English

Year 8 English introduces post-primary literary study. Pupils read a full novel, meet Shakespeare, and work with poetry and non-fiction, learning to analyse how writers use language and structure to create an effect.

Writing moves toward the strands that carry through to GCSE: creative writing with a controlled narrative voice, and functional or transactional writing — articles, letters, reports and speeches — shaped for a stated audience and purpose.

Talking and listening remains a distinct assessed strand of the Northern Ireland Curriculum, so structured discussion, presentation and active listening are taught rather than assumed.