Welcome to the English department

In the English Department at The Bay CE School, we aim to make each student’s experience a diverse, interesting and highly enjoyable one. English is vital as our tool of communication, making it crucial that each student is able to read, write and speak with fluency and competence. We also believe that students should be given the opportunity to develop a keen critical sense of the world around them and so aim to provide a wide range of topics, texts and tasks to allow them to explore and enjoy the rich diversity of the subject and to develop themselves as thoughtful, creative and culturally aware individuals.

Teachers

Ms S Wagstaffe – Head of English and Media

Ms D Taylor - Deputy Head of English

Miss C Gaunt - Teacher of English

Mrs T Davey – Teacher of English 

Mrs N Harrop – Teacher of English 

Ms G Mills – Teacher of English

Ms S Sephton – Teacher of English

Mrs K Tutton – Teacher of English

Miss E Griffiths – Teacher of English 

Ms L Bamford - Teacher of English

Phase 2 (Years 7, 8 and 9)

Our Phase 2 (Years 7, 8 and 9) curriculum has been carefully designed by our English teachers to lay the foundations needed to ensure that every student will graduate confident in the command of the spoken and written word, passionate about reading, and culturally literate, whatever their background. Each text has been carefully selected to support the study of future GCSE texts. Students will be introduced to these GCSE texts from year 9 onwards. 

It is important to us that students develop a lifelong love of reading and to support us in our quest at Key Stage 3, which is why we ensure every student has access to our fantastic library and is given the opportunity to read for pleasure every fortnight.

Topics – Year 7

Topics – Year 8

Topics Year 9 

Phase 3 (Years 10 and 11)

AQA English Language and English Literature

Our Phase 3 and  GCSE courses begin in earnest in Year 10. However students are introduced to the core texts in year 9 so that students have time to immerse themselves into a range of literary texts and provide ample opportunities to perfect their writing skills. GCSE texts are made accessible in the classroom by our in-house specialist booklets, engaging teaching, ‘stretch and challenge’ opportunities and active revision techniques. There are ‘no hiding places’ in the English classroom as we expect students to fully participate in their learning at all times.

The GCSE courses will enable students to:

• Read a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts fluently and with good understanding.
• Read critically, and use knowledge gained from wider reading to inform and improve their own writing.
• Write effectively and coherently using Standard English.
• Develop their skills in writing creatively and functionally.
• Use accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and speaking and listening.

Assessment: This course is a linear qualification. It is entirely exam assessed and there is no coursework or controlled assessment. Students are required to undertake a spoken assessment as part of this course, though the grade for this is reported alongside the GCSE grade and does not form part of it. 

For GCSE English Language students will be assessed through three components:

• Component 1: 20th Century Prose Reading Study and Creative Prose Writing – 1 hour 45 minutes / 40% of the GCSE.
• Component 2: 19th and 21st Century Non-fiction Reading Study and Transactional/ Persuasive Writing: – 1 hour 45 minutes / 60% of the GCSE.
• Component 3: Spoken Language (non-weighted) – students are required to present one formal presentation or speech.

For GCSE English Literature students will be assessed through two examinations:

• Component 1: Shakespeare and Poetry – 2 hours / 40% of the GCSE.
• Component 2: Post-1914 Prose/Drama, 19th Century Prose and Unseen Poetry – 2 hours 30 minutes / 60% of the GCSE.

All the examinations for Literature are closed book examinations; this means that the students cannot take copies of the texts in the examinations.

Topics – Year 10 

Topics – Year 11 

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