Welcome to the English department. In this section of the website, you will find important information for the department as well as some useful links to our curriculum page. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Meet the department
Miss Aston – Head of Department - katie.aston@hccmac.co.uk
Mrs Panait – 2iC English – andra.panait@hccmac.co.uk
Miss Neville – KS3 Co-Ordinator - sadhbh.neville@hccmac.co.uk
Mrs Samworth – KS5 Co-ordinator - laura.samworth@hccmac.co.uk
Mr Osborne - Intervention Co-ordinator - nathan.osborne@hccmac.co.uk
Miss Beetlestone - English Teacher - anais.beetlestone@hccmac.co.uk
Miss Luff - English Teacher - ellen.luff@hccmac.co.uk
Miss Cunningham - Head of Media & English Teacher - emily.cunningham@hccmac.co.uk
Mrs Gallo - English Teacher - deanna.gallo@hccmac.co.uk
Miss Mohan – Head of Year 8 - lucy.mohan@hccmac.co.uk
Mr McLintock – Head of Year 11 - joseph.mclintock@hccmac.co.uk
Mrs Perkins – Senior Assistant Headteacher - kelly.perkins@hccmac.co.uk
Mr McDonnell – Deputy Headteacher - sam.mcdonnell@hccmac.co.uk
Miss Cunningham - Head of Media & English Teacher - emily.cunningham@hccmac.co.uk
Mrs Gallo - English Teacher - deanna.gallo@hccmac.co.uk
Homework
Within English, homework will be set on a weekly basis by the class teacher. Students will be able to find this on Classcharts and should have written the task and deadline in their planner.
We use Educake, an online platform with subject-specific questions linked to the exam boards we teach at KS4. As your child enters KS4, homework will start to include exam-style questions to help them prepare for their GCSEs.
If your child is unable to access homework online, please ensure that the department are aware so that accessible homework can be set for your child.
- Educake - https://www.educake.co.uk/
Equipment and Resources
- You should have a pencil case with you every lesson.
- Your pencil case should include: black/blue/green pens, highlighters, a pencil, a ruler and a glue stick/colours if you wish.
- You should also have your planner and a reading book with you at all times.
- Equipment and planner must be out on the desk at the start of every lesson.
department praise and recognition
In English, we strive to acknowledge our students' successes. Students will experience reward and recognition through the school newsletter, postcards and letters home as well as through 'Star of the Week' social media posts.
READING AND VOCABULARY LISTS
- Year 7 and 8 Recommended Reading List
- Year 9 Recommended Reading List
- Year 10 and 11 Recommended Reading List
- Year 12 and 13 Recommended Reading List
- A Level Vocabulary Bank
- KS3 Recommended Vocabulary
- KS4 Recommended Vocabulary
Upcoming Events
- Thursday 1st October - National Poetry Day
- Tuesday 1st December - Year 9 Jack and the Beanstalk on Ice Trip
- Thursday 10th December - Year 11 A Christmas Carol Trip
- Thursday 4th March - World Book Day
- Tuesday 21st March - World Poetry Day
- Friday 2nd April - International Childrens' Book Day
- Sunday 2nd May - Harry Potter Day
Extracurricular opportunities in English
Palaces & Parties: From Buckingham to Gatsby
On June 12th, Mrs Samworth and Ms Burn had the pleasure of accompanying 20 Year 12 students to London for a day of culture, exploration, and theatre.
Before taking their seats for the matinée performance of The Great Gatsby musical, students soaked up the sights of the capital — admiring the grandeur of Buckingham Palace, browsing the vibrant stalls of Covent Garden, and even getting roped into some impromptu magic tricks!
The show itself was a dazzling spectacle. With powerful vocals and striking performances, it left the entire group impressed — and sparked lively debate about how it compared to Fitzgerald’s original novel.
Throughout the trip, students represented SJHN with maturity, enthusiasm, and impeccable behaviour. It was a day to remember — one we’re sure they’ll look back on with fondness for years to come.
Year 11 - An Inspector Calls 2025
Our wonderful students attended a production of An Inspector Calls at the Wolverhampton Grande Theatre.
Year 11 A Christmas Carol Trip
In December, we took our Year 11 students to see an incredible performance of A Christmas Carol at The Rep Theatre in Birmingham.
Year 9 - Aladdin on Ice Trip
Students attended the Skydome in Coventry to watch a festive performance of Aladdin on Ice which featured some of our ex-students!
Year 12 - London Trip
Year 12 English Literature and Language students had a lovely time in London on Friday. They explored the city to research and gather ideas for their coursework. A fun day was had by all and there was even to time to play a little tune on the piano at Euston train station! ???
Year 11 - Macbeth
On Monday 22nd April, Year 11 students enjoyed an engaging and interactive performance of Macbeth to support their upcoming Literature exams.
Year 7 - Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Year 7 had a phenomenal time watching Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. Our students were well behaved and had an afternoon filled with laughter and joy.
Warwick Transformations Project 2024:
Year 8 students went to Warwick University to celebrate their success in the Warwick Transformations Creative Writing Project. They were given a tour of the University and even shown backstage of the Warwick Arts Centre, they saw some sculptures in the art gallery and took part in a creative writing workshop with Dr Nancy Jiang. Well done to Lucy and Josh who were school finalists and a massive congratulations to Jenna who was a runner up (against students from a range of schools across Coventry). Their work will be published in a book that will be available in the British Library! We are very proud of them, and they are always showing that we are all Made for Greatness.
World Book Day 2024
The English department celebrated World Book Day through a range of exciting activities including themed lessons, staff costume competition, literary treasure hunt and the annual Year 7 Dress the Door Competition (Congratulations 7RAB & 7NSD who won!).
Year 8 - Shakespeare in Action
Year 8 students took part in the Shakespeare in Action sessions preparing them for
their upcoming study of Romeo and Juliet
Year 8 - Poetry Slam
Year 8 students were visited by Coventry poet, Emilie Jones, where they participated in a poetry slam workshop. The winners of the workshop will go on to the compete against other schools in the new year!
0Y11 - A Christmas Carol Trip
A number of our Year 11 students visited the Crescent Theatre on Thursday 7th December 2023 to see a performance of A Christmas Carol for their English Literature GCSE. The performance was exceptional, as were our students!
Wizard of Oz Trip
On Tuesday 5th December 2023, 55 Year 9 enjoyed a festive theatre trip to see Wizard of Oz on Ice! The students had a joyous afternoon watching the spectacular ice skaters.
An Inspector Calls Trip
On Wednesday 30th November 2022, we took 150 students from Year 11 (and some from Year 10) to the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham to see An Inspector Calls, which is one of our GCSE English Literature set texts. We were so proud of how wonderful you all were, and an amazing time was had by all!
A Christmas Carol Trip
On Thursday 14th December 2022, 90 Year 11’s went to the RSC in Stratford upon Avon to see A Christmas Carol (another GCSE English Literature set text). Lots of fun was had by all students’ and staff. Our students were excellent ambassadors of SJHN and it was lovely way to get into the Christmas spirit!
Shakespeare in Action Workshop
On Tuesday 31st January, Year 8 were visited by Shakespeare in Action. This involved a workshop with a professional actor who taught the students’ the importance of Shakespeare, but in a fun way! Students re-enacted a key scene from Romeo and Juliet and we hope that they took lots of inspiration and knowledge from the workshop. The English Department can’t wait to teach you the play now in the summer term! ?????
Key stage 4 information
We use the exam board Eduqas for GCSE English Language and Literature. Students are St John Henry Newman
will sit their GCSE English Language exam in Year 10 and then complete their GCSE English Literature in Year 11.
You will find links to the exam board's specification and recommended revision materials below:
- GCSE English Language - https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/english-language-gcse
- GCSE English Literature - https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/english-literature-gcse
Key stage 5 information
We offer two English A Levels at SJHN:
- English Literature
- English Language and Literature
You will find the links to Edexcel's A Level specification and recommended revision materials below.
English Literature
English Language and Literature
Careers in English
The English Department strives to prepare students for life after school! We believe it’s invaluable that students are inundated with a range of skills that will help them to be successful after they leave us. Some of the things we do are:
- Careers focused sessions at each key stage
- Topics dedicated to ‘professional communication’
- Help students develop team working skills, communication skills, resilience skills, organisational skills and extended writing skills
- Debate style topics that allow students to explore real life issues that will affect them once they leave SJHN
- Wider reading on all topics covered in English
- Use ‘real world’ scenarios in lessons for context
As well as this, students are made aware of careers paths that English can take them down. Having a English degree can open up many different routes for students, such as:
- Digital copywriter
- Editorial assistant
- English as a foreign language teacher
- Lexicographer
- Magazine journalist
- Newspaper journalist
- Private tutor
- Publishing copy-editor/proof-reader
- Web content manager
- Writer
- Academic librarian
- Advertising copywriter
- Journalist
- Archivist
- Arts administrator
- Education consultant
- Information officer
- Learning mentor
- Media researcher
- Records manager
- Social media manager
This list is not exhaustive and is ever-changing. Having an English degree or some form of education in English opens up so many routes for students.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s English teacher.