English

English has a pre-eminent place in education and society; it is a subject fundamental to personal and intellectual growth. The study of English ensures students become confident readers and writers. It also encourages students to think creatively, critically and independently so that they can articulate their ideas with clarity and confidence in a range of ways.

English at Easington Academy is an immersive experience, exposing students to classics such as Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’, to the more modern works of Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’’ and the poetry of Maya Angelou.

Students will journey through the literary canon, beginning in Medieval England with Beowulf and Geoffrey Chaucer before travelling to 11^th century Scotland to experience the tragic downfall of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Pupils can meet brooding romantic heroes like Wordsworth and Blake before arriving in the victorian period with Brontë and Browning, then embarking on a festive encounter with Dickens’ reformed miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. The journey concludes in the modern era where they explore 1930s America and the unlikely friendship of George and Lennie in Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’, followed by the social inequality of Edwardian England with Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’, as well as a range of poetry from diverse and exciting voices.

Students study a rich and challenging curriculum. From engaging with ideas from a wide variety of texts to opportunities for self-expression and creativity in both spoken and written contexts, studying English at Easington Academy nurtures self-expression and reflective thought. Throughout the key stages, students will encounter a range of literary genres and forms, ranging from Jacobean drama and courtly love poetry to a whole host of non-fiction diaries, essays, letters and autobiographies. We take a cross-curricular approach, encouraging students to think about the social, political and historical context alongside developing their own voice. As well as following the curriculum, students will be encouraged to read for pleasure, experiencing a diverse range of literature as a platform for exploring new ideas, developing critical thinking skills and learning more about the world around them. Students will be inspired by great thinkers such as activist Martin Luther King, environmentalist Greta Thunberg and suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

Our ‘Keys to Success’ literacy programme ensures students learn the fundamental skills to help them progress 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. They acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language. Throughout their academic career here, students develop the ability to write accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. We endeavour to ensure all students become competent orators, including: making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

It’s not only English lessons that are exciting at the academy: we also offer a range of extra-curricular activities that reinforce and extend a love of English. ‘Blind Date with a Book’ is our weekly reading club open to KS3; students can select a book to take home and enjoy reading, however, all of the books are wrapped up to hide their front covers. By focusing on the themes of the story, rather than the cover, students can engage with texts that they otherwise might not have thought to read. In our weekly sessions, we discuss the books we are reading and take part in creative tasks relating to reading. In Debate Club, students discuss the issues of the day and hone their arguing skills, while we also offer Reading Bingo: a termly challenge where students are encouraged to read as many books from as many different genres as possible and can earn house points for their house by doing so. Furthermore, all KS3 students are also emailed extra-curricular reading booklets which link with their unit of work in English, allowing students to enjoy reading seminal and canonical literature at home.

As well as clubs, we also have exciting scheduled events throughout the year. The culmination of this is our Reading Rocks week, which coincides with World Book Day. This week entails a host of extra-curricular activities from completing a literary virtual escape room, to our huge book swap shop!

Our curriculum

Year 7

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Introduction to the Canon – a timeline of British literary heritage

Moments that Changed the World – developing speech writing skills through the study of key historical events of the twentieth century.

Gory Gothic Writing – Fiction writing inspired by Victorian Literature

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare’s funniest play and feistiest heroine.

Individual Voices Poetry – explore a range of poems from the Romantic era to the modern day

Victorian Britain and Oliver Twist – Explore the twisting alleyways of Victorian London through the words of the those that walked upon them, including the great British writer, Charles Dickens.

Year 8

Autumn	Spring	Summer
It's a Man's World - explore masculinity through the ages as we learn to express our opinions on a complex topic Blood Brothers – travel back to 20^th century Liverpool for Willy Russell’s tragic family saga	Romeo and Juliet – meet the most famous couple in literature Of Mice and Men – appreciate the heart-warming friendship of George and Lennie in 1930s America	Adventures Around the World – be inspired to write by literature from around the world Hope in a Ballet Shoe: Orphaned by war, saved by ballet. Discover the extraordinary true story of Michaela DePrince’s escape from Sierra Leone to the Boston ballet.

Year 9

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Animal Farm – George Orwell’s political allegory is a 20^th century British classic Short Stories – develop your narrative writing skills as you learn how to produce your own short story.	Diverse Voices – listen to the voices of contemporary poets and write your own dramatic monologue Tragedy – meet the Greek chorus, tragic heroes, and explore the conventions of this epic genre	A Search for Truth – Deepen your knowledge of Non-Fiction Writing as you delve into the controversial world of investigative journalism Say it Out Loud – embrace your inner orator by performing a passionate speech

Year 10

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Macbeth – visit medieval Scotland and the terrifying reign of Macbeth

A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens' most famous tale of reflection and redemption.

Explorations in Creative Reading – experience the breadth and beauty of 20^th century fiction

An Inspector Calls - Evaluate Priestley's post-war political ideas

Writers’ Viewpoints and perspectives – compare and contrast the great thinkers of the Victorian era with modern journalism

Power and Conflict Poetry – read poetry across time and genre and explore the perennial questions

Year 11

Autumn

Spring

Summer

An Inspector Calls – J.B. Priestley’s moral social polemic explores the vices of the Edwardian era

Power and Conflict and Unseen Poetry

Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Macbeth

A Christmas Carol

Non-fiction writing

Writers’ Viewpoints and perspectives

I feel I’ve got so much better at English, especially my descriptive writing. It has also had an impact on my other subjects as well as I’m much more confident when writing in those subjects now.

Year 10 student

I love English; it's so fun and the teachers are amazing. I like the books we read and the quotation explosions!

Year 7 student