English at Northstowe Secondary College by Northstowe Secondary College

Autumn 1: What makes a great story?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:14:54 UTC

Using Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ as our starting point, students will explore what makes a great story, experiment with how to use language, voice, and physical gestures to bring stories to life when reading aloud, and practise writing an untold chapter of the story.

Enrichment:
‘The Iliad’ by Gillian Cross

‘Mythos’ by Stephen Fry

‘A child’s introduction to Greek mythology’ by Heather Alexander

‘Percy Jackson’ series by Rick Riordan

‘Beowulf: Dragon Slayer’ by Rosemary Sutcliffe

‘Gods and Monsters’, a BBC documentary narrated by Simon Armitage.

BBC Non-fiction article - on-fiction BBC article ‘The Greatest tale ever told’

Diverse Reads:

Heroines of Olympus: The Women of Greek Mythology by Ellie Mackin Roberts

Goddesses and Heroines: Women of myth and legend by Xanthe Gresham-Knight

Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard by Alex Bertie

Medusa by Jessie Burton

Links with other learning:
History – The concept of monarchy and leadership in the second part of the Autumn term and considering whether Cromwell was a hero or a villain in the second part of the Summer term.

Performing Arts – Narration and improvisation when exploring devised theatre.

How to Thrive – The positive effects that reading for pleasure can have on us emotionally.

Autumn 2: What are gender stereotypes?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:23:10 UTC

Using Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ as our starting point, students will explore how women are presented in a range of tales, and practise discussing our ideas in an essay.

Enrichment:
‘Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales’ by Marcia Williams

‘The Seeing Stone’ by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Visit the British Library in London to see an original manuscript of ‘The Canterbury Tales’.

Visit Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey in London to see where Geoffrey Chaucer was buried.

Diverse reads:
Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard by Alex Bertie

Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Links with other learning:
History – The Medieval feudal system that students will explore in the Autumn term.

Ethics – The concept of religious pilgrimages that students will explore in the Summer term.

How to Thrive - Issues related to gender identity, equality, and respect in relationships that students ill explore in the Summer term.

Performing Arts - Characterisation is the focus in the Autumn term when students study Jenna Ryan’s ’Darkwood Manor’

Spring 1: What’s so special about Shakespeare?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:29:17 UTC

Continuing our chronological journey through the canon, students will be taken on a rollercoaster ride around the life, times, dramatic works, performances and legacy of Shakespeare, with the aim of igniting a lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of the Bard. Students will share their learning in a magazine article entitled ‘What’s so special about Shakespeare?’, with the intention of persuading a reluctant audience to realise how amazing he is.

Enrichment:
‘Shakespeare Stories’ by Leon Garfield

‘A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories’ by Angela McAllister

‘Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays’ by Marcia Williams

‘Shakespeare: The World as a stage’ by Bill Bryson

‘Shakespeare on Toast’ by Ben Crystal

Visit the RSC and Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford Upon Avon.

Visit The Globe theatre in London and watch a Shakespeare play performed live.

Watch 'West Side Story' - a modern retelling of 'Romeo and Juliet'

Challenge:
Memorise off by heart the 'All the world's a stage' from As You Like It

Stage a 30 min play of 'Midsummer Night's Dream' using these resources from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)edu-rscdreamteam-playmakingpack-2016.pdf

Write a creative commentary on your experience of living through a global pandemic

Links with other learning:
History – In the Spring Term, students will be writing a persuasive essay in History. They're also be exploring religious changes within the Tudor period in the Summer Term.

Geography – Shakespeare sets his plays all over Europe and would have taken his Elizabethan audience to countries that they would never normally be able to visit.

Spring 2: Are poems a source of knowledge?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:34:50 UTC

We will take a thematic journey through ‘voices’ within poetry exploring a journey of ideas and backgrounds expressed through language and imagery.

Enrichment:
National poetry library which can be explored online.

‘A poem for every night of the year’ by Allie Esiri

‘National Trust: Tyger Tyger Burning Bright!: An animal poem for every day of the year’ by Fiona Waters

Poems to Live Your Life By’ edited by Chris Riddell

Watch ‘Chocolate Cake’ by Michael Rosen.

Visit the British Library in London which has an impressive exhibition on ‘The Romantics’.

Links with other learning:
How to thrive – Spring Term (self-talk and thinking styles) + Summer Term (positive relationships)

Geography – Spring Term (weather and climate)

French – Spring Term (hobbies and free-time) of Year 7 and revisited in the Autumn Term of Years 8 and 9.

Summer 1 and 2: Why do we like to travel?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:39:10 UTC

Using a collection of C.21 non-fiction texts as our starting point, students will research into and create a travel writing blog.
Enrichment:
Notes from a Small Island’ by Bill Bryson

‘The Road to Little Dribbling’ by Bill Bryson

‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ by Michael Morpurgo

‘Explorer’ by Katherine Rundell

‘Explorers’ by Nellie Huang

Watch BBC’s ‘Planet Earth’

Links with other learning:
Geography – worldwide locations and holiday destinations

French – Holidays and ideal holidays in the Summer Term of Year 7.

Autumn 1: How do you give someone goosebumps?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:53:27 UTC

Using an anthology of gothic texts as our starting point, we will explore how writers can create fear in their readers. We will then go onto practise using similar techniques as we compose a description of a horrifying villain.

Enrichment:
Find out more about Victorian Gothic

Francis Hardinge’s The Lie Tree
Derek Landy, Skulduggery Pleasant
Chris Priestley, Mister Creecher
Neil Gaiman’s Coraline

Links with other learning:
History – Victorian period

How to Thrive - coping strategies for when we feel scared or anxious

Autumn 2: Are monsters two dimensional?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 12:58:03 UTC

Using Shelley's ‘Frankenstein’ as our starting point, we will explore how our depiction and characterization of monsters can be too simplistic. We will then look deeper into the way in which monsters are created.

Enrichment:
'Frankenstein' – Mary Shelley

Research Frankenstein on GCSE Bitesize

Watch Frankenstein (1931)

Watch National Theatre version of Frankenstein

'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' - consider the fear surrounding the advancement of science.

Diverse reads:
'Black Flamingo' by Dean Atta

She, Myself and I by Emma Young

Links with other learning:
How to Thrive - Issues related to identity and equality.

Drama – The Accused – how to analyse a drama script and use it as a stimulus to manipulate and create characters.

History – The Industrial Revolution and advancement of technology. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of technology. How did people view it at the time and then students can see how technology and the advancement of science was both dangerous and sometimes considered morally wrong.

Ethics – Does Humanity Matter? Consider the way the monster's life would have been different if humanity had been kind?

Spring 2: Does Non-Fiction always tell the truth?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 13:01:21 UTC

Using a booklet of non-fiction extracts, we will start to consider how bias to influence our beliefs and interpretations of texts.

Enrichment:
Read a range of non-fiction texts, such as:

•Newspapers

•Biographies

•Autobiographies

•Leaflets

Watch documentaries and the news.

With each of the above, consider how the presenter or writer tries to influence your ideas and reaction to the situation.

Read the 'Adapted for Young Adult' versions of:
-Just Mercy
-The Faraway Brothers

Links with other learning:
History – The use of propaganda and identifying bias within historical sources.

Performing Arts – Using stimuli as a basis for creativity. Students will experiment using bias in their own writing.

Summer 1: Is there ever a 'right way' to manage grief?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 13:07:26 UTC

We will read 'A Monster Calls' over the summer 1 and use this to inspire creative writing and analyze themes and ideas. We will focus on reading fluency by focusing on vocabulary by reading the story at speed.

Enrichment:
Watch 'A Monster Calls' or visit the theatre and see the stage production.

Read other stories from Patrick Ness - 'The Knife of Never Letting Go' or 'The Rest of Us Just Live Here'

Links with other learning:
History - Medicine through time in Year 9

Nessy

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 13:14:02 UTC

Nessy programmes are designed to help students of all abilities learn to read, write, spell and type, especially those who learn differently, including:

Mainstream
EAL
Homeschool
Students with dyslexia

The Day

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 13:18:18 UTC

We subscribe to www.theday.co.uk which is a daily news website that helps inspire pupils to become critical thinkers and better citizens by engaging their natural curiosity in real-world problems.

Contact your tutor if you have forgotten the login details.

GCSE Specification (AQA)

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-15 23:38:28 UTC

GCSE Specification (AQA)

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-16 08:18:25 UTC

Library Lessons

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-27 09:04:26 UTC

At Northstowe we strive to promote reading for pleasure. We encourage all students to read in their free time and want them to be able to try new books and have opportunities to discuss the literature they love.

Each half term, Year 7s have one lesson in our brand-new library in which they can borrow books, and read and share their thoughts on the books they have chosen to read. We hope this will make them familiar with the space, encourage them to borrow books in the future, and help them to maintain a love of reading.

Spellings

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-27 09:16:00 UTC

We believe in the importance of teaching spelling patterns to students, as well as supporting them to develop their own spelling strategies for words they find difficult.

In Years 7&8, we explore a different spelling pattern each fortnight, and set a spelling test linked to this pattern as PREP via SatchelOne. Students will have 3 attempts at the quiz to improve any spellings they get wrong.

Fortnightly 'Practice for Progress' lessons also provide students with the opportunity to devise strategies to learn spellings they have recently got wrong in written work.

Each week in Tutor Time, students have opportunity to develop their own spelling strategies as they work their way through mastering an ever increasingly difficult spelling list. The list begins with Yr 5/6 statutory spellings, before moving onto high frequency misspelt words, and concluding with a challenging range of Tier 2 vocabulary.

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-28 20:37:48 UTC

Autumn 1 - 'Of Mice and Men'

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-09-28 20:43:54 UTC

Students will read 'Of Mice and Men' and learn to analyse an extract which focuses on characters or themes.

If you've enjoyed reading 'Of Mice and Men', have a go at reading some of the other novellas (short novels) that Steinbeck wrote.

Spelling Booklet

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-11-10 12:31:23 UTC

In English lessons, students will be provided with their own spelling booklet. This resource will allow them to improve their individual spelling errors which have been identified by their class teacher. To promote retention of the correct spellings, class teachers will allow time in their lessons for students to test each other or try the spelling strategies which have been introduced in the form time programme.

English

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-11-16 17:46:34 UTC

In every Learning Chapter, there is an on-going discussion with students about the representation of experience, and encouraging them to be conscious and critical readers of who is narrating whose story.

Please visit our English subject padlet to see recommendations of books linked to each Learning Chapter.

Specifically in Year 9, students will also study a dramatic retelling of Malorie Blackman's 'Noughts and Crosses'. This will allow us to explore Blackman's unique setting and messages regarding racism and a society which promotes racial privileges.

Promoting diversity in English through literature

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-11-16 17:47:25 UTC

Students are encouraged to read from a diverse set of authors. Weekly Sparx PREP is set for students in years 7 and 8. Ms Wright in the library offers personalised book recommendations for students.

There are also weekly reading groups in year 7 and 8 during tutor time.

English

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-11-16 17:48:13 UTC

English

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-11-16 17:48:27 UTC

Through our study of non-fiction in Year 9, students will be exposed to the views of celebrated, inspirational figures such as Malala and Emma Watson. Here, they we will be given the opportunity to reflect on issues which face people around the world surrounding gender inequality. This will be a springboard for their own writing as they examine how this figures tackle inequality and fight for justice.

Author masterclasses and writing challenges

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2021-12-16 10:08:35 UTC

This wonderful website lets you access free video masterclasses with some of today's top authors. It's a treasure trove for book lovers!

Autumn 2 - Adaptation of 'Noughts and Crosses'

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2022-01-04 13:39:39 UTC

Students will read this adaptation of Malorie Blackman's 'Noughts and Crosses' which will inspire discussion regarding discrimination and supporting mental health. This will then be used as a prompt for non-fiction writing.

NSC's Book Challenges

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2022-01-25 21:23:53 UTC

A book list for each year group has been curated with the intent of offering a broad range of diverse, challenging and classic fiction. Finish and Quiz 20 books to earn a Reading Swift blazer pin, and 20 House Points for your House

The Super Readable Rollercoaster Tracks are a selection of short and dyslexia friendly books which can be read and enjoyed at your pace. Finish and Quiz all 20 books to earn a Reading Swift blazer pin, and 20 House Points for your House

All these books are currently on display and available from your school library.

Spring 1: Can we ever forgive a villain?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2022-04-27 19:25:28 UTC

Using a range of extracts from ‘Othello’ and ‘The Tempest’, we will explore some of Shakespeare's most famous villains and consider whether they can ever be forgiven or redeemed. We will then go on to explore these ideas in an analytical essay.

Enrichment:
Why we can't get enough of Shakespeare's villains | British Council

Shakespeare's Best Villains | HistoryExtra

Top ten heroes and villains of children's literature | The Week UK

Links with other learning:
History – 'Villainous' world leaders

Spring 1 and 2: Romeo and Juliet - Who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

NorthstoweSecondaryCollege — 2022-05-02 19:29:59 UTC

We will read the full play - one of Shakespeare's 'tragedies' and grapple with themes of love, rivalry and loyalty. Students will use this to aid their speaking and listening skills, analysis of language and structure and learn how to revise a full play.

If you enjoy this, why not head to 'The Globe' theatre in London and watch one of the stage productions of one of Shakespeare's infamous plays?

Link:

West Side Story - Performing Arts

Autumn 2 - A Christmas Carol

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-04 14:27:52 UTC

Students study Charles Dickens' classic ghostly tale 'A Christmas Carol,' as part of their English Literature course. They will explore the themes of redemption, poverty, Christmas and social injustice and relate this to modern issues in society.

Enrichment:
Watch adaptations of 'A Christmas Carol.'

Discover more about the background of the text on ‘The British Library,’ website
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | The British Library (bl.uk)

Discover more about the Victorian era:
Victorian era | History, Society, & Culture | Britannica

'What's so special about Dickens?' Michael Rosen
What's So Special about Dickens? : Rosen, Michael, Nayler, Sarah: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

Links with other learning
History - Victorian era

Spring 1 and 2 - Macbeth

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-05 14:00:43 UTC

Macbeth' is the story of a noble solider who is tempted by witches and urged by his wife to gain ultimate power. It is a play about ambition, murder, manipulation and betrayal.

Students study the full Shakespeare text, exploring characters and themes in the play and analysing the rich language Shakespeare uses.

Enrichment
Go to the theatre and watch a live performance of 'Macbeth.'

Watch adaptations of the play: we recommend Orson Welles’ 1930s production and Roman Polanski’s 1971 adaptation.

Imagine you are a character in the play, try some creative writing from their perspective.

Discover more about the background of the text on ‘The British Library,’ website www.bl.uk/works/macbeth

Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Home

Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace – Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Proud Shakepseare project: LGBTQ+
(586) Proud Shakespeare | OUTing the Past: Proud Shakespeare and the LGBTQ+ Lived Experience - YouTube

Summer 1 - Language Paper 1

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-05 14:19:46 UTC

Students will read a selection of fiction from the 20th and 21st century.

The aim of this paper is to engage students in a creative text and inspire them to write creatively themselves.

We will look at the different question types on the exam paper and how best to approach them.

Texts come from

Jack London, White Fang

Ray Bradbury, A Sound of Thunder

James Dashner, The Maze Runner

English Language revision guides:

New GCSE English Language AQA Complete Revision & Practice - includes Online Edition and Videos: perfect for the 2023 and 2024 exams (CGP AQA GCSE English Language): Amazon.co.uk: CGP Books, CGP Books: 9781782944140: Books

New GCSE English Language AQA Exam Practice Workbook - includes Answers and Videos: perfect for the 2023 and 2024 exams (CGP AQA GCSE English Language): Amazon.co.uk: CGP Books, CGP Books: 9781782943709: Books

Autumn 2 - Language Revision : Paper 1 and Paper 2

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-05 14:27:07 UTC

Students will revisit expectations for both English Language Paper 1 (Explorations in creative reading and writing) and Language Paper 2 (Writers' viewpoints and perspectives)

The aim of this paper is to develop students’ insights into how writers have particular viewpoints and perspectives on issues or themes that are important to the way we think and live our lives.

Enrichment:

Homepage - The Day

Read extensively! Look out for the non fiction book shelves in our library!

English Language revision guides:

Poetry anthology

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-05 14:40:38 UTC

Over the academic year, year 11 will revise 15 poems form the AQA poetry anthology: power and conflict. Students initially studied these in year 10.

Enrichment

AQA Poetry Anthology - Power and Conflict: York Notes for GCSE (9-1): Second edition: - everything you need to catch up, study and prepare for 2022 and 2023 assessments and exams: Amazon.co.uk: Kemp, Ms Beth: 9781292230313: Books

Mr Bruff YouTube channel for revision

(587) 'Ozymandias' in 6.5 Minutes: Quick Revision - YouTube

Summer 1 - Spoken Language

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-05 14:50:15 UTC

Spoken Language Endorsement

Students must undertake a prepared spoken presentation on a specific topic as part of their English Language GCSE course.

This endorsement is reported as a separate grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified)

Enrichment

Listen to famous historical speeches:

Martin Luther King Jr, 1963, "I have a dream."

Winston Churchill, 1940, "We shall fight on the beaches.'

Queen Elizabeth I, 1588, Spanish Amarda speech to the troops at Tilbury

Speakers Trust 'Speak Out Challenge,' workshop ran in school for year 10 pupils: Speak Out Challenge - Speakers Trust

Autumn 1 - An Inspector Calls

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-01-05 15:07:41 UTC

Students will study J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls.' The play is a three act drama which focusses on the upper-middle class Birling family. The play has been hailed as a scathing criticism of the hypocrisies of Victorian and Edwardian English society and as an expression of Priestley's socialist views.

Enrichment
Watch a performance of 'An Inspector Calls.' We recommend Stephen Daldry's National Theatre production.
Watch the BBC adaptation starring David Thewlis as the Inspector.

BBC bitesize An Inspector Calls - GCSE English Literature Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize

Unseen poetry

lmetcalfe15 — 2023-09-04 10:34:08 UTC

Students will learn how to approach poems that they have never read before! Students will be expected to compare two unseen poems based on a similar theme or idea.

Enrichment:
Teens | Poetry Foundation

Favourite poetry books teens | BookTrust

AQA Unseen Poetry Anthology Workbook: Ideal for the 2024 and 2025 exams (Collins GCSE Grade 9-1 SNAP Revision): Amazon.co.uk: Collins GCSE: 9780008355319: Books

Talking about mental health through spoken word poetry - Mind

Summer 2

lmetcalfe15 — 2024-06-02 19:23:25 UTC

We will also read 'The Explorer,' by Katherine Rundell.

Fred, Con, Lila, and Max are on their way back to England from Manaus when the plane they’re on crashes and the pilot dies upon landing. For days they survive alone, until Fred finds a map that leads them to a ruined city, and to a secret.

Summer 2: Does power inevitably create monsters? - A focus on dystopian fiction

lmetcalfe15 — 2024-06-02 19:28:11 UTC

Students will be immersed into the dystopian world of Panem. Our focus is on vocabulary and characterisation.

We hope to encourage students to read other dystopian fiction:

Divergent - Veronica Roth

The Maze Runner - James Dashner

1984 - George Orwell

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Summer 2: Worlds and Lives Poetry

lmetcalfe15 — 2024-06-02 19:44:15 UTC

AQA have released a new collection of fantastic poems for students to study at GCSE. There are 15 poems in total, but

two thirds of the poems in this new collection are published post-2000. Whilst very modern, the poems are rooted in the revolutionary spirit of the Romantics, which we hope will spark young people’s interest in poetry.

The collection is both personal and political and explores concerns about the world we live in. It also looks at relatable universal themes, including our relationship with places and ideas about home, heritage, belonging and connection.

This half term, students will study:

Cluster 3 – People and Power

Pot

Thirteen

On an Afternoon Train to Purley, 1955

A Jewellery Maker

England in 1819

Autumn 1 : Worlds and Lives Poetry

lmetcalfe15 — 2024-06-02 19:47:44 UTC

AQA have released a new collection of fantastic poems for students to study at GCSE. There are 15 poems in total, but

This half term, students will complete their study of the anthology:

Cluster 1 – People and Places

Lines Written in Early Spring

With Birds You’re never Lonely

Like An Heiress

Shall Earth No More Inspire Thee

In A London Drawing Room

A Wider View

Cluster 2 – The Past and Present

Portable Paradise

Homing

A Century Later

Name Journeys

National Poetry Day - the UK’s biggest mass-participation celebration of poetry

Poetry By Heart

Summer 2 - Language Paper 2

lmetcalfe15 — 2024-06-02 19:54:03 UTC

Students will read a selection of non - fiction texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

The aim of this paper is to develop students’ insights into how writers have particular viewpoints and perspectives on issues or themes that are important to the way we think and live our lives.

Enrichment:
Homepage - The Day

Read extensively! Look out for the non fiction book shelves in our library!

English Language revision guides:
New GCSE English Language AQA Complete Revision & Practice - includes Online Edition and Videos: perfect for the 2023 and 2024 exams (CGP AQA GCSE English Language): Amazon.co.uk: CGP Books, CGP Books: 9781782944140: Books

New GCSE English Language AQA Exam Practice Workbook - includes Answers and Videos: perfect for the 2023 and 2024 exams (CGP AQA GCSE English Language): Amazon.co.uk: CGP Books, CGP Books: 9781782943709: Books