English

The study of English is the foundation of high quality learning across Barnhill’s curriculum and is key to personal development. Our aim is to deliver a rich and diverse curriculum that instils a life-long appreciation of literature, develops critical thinking and provides a secure knowledge base, from which we can develop effective written and spoken communication skills. 

We believe that these skills empower our young people to be successful members of society: they enable our students to continue to better themselves and their community long after leaving Barnhill; they are key to accessing the world of work and adapting to the cultural momentum of the ‘here and now’. 

Year 7  

• Unit 1: Prose (Animal Farm by George Orwell) 
• Unit 2: Creative Writing (Opening Doors to Fantastical Worlds)
• Unit 3: Poetry (Narrative Poetry Anthology) 
• Unit 4: Drama (A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare) 
• Unit 5: Non-fiction (‘Voices in Non-Fiction’ Anthology) 
• Unit 6: Transactional Writing (Voices & Perspectives)

Year 8 

• Unit 1: Prose (Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck) 
• Unit 2: Creative Writing (Shadows of Tomorrow: Navigating Dystopian Realities)
• Unit 3: Poetry (‘Relationships’ Poetry Anthology) 
• Unit 4: Drama (DNA by Dennis Kelly) 
• Unit 5: Non-fiction (‘Social Non-fiction’ Anthology) 
• Unit 6: Transactional Writing (A Charge of Perspective)

Year 9 

• Unit 1: Prose (The Stange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Louis Stevenson) 
• Unit 2: Creative Writing (Haunted Pages: Gothic Explorations)
• Unit 3: Poetry (‘Culture and Identity’ Anthology) 
• Unit 4: Drama (The Tempest by William Shakespeare)
• Unit 5: Non-fiction (‘The Power of Rhetoric’ Anthology) 
• Unit 6: Transactional Writing (The Art of Persuasion) 

Years 10 & 11: AQA GCSE – English Language (8700) 

• Fiction: Language Paper 1 (Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing) 
• Non-fiction: Language Paper 2 (Writer’ Viewpoints and Perspectives) 

Years 10 & 11: AQA GCSE – English Literature (8702) 

• Paper 1, Section A: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth 
• Paper 1, Section B: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol 
• Paper 2, Section A: J. B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls 
• Paper 2, Section B: AQA’s ‘Power and Conflict’ Poetry Anthology 
• Paper 2, Section C: Unseen Poetry 

Years 12 & 13: OCR English Literature A-Level (H472) 

• Paper 1, Section A: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet 
• Paper 1, Section B: Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Chaucer’s The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale 
• Paper 2, Section A: Investigations into the Gothic  
• Paper 2, Section B: Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Angela Carter’s The Bl**y Chamber 
• Coursework 1: Close Analysis of an extract from Sarah Moss’ Ghost Wall 
• Coursework 2: Comparative critical analysis of Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire and poetry from Carol Ann Duffy’s World’s Wife anthology of poems 

• Set texts (provided by the school) 
• CGP Revision guides 

KS3: Once per week, incorporating exam practice and supplementary reading to deepen understanding of the subject.

KS4: Once per week for each science subject, focusing on exam practice, targeted revision, and reinforcing key concepts.

At A-level, homework can range from engaging in wider reading (to enrich their understanding from a previous lesson or build foundational knowledge for subsequent lessons), completing essay plans, preparing presentations, conducting independent research or consolidating their learning in a piece of writing. 

• Debate Club: Fridays at 3pm 
• Trip opportunities: Visits to the theatre, Oxford university and the Tate Modern 
• Enrichment: Travelling theatre companies; trust-wide poetry recital