English
Curriculum Leader: Ms H. Crossley
The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think – Harper Lee
Reading is at the heart of students’ experience of English at Fulford School. As a department, we strive to foster our students’ appreciation of literature and to develop their personal tastes in reading. The curriculum we offer is broad and enriching, designed to develop an appreciation for and enjoyment of the power of language.
The English Department is ambitious, high achieving and creative, staffed by fifteen experienced teachers. It is our aim to promote learning in a lively and engaging way that combines fun with academic rigor. We are well resourced, with ten classrooms and a drama studio and we work closely with the Resource Centre to offer students access to up-to-date reading texts.
The delivery of the curriculum is closely linked with drama and offers students the opportunity to develop their performance and presentation skills. To further develop students’ passion for English, the department offers a range of extra-curricular activities and students are encouraged to take part in competitions, both local and national. We also work closely with the Universities of York and York St John to provide enrichment opportunities.
The creation by word-power of something out of nothing – what is that but magic? And, may I add, what is that but literature? – Aldous Huxley
In years 7-9, students study English in six one-hour lessons per fortnight. In studying English at Key Stage 3, our students successfully make the transition from Primary to Secondary-level study, building on the foundations from Key Stage 2. Our curriculum is designed to enable students to progress in their mastery of reading, writing and speaking and we continue to value spelling, punctuation and grammar knowledge as key skills in English.
Each scheme of work includes a range of different and challenging literature texts, encouraging students to become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as non-fiction and media texts. Through this exciting breadth of texts, students gain access to the world of knowledge that reading offers, consequently becoming informed critical and sensitive thinkers. We are always interested in what students think and regularly ask them to evaluate the schemes as well as the studied texts.
| Year 7 |
Autumn term | Adventure fiction: write exciting adventure fiction stories. |
Outsiders in Literature: ‘Refugee Boy’ by Benjamin Zephaniah.
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Spring term | Change Makers: persuasive and polemic speech making about changes students want to see in the world. |
Writing the World: creative responses to nature and the environment. | |
Summer term | Reading Media: analyse the storytelling, symbolism and cinematography in ‘Spirited Away’. |
Introduction to Shakespeare: learn all about Shakespearean heroes and villains. |
| Year 8 |
Autumn term | Gothic writing: inspired by key works from the genre including ‘The Raven’ and ‘Frankenstein’. |
Drama: perform ‘Stone Cold’, a play adapted from Robert Swindell’s novel’.
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Spring term | The Crime Novel: explore the crime genre by reading ‘The Ruby in the Smoke’. |
Article Writing: develop and express a viewpoint on current world issues.’ | |
Summer term | Poetry over time: including poetry by Blake, Tennyson and Owen. |
Shakespeare and Stagecraft: Study and perform ‘The Merchant of Venice’. |
| Year 9 |
Autumn term | The Modern Novel: read and analyse ‘Animal Farm’. |
Dystopian fiction: creative story writing inspired by ‘1984’, ‘Fahrenheit 451’ and ‘Lord of the Flies’. | |
Spring term | Shakespeare and Stagecraft: reading and acting out ‘Macbeth’. |
Talking Back: letter and speech writing on a range of societal issues. | |
Summer term | Short Stories: explore narrative features through a range of diverse and literary short stories. |
Creative Approaches to Poetry: introduction to the GCSE Power and Conflict poetry anthology. |
At Key Stage 4, students are entered for GCSEs in English Language and English Literature GCSE.
We follow the AQA Specification (links below). Final assessment of these GCSEs will take place at the end of Year 11, in the form of four separate examinations. In preparation for these examinations, students study a range of texts, including modern novels and plays such as ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’, Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and a range of poetry from the Power and Conflict cluster of the AQA Anthology. Students are also expected to develop their speaking and listening abilities, including a formal assessment of their presentation skills.
Over the course of the two years, students will be assessed regularly and their progress tracked. Formal mock examinations take place at the end of Year 10 and in the autumn term of Year 11. In order to extend students’ learning, we offer a range of extra-curricular activities including theatre trips and visits from professional theatre companies. In the spring term of Year 11, students are provided with an extensive revision programme in preparation for their final exams, which take place at the end of Year 11.
AQA GCSE English Language specification from June 2017
AQA GCSE English Literature specification from June 2017
We also offer the ‘Step Up to English’ Entry Level qualification to support students where necessary.
Year 10 Overview | ||||||
Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
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GCSE Lit Paper 2 An Inspector Calls | GCSE Lang Paper 1 Fiction Reading
| GCSE Lit Paper 1 A Christmas Carol
| GCSE Lang Paper 1 Fiction writing
| GCSE Lit Paper 2 Poetry & Unseen poetry
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Year 11 Overview | ||||||
Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 |
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GCSE Lit Paper 1 Romeo and Juliet
| GCSE Lang Paper 2 Non-fiction writing
| GCSE Lang Paper 2 Non-fiction reading
| Revision – Literature
| Revision – Language
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EXAMS |
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The popularity of the English department can be seen with large numbers of Sixth Form students opting to study English Language and English Literature. Through varied and creative teaching methods, within a supportive academic environment, students are encouraged to become independent, evaluative learners, studying English to the highest levels.
Academic study is complemented by a number of exciting extra-curricular opportunities, which aim to broaden and develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject in different contexts. Opportunities have included theatre visits, English Language lectures, and we regularly welcome visiting speakers to provide enrichment for our students.
The following A Levels are offered:
- English Literature (AQA Specification B) https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-language-7701-7702
- English Language (AQA Specification B) https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-literature-b-7716-7717
- Media Studies (WJEC/Eduqas) https://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/media-studies-as-a-level/#tab_overview
Man reading should be a man intensely alive. The book should be as a ball of light in one’s hand – Ezra Pound.
Staffing List
Miss H. Crossley – Curriculum Leader of English
Mrs E. Langford – Lead Teacher of English
Miss N. Ingham – KS5 Lead
Mrs R. Baroni – Assistant Headteacher, Progress
Ms L. Carter
Ms L. Cole
Mrs K. Davies – Assistant Headteacher, Director of Sixth Form
Teacher Damenov
Miss J. Fergie
Mrs S. Gatenby
Miss A. Greene
Mrs R. Lowman – Assistant Headteacher, T&L and Staff Development
Mrs H. Metcalfe
Ms R. Metcalf
Ms O. Riordan