English Faculty
The English Faculty is about gaining power: the power of creativity, the power of empathy and the power of knowledge. Through our curriculum, Birchwood students explore how they feel about and relate to the world, and to their place in it.
The study of media and film will enable students to critically analyse a culturally diverse range of texts and apply theoretical perspectives to better understand and challenge representations and ideologies constructed in the media. Through our curriculum, Birchwood students will develop practical skills and knowledge that will open doors to many different career paths in industries such as film, television, advertising, journalism, radio, gaming and new media.
Staff
To contact a member of this Faculty, click their staff initials to open a new e-mail
Curriculum Maps
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 4
Key Stage 5
Guided Reading
KS3 Guided Reading Lessons - Books
Year 7
Year 8
Autumn Term
Set 1 – The Wordsmith by Patricia Forde
Set 2 – The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Set 3 – The Infinite by Patience Agbabi
Set 1 – The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux
Set 2 – Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick
Set 3 – Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Spring Term
Set 1 – The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
Set 2 – Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah
Set 3 – Shadow by Michael Morpurgo
Set 1 – Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Set 2 – Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Set 3 – The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Summer Term
Set 1 – Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Set 2 – Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Set 3 – A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Set 1 – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Set 2 – The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
Set 3 – The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo
As part of the whole school literacy Years 7-10 have a form time reading book.
Year 7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Year 8: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Year 9: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Year 10: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Extra-Curricular Activities
Extra-Curricular Activities will be available shortly.
Clubs and Activities
Lunchtimes
TBC
After school
TBC
Subject Support
Lunchtimes
Years 10 and 11
English revision (ABS/ZBR/JLE)
D1 on Wednesday, 13.30-14.00
D6 on Thursdays, 13:30-14:00
After school
Years 10 and 11
English revision (ZBR/JLE)
D6 on Mondays, 15:30-16:30
Year 11 Set 4 English revision (CCG)
C16 on Wednesdays, 15.30-16.30
News
An Inspector Calls
The Year 11’s were treated to a production of An Inspector Calls to help with their revision.
The Globe Players production company performed the play, stopping every so often to explain parts and give ideas to the Year 11’s, in the hope it would be a useful revision tool for the upcoming English Literature mock in February.
The English department thought by seeing the play acted out would help the Year 11’s with the “Response” part of their essay.
It was a useful experience, and both the Year 11’s and English department would like to thank the Globe Players for coming along and giving the students a chance to see the play in full.
The Year 11’s would also like to thank the English department for organising the event.
Niamh Payne and Emily Robson, BBC Reporters
Year 11 Globe Trip
Year 11 visited the Globe Theatre in London to enhance their knowledge of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, which they are studying in class.
The day started off with a tour of the Globe, giving them key contextual knowledge to aid the students with forming top-level English responses. The students were then led off to various workshops. The aim was to enhance their knowledge of particular scenes, help them to form their own interpretations based on the themes and techniques used within the scene and also with the understanding of relationships between characters through role play and acting, such as Lord Capulet and Juliet.