Meet the English Team
Mr G Wooster – Head of Department
Mrs E Ray – Deputy Subject Leader
Mr J Cotterell – Teacher of English
Mr J Lavers – Teacher of English
Mrs G Bowen – Teacher of English
Miss H Sherburne – Teacher of English
Mrs E Stanford – Teacher of English – KS3 Coordinator
Mrs K Ward – Teacher of English
Mr J Waterman – KS2 Literacy & Numeracy Teacher
Miss K Green – Teacher of English
Miss B Hookey – Teacher of English
Mrs C Dean – Headteacher
Mrs H Blake – Assistant Headteacher
Mrs S Macbeth – Librarian
Curriculum Intent
The over-arching aim of the English Curriculum at Stonehenge is that all students should leave the school with a wide experience of the English language. They will have read a range of poetry and prose, both fiction and non-fiction, and several Shakespeare plays. They will have been empowered to ‘think big’ by considering the power of language, its ability to inform, entertain, and influence, and the importance of having an awareness of it.
Key Stage 3 has been structured to provide a wide range of fiction and nonfiction texts to broaden students’ experience and general knowledge of the world around them, creating a passion for lifelong learning and a sense of global citizenship. There is a conscious move to avoid the white, male, middle-class writers who dominate the GCSE syllabus. LGBT content is added here, as are other social issues that are sometimes best approached through reading and writing. Theatre companies are brought into school, often the only way many students will experience a live performance. Year 7 visit Warner Bros Studios in conjunction with the Harry Potter / Myth and Magic units to see how English can become a career after school.
Key Stage 4 takes the skills that students have developed over Key Stage 3, and applies them to the demands of the GCSE exams.
Assessment takes place at the end of each half-term, with the completion of each unit of work. Students’ attainment is measured with I Can Statements, which map out every individual’s skills during the course of each year. The I Can Statements were created by looking at the demands of the GCSE exams, and working backwards, determining which skills we would like students to have by the end of each year. The targets are challenging, but achievable, and students will see how their skills develop over the five years. Reading and writing tasks are revisited in each unit to allow for the accurate updating of I Can data during the year, giving a clearer picture of how students are developing. Most assessments are intended to be formative, allowing students DIRT opportunities to develop skills. Summative assessment takes the form of GCSE English Language papers in Year 9, and English Language and Literature at several points during years 10 and 11.
Our Topics
Year 7
Heroes and Villains – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Survival – The Graveyard Book/Holes/The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Shakespeare – A Midsummers Nights Dream
Film Studies – Hugo
Year 8
Fantasy and Adventure – Northern Lights
Dystopia – The Hunger Games/Lord of The Flies/Mortal Engines/Naughts and Crosses
Film Studies – Bend It Like Beckham
Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet
Year 9 - Gateway Year
Gothic – Woman in Black
Outsiders – Of Mice & Men/Salt to the Sea
Shakespeare – Much Ado About Nothing
Film Studies – Suffragette
English Language Paper 1
Year 10
Literature – 19th Century Novel/Poetry Anthology/Language: Paper 1- Alfred and the Rat
Literature – An Inspector Calls/Poetry Anthology/Language: Paper 2 – Boats
Literature – Macbeth/Poetry Anthology/Language: Spoken Language/Paper 2 – Orwell
Year 11
Literature – Macbeth/Cluster Poetry/ Language: Paper 1 – Hartop
Literature – 19th Century Novel/An Inspector Calls/Language: Paper 2
Revision
Revision & Exams
Careers
English helps you master communication, creativity, and critical thinking. It’s about reading deeply, writing effectively, and expressing ideas.
Careers Directly Linked
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Journalist / Author / Poet – creating content for print, online, or broadcast.
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Teacher / Lecturer – passing on a love of literature and language.
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Editor / Publisher – shaping books, magazines, and online texts.
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Communications Specialist – writing speeches, blogs, or marketing campaigns.
Wider Opportunities
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Law – where strong argument and analysis are essential.
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Advertising / Marketing – creating persuasive campaigns.
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Media & Film – scriptwriting, reviewing, or production.
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Civil Service / Politics – where precise language and clarity matter.
Transferable Skills
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Writing and presenting confidently.
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Critical and creative thinking.
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Understanding perspectives and empathy.
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Research and organisation.
Next Steps
Progression into English, Creative Writing, Journalism, Law, or Media is common, as well as a wide range of apprenticeships.