Miss J White
Director of English
jw@snhs.uk
Welcome to the English Department
“If you only ever read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” Murakami
It is this sentiment which underpins our vision for our students of English at Salendine Nook High School. By the end of their five year learning journey with us, students will have fostered an appreciation of the depth and power of our literary and cultural heritage. In equal measure, they will be able to think and communicate creatively and independently; therefore shaping the minds of the future generation.
Across Key Stage Three, our schemes of work have been sequenced to deliver the National Curriculum in a way that is stimulating and thought provoking. Students are offered every opportunity to demonstrate a personal response whether that be in reading, writing or through spoken language. Every year, students study a range of poetry, a novel, a play and 20th/21st Century writing that incorporate many relevant social, cultural and philosophical themes and topics. We strive to ensure our students acquire the necessary skills and harness a love for English that they can build upon in later years.
At Key Stage Four, we examine with AQA. Students will acquire two GCSEs by the end of their studies: English Language and English Literature. Currently, students study the following texts for Literature: Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol, Unseen Poetry and a variety of poems from the AQA Power and Conflict poetry cluster.
Through clubs such as Creative Writing Club, Debate Club, Carnegie Reading and the student-led School Newspaper ‘Nook Book’, the English team passionately contributes to the wider curriculum at SNHS. Whether students are interested in creative writing, journalism or voicing their opinion, there are exciting opportunities for all.
LIT FEST 2023
Meet the Team
Curriculum Content
Here you will be able to read what your child is studying during each half term. ‘Key Stage Three’ will give an overview of study for Years 7, 8 and 9. ‘Key Stage Four’ will outline teaching content for Years 10 and 11.
The ‘Curriculum Rationale’ will give you the reasoning behind why we teach your child what we do and why we have chosen to order the topics in the way we have.
We hope that you will find this information useful, but if you require anything further about your child’s education in this subject please do not hesitate to contact the Head of Department.
Learning Support and Intervention
KS3 Reading Intervention
Reading intervention is offered in form time to students in Year 7 and 8, on rotation. Students are identified as part of our analysis of Accelerated Reader STAR testing data and generated reading ages. Students follow a “Reading Plus” software online, which is tailored to students’ specific reading attainment. Furthermore, we have created a C Band of students, who have been identified as requiring an amended curriculum in order to consolidate skills from primary school, and be in line with age-related expectations. They follow the same sequence of learning as the rest of Year 7, and the same texts are studied, but these are adapted to ensure our curriculum is inclusive.
KS4 Intervention
We offer three rotations of form time intervention in Year 10 and Year 11. Students are selected based on data from prior attainment, target grade and performance in mock exams over the course of the year. In form intervention, students consolidate their examination technique and skills, reviewing knowledge so that they are confident when answering examination questions.
Additional English
Students, from each of the Key Stage 4 year groups, are given an opportunity to enhance and consolidate their English Language and Literature skills. These additional English periods are bespoke opportunities, tailored to the needs of the individual. While these tutorials compliment the content of their core English lessons, the sessions offer resources that will enable students to access the more challenging course content, as well as providing them with tools to consolidate their analytical skills, through a range of diverse and engaging activities.
NTP
As part of the National Tutoring Programme, students are identified for extra tutoring in Year 7, 8 and 9. They have additional lessons of English each week, on a rotation.
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