Teaching Staff

• A Donnison (Director of Learning)
• M.Barnfield
• E.Dawson  (Literacy Lead)
• S. Gowland
• T.Graham (KS4 Lead)
• S Kelly
• D. Leatherland
• J Owen (KS3 Lead)
• S.Russell
• M Stead
• M. Thwaites
• C Wall

Department Information

The English Department at King James I Academy want all students to experience an English Curriculum that is varied, interesting, creative, imaginative, challenging and engaging.  We want the students we teach to be enthused by our own passion for a subject that is the foundation stone of so many other subjects as it encompasses elements of history, religious education, philosophy, ethics, geography, politics, psychology, sociology and the media. 

We want to empower the students we teach to think critically, analytically and empathetically to enable them to evolve into confident, creative, and effective communicators who can research, theorise and interpret independently allowing them to make informed choices, express mature opinions and ultimately encouraging them to be successful learners and responsible citizens.

As we, as a team, celebrate English and impart our passion for the rich and diverse variety and complexity of Language and Literature, we aim to inspire students to read widely and for pleasure, whilst immersing themselves in viewpoints and perspectives from different cultures and times that will enrich and develop their knowledge and thinking. 

All staff foster the enjoyment of English through a broad curriculum built on the premise of challenge to facilitate rapid progress through a variety of learning experiences.  We want our students to be engaged in a dialogue that builds confidence so that they can direct their own learning; identifying their own strengths and areas for development and supporting them in their progress.

The love of the subject is nurtured as students are provided with authentic, meaningful and relevant learning experiences that increase motivation and ensure that they are supported to develop the skills that enable them to compete effectively in the national race for success.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Throughout year 7 students develop core reading, writing and speaking and listening skills.  Through the theme based units students study an extensive and wide range of literature and non-fiction texts.  Students develop key writing skills; using correct grammar; punctuation; spelling and writing for a specific audiences and purposes.  Students develop key reading skills; inference; deduction; information retrieval and language analysis through each unit.

Year 8

Throughout year 8 students develop key reading, writing and speaking and listening skills from year 7.   Through the theme based units students will study a range of both fiction and non-fiction texts.  Students continue to develop key reading skills; inference; deduction; information retrieval and language analysis through each unit.

Year 9

Throughout year 9 students study a range of texts in order to further develop their knowledge to prepare them for study in Key Stage 4.  Students begin to develop analytical skills, enabling them to fully interrogate texts.  Extended writing is a focus throughout this year and students will develop their skills throughout each unit.

Learning Journeys