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

year 9 – Power poetry

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
    • Classic Book Club
    • Word Games Club
    • Debating Club

    You can find more details about all of our clubs here

    Who Teaches English

     ead of Department: Mrs R. Kaufmann Ward, B.A. (Hons), M.A., G.T.P.
    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. Mrs Kaufmann Ward is also a Staff Governor and part of the School Oversight Committee.

    Teacher i/c KS3 English: Mrs. A. Richardson, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
    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.

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

    Other Staff: Miss. J. Bauman, B.A. (Hons)
    Email: jbauman followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

    Miss Bauman studied at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada where she received a B.A. (Hons) in Drama in Education and Community with minors in English and Psychology. She trained and qualified for her teaching degree at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada and eventually gained QTS once moving to the UK. Before starting at Northgate in 2022, she taught English, Drama and Media Studies in Reading. Miss Bauman is also the A-Level English Language and Literature lead.

     

    Other Staff: Mrs. G. Christie, BA (Hons), P.G.C.E
    Email: gchristie followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

    Mrs Christie gained her BA Hons from the University of East Anglia and her PGCE from the University of Bath. She also managed a tuition centre for several years.

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

    Mrs Tonkin has been teaching English for 23 years and also works as an English GCSE examiner for AQA. She has also recently worked for the education regulatory body OFQUAL, as an English moderator.

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