At Arena Academy, the English Department has an irrevocable belief that every student can, and will, succeed. We work hard to impart the importance of English skills with the aim of embedding, not only a thirst for success and a love of our subject, but the importance of the skills they develop as facilitating to their post-16 and lifelong choices. The high expectations we have of all our students demonstrates our dedication to their success and, as an innovative department, we are reflective and supportive in our own practices to foster an environment conducive to collaboration and improvement.
In English, students will discover the human experience through studying a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts. We will ignite a sense of awe and wonder by learning about those who have and continue to inspire us; learning about their place, identity and experiences. We pride ourselves in fostering inclusive learning environments where contentious and sensitive issues can be explored freely, enabling students to not only be more culturally aware, but, importantly, self-aware too.
Our determination to develop conceptual knowledge of our curriculum allows students to gain a clear understanding of how English was, how English is today and to consider what English will become in the future. This development of knowledge with the embedding of key skills required for this subject will allow students to gain autonomy in critical reading and a passion and flair for the creativity of the written and spoken form.
Ultimately, our ethos is to nurture the growth of our students; developing their verbal, cognitive and written skillset, whilst instilling within them a passion for literature that will remain for years to come.
Our Teachers
Miss M Khatun – Head of English
•Mr L Amos – Teacher of English (Assistant head of English )
•Mrs R Bangar – Teacher of English
•Miss F Ellis – Teacher of English (Assistant head of English )
•Mrs K Rowles – Teacher of English
•Mr D Zs – Teacher of English
•Mr M Lowe -Teacher of English
•Miss N Yesmin – Teacher of English
Key Stage 3
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
| Year 7 | Dreams and Nightmares A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness The Tempest – William Shakespeare | People and Place Non-fiction travel writing Poetry from different cultures | Character and Voice Telling Tales – short stories Creative writing | |||
| Year 8 | Power and Freedom Animal Farm – George Orwell Changing the world – Speeches | Love and Relationships Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare Poetry – familial love | Youth, Action and Adventure Writing for a particular genre Finding my voice – rhetoric in social media | |||
| Year 9 | Poverty and Society 19th Century Literature – Charles Dickens Dystopia & Utopia – Creative reading and writing | Social Class and Inequality Blood Brothers – Willy Russell Non-fiction transactional writing | Perspectives in conflict World at War – Poetry Macbeth – Cold read | |||
Key Stage 4
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
| Year 10 | GCSE English Lit: Paper 1 – section A – ‘Macbeth’ GCSE English Lang: Paper 1 –Section A and B | Lit: Paper 2 – Power and Conflict poetry GCSE English Lang: Paper 2 –Section A and B | ‘An Inspector Calls’ – J B Priestley Speaking and Listening endorsement | |||
| Year 11 | GCSE English Lit: Paper 1 – ‘A Christmas Carol’ – Charles Dickens Consolidation of English Language Paper 1 | Lit: Paper 2 – Section C Unseen poetry Consolidation of English Language Paper 2 | Consolidation of exam content and skills GCSE Examination Language & Literature | |||