The English Community is situated in Upper Site and the teachers are based in L and M block. We closely liaise with the Inclusion Community to ensure that all students have access to a wide ranging curriculum.  We offer both English Language and English Literature and these subjects are taught from Year 7 through to Year 13.  The subject is very popular at A level. The Community provides a supportive environment for students of all abilities and we operate a 'drop-in' style revision cycle where students can come and work with us throughout the year on things that they are struggling with.

Miss Carter

I am currently in my fourth year at Cannock Chase High School.  I am very proud to lead such a fantastic team of inspirational teachers who each bring a different skillset to the Community.  I oversee all areas of the Curriculum (through line managing my strong leadership team of TLR holders) but I particularly focus on examination groups and closely tracking their attainment and progress data.  I have a degree in English and Drama from Newman University College and this is also where I obtained my Postgraduate Certificate for teaching.   I have a passion for literature and I particularly enjoy reading Shakespeare. I enjoy visits to the theatre and socialising.

E.Carter @cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Miss Ayres

Miss Ayres has taught at Cannock Chase High School since September 2014 and is the Assistant Director of English responsible for the learning, attainment and support of students in Phase 2. Miss Ayres studied English at the University of Birmingham. Her hobbies include reading (of course!) cooking and going to the gym.

R.Ayres @cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Mrs Evans

Mrs Evans has taught at Cannock Chase High School since 2009 and is the Assistant Director of English responsible for the learning, attainment and support of students in Phase 1. She studied at the University of Birmingham, specialising in English Literature, and currently teaches students from Year 7 through to Year 13. Her hobbies include reading and playing the saxophone.

L.Evans@cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Mrs Ayre

Mrs Ayre has taught at Cannock Chase High School since 2015 and is the Assistant Director of English responsible for Media Studies, monitoring the progress of Years 12 and 13 and homework. She studied at the University of Wolverhampton, specialising in English and Education Studies. Mrs Ayre completed a Masters of Arts Degree in Creativity and Criticality at Keele University. She currently teaches students English Language, Literature and Media Studies from Year 7 through to Year 13. Her interests include reading, music, film and keeping fit!

L.Ayre @cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Mrs McLean

Mrs McLean has been teaching at CCHS for 10 years and is a graduate of Lancaster University where she studied English Language and Linguistics. She is also the Director of Chenet House. Her hobbies include reading, Zumba and riding crazy rollercoasters!

A.McLean @cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Mrs McAuley

Mrs McAuley has taught at Cannock Chase High School since 2010 and, as well as being an enthusiastic English teacher, she is also Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for learning and teaching. Having completed her degree in Ireland, Mrs McAuley studied at the University of Leeds and taught in a secondary school near Leeds for a number of years. Her hobbies include: reading, film, theatre, comedy and travel.

G.McAuley@cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Miss Kirsten Leeuwangh

Ms Leeuwangh has taught at Cannock Chase High School since 2012. She studied English and Philosophy at the University of Keele and currently teaches students from Year 7 through to Year 11.

K.Leeuwangh@cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Ms Smith

Ms Smith has been a teacher of English for 28 years. She is an examiner of A level English Literature. She studied at Trent university 1981-84 completing a degree Modern European Studies. Her hobbies include playing the guitar and singing, reading and embroidery.

A.Smith @cannockchase-high.staffs.sch.uk

Introduction to the subject: English

KS3 Overview (information about how many lessons a week, topics covered, trips, facilities, equipment etc)

Year 7 and 8 have three lessons of English a week. Students are taught in ability groups that are reviewed on a regular basis.  All classes follow schemes of learning that are skills-based, engaging and tailored to suit all abilities and interests.

Some of the units in year 7 include: Voices, Class Reader, The Simpsons and ‘Macbeth’ as well as many others.

The first unit in Year 7 is the Most Haunted unit which is an interesting skill-based unit that bridges the gap between Year 6 and Year 7 by allowing teachers to work on the skills that their students need to develop.

Some of the units in Year 8 include: Murder Most Horrid, Pre-1914 and Post 1914 Poetry, Media, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as well as many others.

All units in Years 7 and 8 include learning opportunities to suit a range of students embedded with regular opportunities for assessment and covering a variety of learning styles including: visual; audio clips; card sorts; group work and drama activities.

KS4 Overview (information about how many lessons a week, topics covered, trips, facilities, equipment etc as well as GCSE exam board asnd course information

Students in Years 9, 10, and 11 have five lessons of English a week. Students are taught in ability groups and will all follow a course that enables them to achieve a qualification in both English Language and English Literature. Current Year 11 students follow either a WJEC or IGCSE route. 

IGCSE and WJEC will cease to exist after 2016 so students will follow the English Language and Literature qualification with the Eduqas exam board.

Currently, we have two Year 11 groups that are completing English only and Media Studies.

When your child begins their education at Cannock Chase High School, they will be following the new government guidelines which mean that they will follow an exam based route only.

This pathway will involve your child exploring a wide range of Literature from the Canon as well as learning how to write in a variety of styles and for a range of purposes. We ensure that students are well-prepared for this by beginning the course in Year 9 and offering frequent points of assessment and feedback to both parents and students.

Some of the units covered during the GCSE course include ‘Noughts and Crosses’, Creative Writing, Literature Through the Ages, either ‘Blood Brothers’ or ‘An Inspector Calls’, ‘A Christmas Carol, Non-Fiction from the 19^th and 21^st Century, Poetry and a play by William Shakespeare.

KS5 Overview (information about how many lessons a week, topics covered, trips, facilities, equipment etc as well as GCSE exam board and course information

Students in Years 12 and 13 have five lessons of English a week.

We currently offer:

• English Language AS/A2 level  (AQA)
• English Literature AS/A2 level (AQA)

English Language AS/A2 level  (AQA).

Aims of the course:

English Language is an ideal choice for those who love writing and who enjoy the imaginative or analytical challenge of texts as well as the process of writing. The basis for this course is students’ independent understanding of a variety of language and texts and to:

• develop and apply their understanding of the concepts and methods appropriate for the analysis and study of language
• explore data and examples of language in use
• engage creatively and critically with a varied programme for the study of English
• develop their skills as producers and interpreters of language

Entry Requirements: B grade or above in GCSE English.

Subject content:

English language will build on the knowledge, understanding and skills established at GCSE level. The course will introduce students to the concepts and methods of the disciplines of English language in relation to a wide range of spoken and written forms of English, including electronic and multimodal forms. Students’ contextual study of language is based on sound theoretical knowledge developed through a coherent course of study.

Examples of topics covered:

• Textual Variations and Representations
• Children's Language Development
• Language Diversity and Change
• Language Discourses
• Writing skills
• Language Investigation
• Original Writing

Knowledge and Understanding:

• Phonetics, phonology and prosodics: how speech sounds and effects are articulated and analysed
• Lexis and semantics (words and meanings): the vocabulary of English, including social and historical variation
• Grammar including word formations: the structural patterns and shapes of English at
• sentence, clause, phrase and word level
• Pragmatics: the contextual aspects of language use
• Discourse (spoken language): extended stretches of communication occurring in different genres, modes and contexts
• Historical, geographical, social and individual varieties of English
• Aspects of language and identity

English Literature AS/ A2 Level (AQA)

Aims of the course:

English Literature is an ideal choice for those who have a real love of, and interest in, reading a variety of texts including novels, plays and poetry. The basis for the course is to encourage students to develop their understanding of, and interest in, texts by exploring: character, theme, language, structure and context.

Topics Covered:

• Shakespeare (at least one whole play);
• Poetry;
• Love through the Ages (exploring two prose texts);
• Exploration of Modern Literature and War Literature;
• Independent Investigation- a critical study of two texts (one which must be from before 1900).

Skills Covered:

Analysis of language, form and structure and how this applies to different texts.

Relating texts to context and discussing the impact of this on the text.

Applying critical terminology and theory. Focusing on how people can view one text in a number of ways.

During the course, you will be encouraged to complete independent written work that analyses the texts. You will also be given the opportunity to explore texts in groups and present your ideas to the class. The course also provides the opportunity to take part in trips outside of school. Past trips have included visits to Stratford and university lectures.

Subject News: 

World Book Day

Poetry and story competitions.

An Inspector Calls and Blood Brothers Trips

Trips to Shakespeare’s house.

Poetry Slam.

Links for learning:

BBC Bitesize

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zr9d7ty

Spark Notes

http://www.sparknotes.com/