On Wednesday 11th of October, our Year 9 students enjoyed a visit from published author, Jennifer Lane.

Her latest novel, The Black Air, is set in Lancashire and was inspired by the tales of the Pendle witches. The novel explores dark mysteries, supernatural forces and the power of female friendship.

A panel of three Year 9 students interviewed Jennifer Lane in the hall as part of the visit. Jemima A, Pixie H and Erin G did an absolutely fantastic job of posing the question to the author.

The whole year group engaged brilliantly in the talk, which culminated in a question and answer session. The English department was so impressed by the quality of the thoughtful questions that were posed to the author.

This mysterious and spellbinding novel sounds like the perfect read for those looking for a spooky autumnal novel

Thank you to Jennifer Lane and the team at UCLAN publishing for coming to speak to our students. 

Miss Starkie

English Department

As part of the school’s ongoing commitment to literacy, we use a digital literacy improvement platform called Bedrock Learning. We will be using this as part of our curriculum to teach students the language skills they need to succeed at school and beyond – with specific focusses on vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing.

As your child progresses through the curriculum they will study hundreds of words, whilst reading fiction and non-fiction texts regularly.

As their parent/carer, you can follow their progress by viewing their Knowledge Organiser within the Bedrock platform. You can also receive weekly progress reports on your child’s progress via email when you create your Bedrock parent account. You will receive a letter detailing how to set up your parent account.

You can find out more information about Bedrock Learning at www.bedrocklearning.org. You can also find additional help for parents at help.bedrocklearning.org 

Mrs Snowdon

Curriculum Leader for English

Please download using the link below to the Parents’ Guide to using Bedrock

Bedrock – A Parents’ Guide

This term, our Year 7 students have been exploring the topic of ‘Journeys and Adventures’. As part of this unit, they have studied a poem called ‘Things We Carry on the Sea’ by the poet Wang Ping.

This poem aims to give a voice to refugees across the world and it explores the different things that they carry with them on their journey: both physical and metaphorical.

We challenged our Year 7 students to produce their own poems inspired by Wang Ping’s work. As a department, we have been so impressed with the levels of compassion and consideration that our students have put into their poems.

Here are some examples of the work produced:

 

We carry tears in our eyes.

We carry the happy memories and the sad memories of home.

We carry emotions from one island to the other.

We carry home in our hearts and hope in our minds.

As we squint our eyes, looking for light… instead we only see jet back darkness.

We carry the memory of the new year.

We carry the words of our parents saying, “goodnight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

I carry my favourite necklace filled with hope that I need.

We carry the smell of our mother’s cooking, how it was warm and freshly prepared.

They say life is an obstacle, except my life is on fire.

We carry the one question that floats around in our heads, “what will I do when I get there?”

As I think to myself, “I’m just a kid, I have no skills.”

We carry the scars of from the present and the past.

We carry the fun memories of our best friends.

Zahra W (GST)

 

We carry the best times we shared with those we love.

We carry small tokens to remind us of those times we will miss dearly.

We carry experiences, teaching, tales, memories.

We carry love, hope, peace, forgiveness, joy, trust,

faith that we shall both give and receive.

We carry knowledge of all we have learnt.

We carry photos, keyrings, cards, notes, toys… all things special.

We carry past, present, future.

We carry holidays, hotels, pools, caravans, abroad, some shared with friends.

We carry winter nights snuggled in blankets, warm drinks and soft, furry, cuddly, loving pets.

We carry those times of sadness that we got through with family, friends.

We carry outings with our families that we appreciate now more than ever.

Martha S (GST)

 

I carry in my backpack: my teddy owl and my teddy rabbit. They warm me up inside with joy.

I carry the memory of when I got them with my family by my side.

I carry in my backpack: my favourite necklace to remind me of my Grandma.

I carry the smell of my coffee, the sweet smell of coffee.

I carry in my backpack: a picture of my family and friends for the memory of when I was with them.

I carry the taste of Dr Pepper as my grandma bought it for me.

I carry in my backpack: my pencil case and my sketchbook to draw my favourite things.

I carry the sound of my Grandma telling me to swim faster… faster… faster.

As I journey I see hope, I see joy far from

the sadness I’m leaving behind.

Phillipa R (KMC)

 

I carry in my backpack: a photo to remember my family.

I carry the memory of: my brothers being silly, it makes me laugh.

I carry in my backpack: a pair of earrings from my friend and they have flowers inside them.

I carry the smell of: lamb dhansak; it reminds me of me and mum time.

I carry in my backpack: a toothbrush and toothpaste.

I carry the taste of: hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night.

I carry in my backpack: a teddy that smells like lavender, making me calm.

I carry the sound of orchestra ringing in my hears.

As I journey… from home to Cyprus.

Izzy S (KMC) 

An enthusiastic group of Year 9 students have embarked upon an interactive reading experience through the National Teen Book Club, hosted by Ms Casement. In their weekly meeting, students discuss their thoughts and feelings about the newly published novel, If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude. As well as sharing their ideas with each other, they also have the opportunity to engage with other students reading the book, from all over the country. 

As part of the programme, the students recently had an online Q&A with Human Rights Barrister, Adam Wagner. He was such an interesting and inspiring man. We were all keen to pursue his top ten book recommendations. 

In the final week of this term’s meetings, the students will be able to interview the author of the book we are reading, Jen St. Jude. This is an incredible opportunity for the keen readers and aspiring writers to speak to a published author of teenage fiction.

Ms Casement

English Department