We aim to instil a passion for reading and literature from Year 7 through to our 6th Form.

English at Northgate is at the heart of the curriculum and impacts students across all subject areas. We strive to embed an understanding of how to communicate clearly, accurately and with flair in a variety of spoken and written mediums.

english curriculum map

year 7 – refugee boy

year 7 – poetry from other cultures

year 7 – shakespeare: heroes & villains

year 7 – victorian literature

year 7 – non fiction

year 8 – war horse

year 8 – love & relationships

year 8 – Animal Farm

year 8 – shakespeare: leadership & power

year 8 – non fiction

year 9 – Curious Incident

year 9 – Campaigning for a Cause

year 9 – Recreations

Year 9 – romeo & juliet

gcse – an inspector calls

gcse – romeo & juliet

gcse – the sign of four

gcse – unseen poetry

gcse – power & conflict poetry

GCSE Exam Board: AQA
You can find the current specifications here (Literature) and here (Language)

Students are able to continue studying English at A Level.
You can find out more about A Level English at Dereham Sixth Form here (Literature) and here (Language and Literature)

A Level Exam Board: AQA
You can find the current A Level Literature and Language specification here
You can find the current A Level Literature specification here

Working Independently

Below are a number of links to resources available to support independent learning:

Assessment in English

You can view the current assessment and feedback policy for English here

Personal Development and Cultural Capital in English

The English Department currently run a number of clubs including:

Creative Writing Club
Book Club (which includes shadowing the Carnegie Awards)
Manga Club

You can find more details about all of our clubs here

Who Teaches English

Head of Department: Ms E Harvey, B.A. (Hons), FCCT, NPQSL.
Email: eharvey followed by @ ng6.unity-ed.uk

Ms. Harvey studied at University of East Anglia and received a B.A Hons in English Literature and Drama. She is currently studying at University of Portsmouth as a dissertation student on the MSc Educational Leadership and Management, as well as completing her NPQH. Edwina was awarded Fellowship of Chartered College of Teaching in 2022 and has worked as National Subject Lead for drama with Ormiston Academies Trust. During her career, Edwina has led English and drama departments across Norfolk.

Teacher i/c Film and KS5 Lang/Lit : Mr. C. Clark, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E., M.A.
Email: cclark followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mr Clark studied Literature and Philosophy at Essex University. After his B.A. Hons was awarded, he studied for his P.G.C.E. at Middlesex University. He has been teaching since 1999. He graduated with a Masters Degree from Cambridge University in 2015. His degree was centred around researching boys’ underachievement. He has worked in various roles in schools and taught not only English, but Media, Communication and Culture, and Critical Thinking. He is interested in books, film, the media, philosophy, and Arsenal Football Club.

Teacher i/c KS3 English: Mrs. H. Villarde, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
Email: hvillarde followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mrs Villarde is a part-time Teacher of English with a BA (Hons) in English Literature. She has 15 years’ experience in teaching English and has been an examiner for AQA GCSE English Literature.

Other Staff: Miss. H. Bingham, BA (Hons), P.G.C.E
Email: hbingham followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Miss Bingham is a full-time Teacher of English with a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Winchester. She gained her PGCE with Keele University through the OAKS. Miss Bingham has spent time living in different countries such as New Zealand, and has an interest in looking at different cultures through their literature.

Other Staff: Mrs. Z. Galley, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E., M.A. Education (Head of School)

Other Staff: Mrs. M. Graves, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E. (Head of Year 8)
Email: mgraves followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mrs Graves has a BA Hons in English Language and Literature from the University of Reading and a P.G.C.E. from the University of East Anglia. She has a long career teaching English at all levels. Mrs Graves contributed to the development of the BBC Bitesize resources for English.

Other Staff: Mrs R. Kaufmann Ward, B.A. (Hons), M.A., G.T.P. (Assistant Headteacher)
Email: bkaufmann-ward followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mrs Kaufmann Ward studied at University of East Anglia and received a B.A. Hons in English and American Literature and M.A. in American Studies. She qualified and worked as a teacher of English as a foreign language for 5 years before retraining and gaining her QTS and started working in mainstream high schools. Before starting at Northgate in 2011, she taught in schools in Cambridge, Norwich and Nairobi.

Other Staff: Miss T. Lyons, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.

Email: tlyons followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Miss Lyons has a BA Hons English Literature from Lincoln University and a PGCE in English from the UEA. She has previously worked with mental health and learning disabilities in a forensic setting.

Other Staff: Mrs. A. Richardson, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E. (Head of Year 7)
Email: arichardson followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mrs Richardson gained her BA Hons in English and Italian from the University of Birmingham and her P.G.C.E from the University of East Anglia. During her degree, Mrs Richardson spent a year in Italy and still enjoys regular visits there.

Other Staff: Mrs K. Smith B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
Email: ksmith followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mrs Smith studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Hull and completed her PGCE at the UEA. She has previously worked as a stage manager, managing theatre productions in Norfolk and London.

Other Staff: Miss. V. Woodier, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E., M.A.
Email: vwoodier followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Miss Woodier holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, which she completed with the Open University. She further pursued her passion for writing by achieving a distinction in her Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Essex. With a keen interest in poetry, Miss Woodier has had snippets of her work published in creative anthologies.