English
The Department
The English Department at GSHS is an enthusiastic and happy team, committed to helping students to achieve their very best. We work together to share resources, plan exciting and challenging new lessons and enjoy learning from each other through regular classroom observation and work sampling. Through the delivery of a varied and stimulating curriculum, our aim is to develop students’ reading, writing and speaking and listening skills as well as enjoy the enriching experience of studying English Literature.
Key Stage 3
Year 7
- Transition Unit
- Autobiographies, Biographies and Diaries
- Information and Instruction
- Modern Novel
- Non Fiction and Media – Persuading People
- Poetry
- Introduction to Shakespeare
- The Fwog Prince
Year 8
- Persuading, Arguing and Advising
- Modern Novel
- Poetry: Close to Earth
- Gothic Horror
- Advertising
- Shakespeare: Introduction to The Tempest
Year 9
- Travelling and Telling
- Modern Novel
- Shakespeare: The Tempest
- Refining Reading and Writing Skills: Revision for KS3 Tests
- Practice KS3 Test
- KS3 Tests
- Hobby Talks
- First World War Poetry
Key Stage 3
GCSE English and English Literature
Year 10
- Group Discussion
- Writing to Argue, Persuade or Advise
- Poetry From Different Cultures and Traditions
- Post 1914 Drama
- Extended Individual Talk
- Reading Non-fiction and Media
- Pre and Post 1914 Poetry
- Shakespeare
- Writing to Inform, Explain or Describe
- Original Writing
Year 11
- Drama focused activity
- Post 1914 Prose
- Media coursework
- Revision
- Pre 1914 Prose
- Revision and Exam Practice
GCSE Media Studies
Year 10
- Introduction to Media Studies
- Advertising
- Soap Operas
- Magazines
Year 11
- Preparation for Controlled Test
- Production of Media Text Coursework
Key Stage 5
A Level English Literature
AS Level
Unit One: The Modern Novel : Closed Book Exam (15%)
Unit Two: Shakespeare Coursework: (15%)
Unit Three: Texts In Context (Poetry and Prose): Open Book Exam (20%)
A Level
Unit Four: Texts in Time (Shakespeare and Poetry): Closed Book Exam (15%)
Unit Five: Literary Connections Coursework: (15%)
Unit Six: Reading For Meaning (War Literature): (20%)
How Will I Learn?
Our Department works to deliver lessons which are pacey, challenging and cater for a range of learning styles. Each half term you can expect to take part in the following:
- Thinking skills activities such as Map From Memory, Taboo, Mysteries; Odd one Out, Most Likely to and Tension Graphs;
- Working in groups;
- Self/peer assessment;
- Using ICT in one of our two state of the art Writing Suites;
- Speaking and Listening activities.
How Will I Know What Progress I am Making?
In each Key Stage:
- at least one piece of work each half term is awarded a grade or level and individual Targets for improvement
- you can keep track of your targets on your own Progress sheet;
- there will be opportunities for you to assess your own work and that of your peers
- you will have your own file to store your best pieces of work and keep track of how you are doing
- you can expect regular, detailed and individual feedback on your work and advice on what you need to do to reach the next level or grade.
Our team consists of:
Louise Dunn - Curriculum Leader English
Helen Pacey - Assistant Curriculum Leader English
Amy Wolverson - Assistant Curriculum Leader English
Kimberly Prescott - Curriculum Leader Media Studies / Teacher of English
Lynn Simpson - Assistant Headteacher / Teacher of English
Samantha Tassiker - Achievement Support Co-odrdinator Year 7 / Teacher of English
Lou Cubley - Teacher of English
Sheila Hall - Teacher of English
Duncan Jarvie - Teacher of English
