English

English at Newtownhamilton High School

English: The Power to Think, Speak, and Create

To study English is to discover your voice, expand your mind, and prepare for life beyond the classroom. At KS3 and GCSE level, English empowers pupils to think critically, communicate confidently, and engage creatively with the world around them.

At the heart of our curriculum lie three essential pillars: reading, writing, and oral communication. Through these, pupils explore diverse texts, express original ideas, and develop the skills needed for academic success and personal growth.

“In every poem, every novel, every debate—we discover who we are and who we might become.”

-Anonymous

Our English Department is committed to nurturing every learner. We offer a rich, challenging, and inclusive programme of study designed to unlock each pupil’s potential. Whether analysing Shakespeare, crafting persuasive arguments, or presenting ideas aloud, students are supported to become articulate, thoughtful, and empowered individuals.

Key Stage 3

Pupils at Key Stage 3 follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum, which encourages the development of a wide range of essential skills including communication, creative thinking, and collaboration. Our units of work provide pupils with meaningful opportunities to explore a variety of literary genres, write in diverse forms, strengthen their spelling and grammar, engage in debate, and participate in role-play.

KS3 Units of Work:

Year 8	Year 9	Year 10
Personal Writing	Reading Film	Pre 20th Century & Modern Narrative Texts
Novel	Creative Writing	Conflict Poetry
Cloud Busting	Novel	Novel
Non-Fiction Texts	Romeo & Juliet	Personal & Creative Writing
Macbeth	Speeches	Persuasive Texts
	Seamus Heaney Poetry

In Years 11 and 12 all pupils study CCEA GCSE English Language. GCSE English Literature is also available as an option choice.

CCEA GCSE English Language

🎯 Core Aims of the Specification:

Develop functional English skills: Pupils learn to write clearly and effectively for different purposes and audiences, and to read with understanding and insight.

Enhance speaking and listening: Through structured activities, students build confidence in expressing ideas, listening actively, and engaging in discussion.

Explore language use: The course encourages analysis of how language varies across contexts, media, and cultures, fostering awareness of identity and diversity.

Promote creativity and personal expression: Pupils are given opportunities to write creatively and reflectively, developing their own voice and style.

Prepare for further study and employment: The specification supports progression by building transferable skills in literacy, analysis, and communication.

Examination Entries

This is a unitised specification with four assessed units. This examination is untiered. The possibility of entering modules is available to pupils in November and May of each academic year. The class teacher will decide when pupils are ready to sit each paper. Repeats are available to sit if necessary.

Externally Assessed Components

Unit 1: 1 hour 45 minutes examination [30%]

Writing for Purpose and Audience and Reading to Access Non-Fiction and Media Texts.

Unit 4: 1 hour 45 minutes examination [30%]

Personal or Creative Writing and Reading Literary and Non-Fiction Texts.

Controlled Assessment

Unit 2: Speaking and Listening [20%] 3 tasks:

Individual presentation / Group interaction / Role play

Unit 3: Studying Spoken & Written Language [20%] 2 tasks:

The Study of Spoken Language and The Study of Written Language

CCEA GCSE English Literature

🎯 Core Aims of the Specification:

Critical reading skills: Pupils learn to read prose, drama, and poetry with insight, questioning the writer’s choices and interpreting meaning.

Analytical thinking: They explore how language, structure, and form affect the reader, and how texts connect across themes and contexts.

Cultural and historical awareness: Through studying texts from different times and places, pupils gain perspective on diverse viewpoints and experiences.

Personal response: The course encourages students to form and express their own interpretations, supported by evidence.

Enjoyment and lifelong appreciation: It aims to foster a love of literature that lasts beyond the classroom.

Examination Entries

This is an untiered unitised specification with three assessed units. It is a modular examination: Yr 11 pupils sit Unit 1 in the Summer series of each academic year and Unit 2 in the Summer series of Year 12.

Externally Assessed Components

Unit 1: The Study of Prose: 30%

1 hour 45 minutes examination

Section A: Novel Of Mice and Men (closed book)

Section B: Unseen 19th Century Prose extract.

Unit 2: The Study of Drama and Poetry: 50%

2 hour examination

Section A: The Study of Drama Blood Brothers (open book)

Section B: The Study of Poetry – response to CCEA Conflict anthology (open book)

Unit 3: Controlled Assessment: 20%

The Study of Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet

2 hour Controlled Assessment task

Pupils will complete one extended writing task based on a theme provided by CCEA.

🌟 Exceptional GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature Results

We’re incredibly proud of our pupils’ achievements in GCSE English Language, where every pupil takes part and consistently rises to the challenge. Over the past three years (2023–2025), our average A*-C pass rate stands at an impressive 89%, with a significant number of pupils securing top grades in the A*–B range.

In GCSE English Literature, our results are nothing short of outstanding. With a three-year average pass rate of 100% at A*-C, our pupils have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence. Indeed, a high proportion have achieved grades in the A*–B range.

✨ English Experiences

🎭 Live Literature in Action

The department takes learning beyond the page with unforgettable theatre trips that spark imagination and deepen understanding. Whether it’s the emotional power of Blood Brothers, or the timeless drama of Romeo and Juliet, pupils experience the thrill of live performance while connecting it to their exam texts. Past visits to the Grand Opera House in Belfast have left lasting impressions—and lively classroom discussions.

📖 Celebrating Literacy

We’re passionate about promoting a love of literature. From Roald Dahl Day to World Book Day, we celebrate the magic of storytelling in all its forms with thematic library displays. In the past pupils have also taken part in workshops led by organisations such as Into Film and Fighting Words NI and experienced the joy of seeing their work printed in a published anthology! One of our most unforgettable literary events was a visit from Dan Freedman, the acclaimed author and creator of the Jamie Johnson TV series.

📚 Welcome to Our Library: Where Stories Spark Success

Step into a space where imagination takes flight and reading becomes an adventure! Our Library isn’t just a room full of books—it’s a dynamic hub of discovery, creativity, and achievement, woven into the very fabric of our English curriculum.

🕰️ Weekly Library Time Every Key Stage 3 class enjoys a dedicated library period each week, giving pupils the chance to explore new genres, dive into gripping stories, and develop a lifelong love of reading. And because we believe that a good book should always be within reach, pupils are encouraged to carry one in their bag—ready to read whenever the moment strikes.

📖 Wednesday = Literacy Magic Wednesday mornings are transformed into Literacy Mornings, where all KS3 pupils begin their day immersed in the pages of a book during Form-time. It’s a quiet, powerful way to start the day—with minds engaged and imaginations ignited.

🎯 Accelerated Reader: Read, Quiz, Win! Our Library runs the exciting Accelerated Reader (AR) program, which turns reading into a game of skill and strategy. Every book is assigned a Reading Level and point value, and pupils earn points by passing fun quizzes. Each year the top scorers in each class are awarded Reading Shields, with the overall top points scorer taking home the prestigious Accelerated Reader Cup. It’s reading with a competitive twist—and pupils love it!

⏱️ 20 Minutes to Greatness Reading isn’t just encouraged—it’s celebrated. Pupils commit to 20 minutes of reading, five days a week, as part of their homework. This simple habit builds confidence, boosts comprehension, and helps every pupil hit their personal goals. And yes—there are rewards! We love recognising effort and progress with prizes and praise.

Our Library is more than shelves and silence—it’s a place where pupils grow, achieve, and fall in love with the power of words.

🌟 English: A Pathway to Possibility

Studying English isn’t just about analysing poems or writing essays—it’s about unlocking a world of opportunity. The skills developed through English—critical thinking, articulate communication, creativity, and empathy—are the very qualities that employers and universities value most.

From classrooms to boardrooms, studios to stages, English has shaped the journeys of countless successful individuals. Did you know that:

• 🎬 Emma Watson, star of Harry Potter, earned a degree in English Literature from Brown University while balancing a global acting career.

• 🎥 Steven Spielberg, legendary filmmaker behind Jurassic Park and E.T., studied English before redefining cinematic storytelling.

• 🎤 Sting, iconic musician and lyricist, was once an English teacher before his rise to fame.

• 📚 Stephen King, master of horror fiction, turned his English degree into a literary empire.

And it’s not just celebrities—English graduates thrive in lots of the careers listed below:

Career Possibilities

Actor/Actress	Events manager	Public Relations Officer
Author	Freelance writer	Sales Marketer/Advertiser
Bookseller	Journalist	Teacher
Copywriter	Librarian	TV/Radio Presenter
Editor	Press Officer	Web Writer