Bedrock and the Raffle of Recognition

What is Bedrock? Bedrock is an online programme that helps students broaden their vocabulary and improve their literacy skills. In Key Stage 3, the English department uses Bedrock as a weekly homework task for our students. The trick to using Bedrock well is to use it regularly – ideally several times a week in short bursts. We ask our students to achieve a minimum of 20 points on Bedrock each week.

Bedrock Champions!

This year, the English department want to do more than ever to celebrate students who are ambitious with their Bedrock! Each half-term, we will hold a ‘Raffle of Recognition’ to award prizes to some of our Bedrock stars. If a student is in the top ten of users for their year group that week, they will have their name put onto a raffle ticket and entered into the competition. A student will also receive a ticket if they achieve 50 or more points in a single week. The more you use Bedrock, the more times your name will be entered into the raffle (and, you’ll broaden your vocabulary more and become increasingly more confident in your grammar and literacy skills).

Over to you! Try to push yourself to be even more ambitious than usual with your Bedrock this year – see how many times you can get yourself entered into the Raffle of Recognition!

 Miss Starkie 

Year 7 Transition Unit

In Year 7, the girls at PGHS have been completing their transition unit in English. During these lessons, we explore the realities of starting high school and share lots of anecdotes about our experiences. The girls have produced some wonderful advice leaflets based on their own experiences. Students have also been looking at how it’s important to ‘Embrace the Real You’ and are now embarking on writing a reflective autobiographical piece about their first few weeks at PGHS. 

Mrs Snowdon, Curriculum Leader for English

Bedrock Competition

During the month of June, KS3 had a Bedrock competition; the class who managed to accumulate the most points received a box of Krispy Crème doughnuts!

It was a tightly fought competition, but striding ahead with a massive 3908 points (500 points more than the class behind) were Miss Garlick’s Year 7 class.

The competition certainly inspired some students who made phenomenal progress in the month of June.

StudentYear GroupProgress %
Kieonie B9555
Rabia A9525
Afsana A8419
Hannah B8355
Lucy B7355
Gemma C9327
Sophie W8200
Sophia A9192
Lily S9185
Karma A7142

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

Bedrock

Summer Term Bedrock Leaders

Once again, a number of our students have shown huge ambition by going above and beyond in their quest to become the next Susie Dent in the world of words. This month, we have been running a Bedrock competition. Can you tell which teacher is the most competitive?!

Our top 10 wordsmiths from each year group are:

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

Gothic Poetry Pieces

This article showcases 7B’s fantastic effort during the Spring term. These are their gothic poetry pieces, completed as part of their ‘Gruesomely Gothic’ unit of work and their focus on ‘the uncanny’. Well done, girls!

Can you try the activity below?

English Department News – Year 7 Work

As the academic year draws to a close, the English department wanted to share some of the fabulous work that the Year 7 students have been completing over their first year at high school. Work featured is from Miss Garlick’s class, Mrs Ibrahim’s class, Mrs McGibbon’s class and Miss Starkie’s class.

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

Articles by the Press Gang

An informal chat with our new Headteacher, Mrs Hall.

Laila B, Charlotte T and Micah T entered Mrs Hall’s office to ask her a few questions about the school and how she feels about certain subjects related to the school’s environment and its people. The answers she gave were full of confidence as she reeled off the information that we were in her office to gather.

During our time with the Headteacher, she answered our questions with great passion and enthusiasm.

Firstly, we asked “How do you find being a Headteacher?” Mrs Hall replied saying that it’s an amazing job working in this wonderful school. She also added that she takes pleasure in watching the students enjoy our school and providing feedback.

Next, we asked “Why did you pursue teaching?” Mrs Hall responded by saying that she continues teaching to “form a path” and to help students “make the best of themselves” and to “believe in themselves”. She made it clear that she wanted to enforce the school values to help students “live their best life.”

We were welcomed very kindly and Mrs Hall was a perfect interviewee. All of our questions were answered thoroughly and the three of us, (Charlotte, Micah and Laila) will definitely look forward to our next interview with our Headteacher.

The Chase

Well done to all our Year 7 students who participated in The Chase. This was a tough game for all the girls but we WON!!! The Chaser this time was Mrs S Bennett who was ‘THE CRUNCHER’. Ivy G, Violet C, Sienna P, Alice T and Darcey U all took part in representing their forms 7 P,G,H,S and J.

First up was Ivy G who answered all her questions correct and was home safe! Next was Violet C who also got home. Then commiserations to Sienna P who was sadly caught. Alice T made it home and was very happy about it. Finally, there was Darcey U who sadly couldn’t make it home.

Then came the final Chase. The 3 girls who made it through answered 11 out of 14 questions correctly. Then the Chaser was up. It was a stressful moment for everyone as the Chaser was on her 11th question but then her time was up. THE YEAR 7s WON!

Well done to all the girls who participated and well done to Mrs Bennett too. Better luck next time.

Alyce and Amana (Year 7)

The Bone Sparrow

In English with Miss Garlick, we just finished The Bone Sparrow. This moving book explores what it means to live as a refugee. It covers a range of important themes, such as friendship and family, grief and loss, hope, fear and freedom. It follows a young boy, called Subhi, who lives in a concentration camp in Australia. He is a Rohingya Muslim who has never set foot on the other side of the fence but everything changes when a curious girl called June crawls under the fence. Based on a true story, this book was both educational and thrilling. This is a must read for anybody who is interested in thrillers or religious historical stories with both joy and sadness. I would give this book a solid 4.5 stars and would like to read more like this.

By Maayana C 8S

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is a classic book filled with love, fear and mystery. The heroine, Jane, is plain and poor but has a fiery temper, sharp wit and a kind heart. As a young child, she lived with her cruel aunt after her parents death. She is later sent to the austere Lowood Institution, a charity school, where she and the other girls are mistreated. In early adulthood, after several years of working as a teacher at Lowood, she musters the courage to leave. She finds work as a governess at Thornfield Hall where she meets the dashing Mr Rochester.

The novel follows the simple Jane as she battles through life’s struggles. Many obstacles stood in the way of Jane, including her cruel aunt, the grim conditions at Lowood, her love for Mr Rochester and the separation from him.

Jane Eyre is most certainly a quest for love but also a search for a sense of being valued and of belonging.

Amelia N 7H

The Tempest – Year 7

The enchanting world of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” has come alive in the vibrant storyboards created by our Year 7 students.

“The Tempest,” often considered one of Shakespeare’s most magical works, transports audiences to a remote island where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, uses his sorcery to manipulate the elements and seek justice. Through intricate illustrations and thoughtful narratives, our students have delved into the depths of this captivating tale.

Not only do these storyboards showcase the artistic talents of our students, but they also demonstrate their understanding of the complex themes present in “The Tempest.” Through their interpretations, they explore concepts of power, betrayal, forgiveness and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Congratulations to our Year 7 students on their impressive achievements, and may their journey through the world of Shakespeare continue!

Miss Garlick

Teacher of English & Drama

Introducing Mrs Marsh

Hi! I’m Mrs Marsh and I wanted to take this opportunity to say how excited I am to be part of the English faculty here at Penwortham Girls’ High School.

I have taught in a number of schools in Lancashire and the Midlands over the last 24 years. Teaching English and English Literature really is a passion of mine. I love teaching and feel that it is a privilege to be in such a trusted position to guide and hopefully enthuse and inspire young people.

When not in a classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking or watching trash TV (although I do love a costume drama!) Some of my favourite places to have a wander are the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales.

I love books shops. One of my happy places is on a comfy sofa, curled up with a good book, a brew and a piece of cake. My all time favourite novels are some of the classics, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. Although currently, I love reading books by Maggie O’Farrell.

I love music and going to gigs and festivals. I love the theatre and all that jazz.

I very much look forward to getting to know students and staff a little better over the coming months.

Bedrock Leaderboard

Since September our students have been ‘rocking’ Bedrock. Bedrock is a proven way of making great gains in vocabulary acquisition, improving reading age and mastering grammar. All out KS3 students are expected to achieve 20 points on Bedrock each week. 20 points is the minimum each student should achieve to guarantee progress. However, some of our students are so determined to become masters of English that since September, they have achieved a phenomenal number of points!

Our leaderboard looks like this:

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award