1. This is the first poem this pupil has learned at Michaela. Notice the use of multiple quotations, along with contextual comments. The high level of vocabulary (‘archaic’, ‘benevolent’) is particularly impressive, as are the connections the pupil makes between the language and the ideas. Year 7 pupils of all abilities are studying the most challenging poetry: here is a paragraph about William Blake’s ‘The Tyger.’

2. Year 8 pupils of all abilities study Shakespeare’s Macbeth after they finish Romeo and Juliet. Notice the pupil’s advanced vocabulary: ‘dynasty,’ ‘culpable’ and ‘eponymous’ are accurately used. She weighs up who is culpable, drawing on in-depth knowledge of character and plot. Her quotations are fully integrated and considered in appropriate depth for this conclusion. She has linked to Julius Caesar, a play studied in year 7, revealing her retention of this text. Notice how she analyses the Jacobean audience’s perspective insightfully, and improves her paragraph using a green pen to add additional context.

3. Year 7 pupils of all abilities study Roman Rhetoric. Here is an example paragraph on Caesar’s speech from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, which they learn by heart. Notice the pupil’s precise reference to the context of the speech. Along with knowledge of techniques like ‘repetition,’ the pupil also explores more complex techniques, of GCSE and A-level standard, in using terms such as ‘juxtaposes’ and ‘polysyllabic.’ They have extensively improved their paragraph after whole-class feedback using their green pen.