with Mr Corns – Chapter 1 – Chapter 2 – Chapter 3 –Chapter 4

Instalment 2 with Miss Chaplin: Chapter 5 – Chapter 6 – Chapter 7 – Chapter 8

Instalment 3 with Miss Sadler: Chapter 9 – Chapter 10 – Chapter 11 – Chapter 12

Instalment 4 with Mr Bourne: Chapter 13 – Chapter 14 – Chapter 15 – Chapter 16

Instalment 5 with Miss Stevens – Chapter 17 – Chapter 18 – Chapter 19 – Chapter 20

Instalment 6 with Miss Merrick :Chapter 21 – Chapter 22 –Chapter 23 – Chapter 24

Instalment 7 with Mrs Moseley

Instalment 8 with Mrs Millership: Chapter 29 – Chapter 30 – Chapter 31 – Chapter 32

Instalment 9 with Mr Fox: Chapter 33 – Chapter 34 – Chapter 35 – Chapter 36

Instalment 10 with Miss Chaplin: Chapter 37 – Chapter 38 – Chapter 39 – Chapter 40

English

Resources for Revision

Some resources have been supplied with kind permission of @spryke2

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