Tel: 01225 426151
facebook
twitter
email
  • Home
  • Our School
    • Our School
      • School Vision and Values
      • Staff
      • The Bath Hub of Schools
      • British Values
      • School Council
    • Contact Details
    • Campuses
    • Governors
      • Governors’ Profiles
      • Specialist Governors
      • Meetings Calendar 2020-21
      • Meeting Attendance
    • Ofsted
    • Vacancies
    • Roomhire
      • Theatre and Sports Halls
      • Conference and Meeting Rooms
    • International Hosting Opportunities
  • News and Events
    • News
    • Calendar and Term Dates
    • Week A/B
    • PE Fixtures
    • School Bulletin
    • Hello Hayesfield
  • Information
    • Admissions to Hayesfield
    • Character Education@Hayesfield
      • Careers – Achieving Ambitions
      • Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
      • Enrichment Week
        • Enrichment Week Year 7 Activities
        • Enrichment Week Year 8 Activities
        • Enrichment Week Year 9 Activities
      • House System
      • LEAP (Learning, Enrichment Activity Programme)
      • Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
      • Student Leadership
      • Trips
      • Tutor Programme
      • Year 7 Masterclasses
    • Examinations
      • Documents
      • Timetables & Dates
      • Examination Results
    • Gifted and Talented
    • Parents
      • Documents and Letters
      • Free School Meals
      • Homework
      • Instrumental Lessons
      • Online Payments
      • Parents’ Evenings
      • Parents’ Information Evenings
      • Refectories
      • School Uniform
      • Transport
    • Pastoral Support
      • How We Support Needs
      • General Support and Helplines
      • E-safety and Social Media
      • Positive Mental Health
      • Alcohol, Drugs, Identity
    • Prospective Parents
    • Safeguarding
    • School Policies
    • Specialised Curriculum Offer
      • Pupil Premium
      • Special Educational Needs Local Offer
      • STEM
    • Students
      • School Day
      • House System
      • School Council
      • Student Leadership
      • School Uniform
  • Curriculum
    • The Hayesfield Curriculum
    • The KS3 Curriculum (Y7 – Y9)
      • KS3 Curriculum Intent
      • KS3 Curriculum Implementation
    • The KS4 Curriculum (Y10 and Y11)
      • KS4 Curriculum Intent
      • KS4 Curriculum Implementation
    • Applied Learning and Employability Faculty (ALE)
    • English Faculty
    • Humanities Faculty
    • Learning Support Faculty
    • Mathematics and Computing Faculty
    • Performance and Arts Faculty
    • Science Faculty
    • World Languages Faculty
  • Sixth Form
    • Welcome
      • How to Apply
      • Exam Results 2021
      • Post-Sixth Form Destinations
    • Sixth Form Curriculum Overview
      • Subject Information Videos and Courses Available
      • Super-Curricular Videos
      • Extra-Curricular Videos
      • School Statement on Post 16 Tuition Funding 2021-22
    • Parents’ Information
      • Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening
      • Post 18 Routes Information Evening
      • Pastoral Support in the Sixth Form
      • Post 16 Bursary
      • Sixth Form Documents and Letters
    • Sixth Form Revision Resources
    • Year 11 – 12 Transition
    • Sixth Form Leadership Team
  • Photo Gallery
    • Year 7 Transition Event 2021
    • Christmas Concert
    • Winter Dance Showcase
    • World Book Day
    • Evening of Dance
    • Fashion & Textiles Show
    • Spring Music Showcase
    • Performances 2021-22
    • Photo Gallery 2020-21
      • Performances 2020-21
  • ICT Access
    • RM Unify
    • Utilize
    • GCSEPod
    • Parents’ Evening Booking System
    • Guide to the Parents’ Evening Booking System
    • CHQ Login (LEAP and EW)
    • SIMS Parent / SIMS Student
    • Student Links
    • Staff Links
    • Webmail
    • Remote Learning
      • Making the Most of Remote Learning
      • Student Guidance
      • General Resources
      • Mental and Physical Wellbeing

English – Lower School (Years 7 and 8)

The English curriculum at lower school is rich and rewarding and intended for all our girls to foster a life-long love of the subject and of reading. As part of this students read a variety of texts including novels, poetry, drama and a Shakespeare play in Years 7 and 8. They also study media “texts” and are encouraged to read widely in order to develop their appreciation of the different genres and their critical skills.

In addition to these Programmes of Study, a strong focus is placed on enriching our students’ experience of English through a wide variety of extra-curricular activities such as theatre visits, poetry and writing workshops and performances by touring companies. We regularly enjoy hosting visiting authors and can boast that over the past years the following authors have given talks to our students – Tanya Byrne, Cathy Brett, Rachel Ward, Marie Louise Jensen, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Sophie MacKenzie, Suzanne Le Fleur, Lucy Christopher, Cathy Hopkins, Mimi Thebo, Holly Bourne, Bali Rai, Katy Birchall, Emma Carroll – the list goes on!

Course Content: Year 7 and 8 Curriculum Overview

TermYear 7
Programmes of Study
Assessment
Links with GCSE
Year 8
Programmes of Study
Assessment
Links with GCSE
1
Creative Writing
Who Am I?
Whole School Transition Project
Writing
Language Paper 1
Descriptive writing
Multi- Modal
Persuasive Writing
'Current Affairs'
Writing
Language Paper 2
Descriptive writing
Speaking and Listening
Presenting a point of view
AO7
2Non Fiction
Travel Writing

Writing
Language Paper 2
Presenting a point of view
Contemporary Writer
Novel
Reading
Language Paper 1
Writers Language
3Contemporary Writer
Novel
Reading
Literature Paper 1
Modern Text
Speaking and Listening
Discussion based on character
AO7
Speaking and Listening
Drama - In role
AO7
4Drama
Shakespeare
Reading
Literature Paper 1
Shakespeare
Creative Writing Writing
Language Paper 1
Descriptive writing
5Poetry
Poetry Introduction
Reading
Literature Paper 2
Unseen Poetry
Poetry Comparisons
Moon on the Tide
Reading
Literature Paper 2
Poetry Comparison
6Creative Writing
Descriptive based on a stimulus
Writing
Language Paper 1
Descriptive writing
Literary Heritage
Shakespeare
Chaucer
Reading
Literature Paper 1
Shakespeare

Subject Specific Skills

In Lower School English lessons, students are expected to demonstrate a range of skills across reading, writing and the spoken word. These are further learnt and developed through our curriculum and enrichment opportunities. Students are also expected to be able to read for meaning through close analysis of a variety of text.

English Resources

Personal Learning Checklists
Year 7 PLC [PDF]
Year 8 PLC [PDF]

Assessment in Lower School English

How we assess?

In English students are assessed against our reading and writing specific criteria for each activity they complete. In each lesson teachers will make assessments and will provide students with verbal feedback. Progress is measured against their Flightpath targets set in Year 7 (Emerging, Rising, Mastering). Students are actively encouraged to conduct self and peer-assessments regularly in addition to staff comments within English lessons.
When we assess?

In English, formal assessments take place four times a year- for creative writing units and poetry, there is one assessment a Term, but for units where analysis skills are being developed, the assessments run over two terms.

In addition to formal assessments, peer and self-assessment as well as verbal staff feedback occurs in each lesson. Students form their self-assessment against personal targets after each activity in their Flightpath Progress tracking sheet, which is followed by teacher comment.

Marking of Students Work and Feedback:

Students’ work is expected to be marked by the teacher once every 6 lessons in line with the school marking policy. Teachers will specifically indicate what work will and will not be marked in order to give our students a clear idea of what is expected from them and so they can always present their best work. Every student will have a copy of our marking policy so they know exactly what they can expect.

Assessment feedforward sheets are used as part of the assessment marking process at the end of each unit which usually marries up to each term. Teacher comments provide guidance on how students can improve their level of understanding. Teachers are expected to review all peer assessed and self-assessed work and provide guidance when necessary.

Students are encouraged to self- and peer-assess their work through the use of our Green and Purple pens.

Setting in Lower School English

  • In Year 7: all students are set by their KS2 National Reading levels taken in Year 6
  • All students in Years 7 and 8 are set according to assessed ability and progress

 
In line with School Policy, set moves are made twice a year where necessary. This is based directly on academic performance through the formal assessments and classroom contributions throughout the year.

Homework

  • English homeworks have been designed to support your daughter’s progress throughout the year and provide challenge tasks. Students will read set texts in their own time
  • Written homework will always be to enhance and consolidate learning that has gone on in the classroom
  • Maximum intended length of homework per subject should normally be 30 mins per week in Year 7, extending to 45 minutes in Year 8

 

Supporting Your Daughter in Lower School English

There are a number of ways you can support your daughter in English:

  • Ensure your daughter completes any reading homework within the deadline so they do not fall behind and can access the topics/themes studied in class time
  • Make sure that your daughter has a reading book in her school bag at all times and encourage her to read widely
  • Encourage your daughter to make full use of the Accelerated Reading scheme that runs at Hayesfield, checking she has her login and password stuck at the front of her planner and supporting her to quiz on and discuss the books she reads
  • Encourage attendance to the many and varied Period 6 LEAP activities we offer in English
  • Share your love of literature and language with your daughter – have discussions about what she is reading, discuss newspaper articles and help expand her vocabulary.
  • Encourage her to do well – a good English GCSE grade will open many doors in the future!

Subjects

  • English Faculty
    • Lower School (Years 7 and 8)
    • Upper School (Years 9, 10 and 11)
    • A Level English Language
    • A Level English Literature
    • Twohigg’s Literacy Tips


© Hayesfield Girls' School and Mixed Sixth Form 2017

Cookies

This site uses cookies. Click here for more information.