English

Members of Staff

Ms. E. Mason-Saunders: Subject Lead of English, Language & Communication
Ms. S. Busson: 2 i/c English/Teacher of English
Miss E. Woodhead: English/Assistant Principal
Ms. L. Eatwell: Teacher of English
Mrs. M. Joyce: Teacher of English
Ms. V. Levison: Teacher of English/ESLT
Ms. D. Chohan: Teacher of English
Mrs J. Huges: Teacher of English
Mr M. Ashraf: Teacher of English
Miss M. Warner: Teacher of English

English at KS3

At Lancaster we have developed a KS3 curriculum in English that we believe fully prepares our students well for the examinations they will face at the end of year 11, and which also means students will get to read plenty of literature.

The curriculum we have developed includes opportunities for students to read a range of modern and classic fiction, themed poetry and plays, highlighting a variety of diverse topics. In addition, students are given opportunities to showcase their skills in half-termly assessments that enables them to develop their understanding and what they need to improve to make best progress.

In addition, students are regularly given feedback on their classwork, homework and speaking and listening through discussion points and oracy in the classroom. Our curriculum is mapped in a way that ensures students cover all of the essential skills they need in order to succeed at GCSE.

Students will be set regular homework in English; this is two-fold in years 7 to 10 and consists of weekly vocabulary learning and application (the vocabulary of which is linked to the unit of study and the understanding of which is tested at the end of each unit) and, secondly, linked to our whole school initiative on reading, whereby students can be set projects and tasks on Myon and is set using the Satchel One platform online.

English at KS4

GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature

At Lancaster Academy, we aim for all students to study English Language and English Literature at GCSE.

We offer the AQA syllabuses for both English Language and English Literature.

In English Language, students will develop an ability to read critically and to respond to unseen literary extracts and non-fiction texts. They will learn to write for an audience and purpose, and will develop their creative writing skills too. In Literature, students will study one pre-twentieth century text, one modern text, a whole Shakespeare play and a collection of themed poetry. Students will also develop the ability to respond to poems that they have never seen before.

The texts studied at Lancaster are:

An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Power + Conflict Poetry Anthology [AQA]

Step Up to English – Entry Level Certificate

If we feel that a student is ill-suited to studying English at GCSE level, we will offer them the chance to take an alternative qualification. Step Up to English is a course designed by AQA which offers an Entry Level qualification and helps students to develop basic literacy skills and to improve their confidence using the English language.