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English language and literature
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English language and literature

English at Ashington Academy is an immersive experience, exposing students to a wide variety of texts. From classics such as Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘Macbeth’ to modern non-fiction centered around social justice.

Students will be transported back to Jacobean and Victorian England as they explore a range of texts over the key stages; Dracula, Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde, Scrooge, Shakespeare’s Weird Sisters are to name but a few of the frightening characters they will meet throughout their time in English…

In addition to this, students will learn how to write effectively and articulately in a myriad of styles. For example, structuring an argument on what grinds their gears: T.V adverts, babies crying or teachers making them work in silence? Students also learn how to how to consciously craft their writing, thinking as a writer and actively manipulating language and structure for effect. 

Our ‘Keys to Success’ literacy programme ensures students learn the basics to help them, not only in English, but across the whole curriculum. Students enjoy English because it is varied, fast-paced and fun. Every student is inspired to believe in their potential and to aim high.

It’s not only English lessons that are exciting at the academy: English teachers also fully immerse themselves in a range of English and Literacy-themed events throughout the year, including World Book Day where staff from all departments pull out all the stops to come to school dressed as literary characters.

The English department hosts many extra-curricular clubs including a Literary Critic’s Club and Key Stage 3 Reading Club, both of which are very popular with our students.

Curriculum information

Year 7

Learning outcomes

Reading:

  • To understand whole texts and be able to reference key parts of the text.
  • To explore how writers craft texts using language and structure.
  • To make links between texts.
  • To analyse the effectiveness of writer’s techniques.

 

Writing:

  • To use language and structure to craft a text.
  • To write in various formats, matching style to purpose and audience.
  • To improve spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Topics taught
  • Fantastic Places
  • Symbolism: Everything’s a Metaphor
  • Heroes and Villains
  • Descriptive Writing
  • Gothic
  • ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
  • ‘The Ruby in the Smoke’
  • Individual Voices poetry.

Year 8

Learning outcomes

Reading:

  • To understand and explore the social and historical context of texts.
  • To understand whole texts and be able to reference key parts, including character, setting and theme.
  • To explore how writers craft texts using language and structure.
  • To analyse a variety of formats of text.

 

Writing:

  • To craft writing for a particular purpose and audience.
  • To consciously use language devices in creative writing, with a focus on vocabulary. 
  • To consciously use structure in creative writing. 

Topics taught
  • The Art of Rhetoric
  • On Your Soapbox!
  • The Art of Narrative
  • ‘Of Mice and Men’
  • ‘Noughts and Crosses’
  • Social Justice
  • ‘Julius Caesar’
  • Playwright’s Corner
  • The Art of Narrative
  • Poetry from Other Cultures

Year 9

Learning outcomes

Reading:

  • To understand when and why texts are written and to begin to explain what the writer’s intentions are.
  • To demonstrate a thorough understanding of texts, giving your own interpretations.
  • To use relevant textual detail to support your ideas.
  • To explore the effectiveness of language and the author’s intentions.
  • To explore the effectiveness of structure and the author’s intentions.
  • To make comparisons between texts.

 

Writing:

  • To use language and structure to consciously craft a text.
  • To improve essay writing skills.
  • To write in various formats, matching style to purpose and audience.
  • To improve spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Topics taught
  • Biblical Allusions
  • Fiction Frenzy
  • Literature’s Greatest Characters
  • What’s Your Point?
  • Modern Non-Fiction
  • Disturbed Voices
The department is very enthusiastic and works hard to make sure every student achieves their potential.
Year 10 student

Year 10

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes for English Literature:

  • Read, understand and analyse texts.
  • To maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response.
  • Use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.
  • Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.
  • Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.

 

Learning Outcomes for English Language:

  • Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas
  • Select and synthesise evidence from different texts.
  • Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views.
  • Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts.
  • Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references.
  • Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. 
  • Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts.
  • Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. 
  • Demonstrate presentation skills in a formal setting.
  • Listen and respond appropriately to spoken language, including to questions and feedback on presentations.
  • Use spoken Standard English effectively in speeches and presentations.
  • To develop personal voice and writing style.
  • To consciously craft writing with specific focus on language and structural devices.

Topics taught
  • Allusion and Symbolism
  • Themes and writer’s purpose
  • GCSE Language Paper 1 Section A
  • GCSE Language Paper 2 Section A
  • Descriptive Writing 
  • Viewpoint Writing
  • Anthology Poetry – Power and Conflict
  • Unseen Poetry
  • 'MacBeth'
  • 'An Inspector Calls'

Year 11

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes for English Literature:

  • Read, understand and analyse texts.
  • To maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response.
  • Use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.
  • Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.
  • Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.

 

Learning Outcomes for English Language:

  • Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas
  • Select and synthesise evidence from different texts.
  • Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views.
  • Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts.
  • Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references.
  • Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. 
  • Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts.
  • Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. 
  • Demonstrate presentation skills in a formal setting.
  • Listen and respond appropriately to spoken language, including to questions and feedback on presentations.
  • Use spoken Standard English effectively in speeches and presentations.
  • To develop personal voice and writing style.
  • To consciously craft writing with specific focus on language and structural devices.

Topics taught
  • Anthology Poetry – Power and Conflict
  • Unseen Poetry
  • GCSE Language Paper 1
  • GCSE Language Paper 2
  • ‘Macbeth’ – Revision 
  • ‘A Christmas Carol’ 
  • ‘An Inspector Calls’ 
Link to exam specification

AQA English Language GCSE 8700: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700

AQA English Literature GCSE 8702:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702
The poetry analysis we do in class is very interesting and allows you to dig deeper and find a different meaning behind the words and phrases.
Year 10 student