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How to Help Your Child with Year 8 English

  • Jun 8
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jun 20


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Year 8 is one of those slightly odd years in secondary school. The initial excitement (or anxiety) of Year 7 is over but students aren't quite at the intense stage of GCSE preparation yet.


As a parent, you might be wondering what your role looks like now.


Your child probably seems more independent but they still need guidance.


This is especially true with English, where progress can be a bit harder to measure than in other subjects.


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Smiling student in uniform at desk with pen, surrounded by study guides. Text: "Free Guide to Year 8 English." Website: englishhomestudies.com.

Grab Your FREE Guide to Year 8 English when you join the English Home Studies Community!


Packed with practical tips to help your child build confidence and prepare for KS3 success.



What Does Year 8 English Involve?


Usually, Year 8 builds on everything your child learned in Year 7, but it gently nudges the bar a little higher. They'll still be reading lots, but the texts become a bit more challenging. So, instead of sticking to simpler stories, they'll tackle modern novels with deeper themes, extracts from classic literature by Dickens or Shakespeare, poetry that feels more complex and various forms of non-fiction writing.


Teachers will ask students to dig deeper into language, structure and the author's intentions. They'll start to consider how writers build mood, create tone and convey meaning: things they probably touched on in Year 7, but in more depth.


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Writing tasks will stretch your child a bit more too. They'll work on creative writing, perhaps stories or vivid descriptions, as well as some non-fiction, persuasive tasks like speeches or letters.


These tasks encourage them to use richer vocabulary, vary their sentence structures, learn to develop clear arguments and back up their points with evidence and examples.


In terms of speaking and listening, you can expect more group discussions, debates and maybe a presentation or two in front of classmates. The idea isn't to deliver perfect, polished speeches but to become more confident when speaking in front of an audience.


How Can You Help Your Child With Year 8 English?


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  • Encourage Wider Reading


You don't have to get them reading entire classic novels (unless that's genuinely their thing) but helping them explore different genres, such as graphic novels, autobiographies or magazines would help.


Switching genres regularly can help them build vocabulary and understanding without them really noticing they're doing anything particularly "academic."


By Year 8, students are reading more challenging texts, which can be a bit of a jump for some. Audiobooks can be a really helpful way to support them, especially if they're not confident readers yet or struggle to stay focused with longer material.


You might suggest they listen to the audiobook version of their novel or play while following along in the physical book as it's a great way to build fluency and get a clearer sense of tone and meaning.


There are lots of affordable options: many libraries offer free audiobook access through apps like BorrowBox or Libby and services like Audible often run free trials.


Watching a film or TV adaptation of the text they’re reading in class can also help with comprehension and make tricky plots feel a little more approachable.


  • Talk About Their Reading


    It doesn't need to be a detailed interrogation - that wouldn't go down well. Just chatting for a few minutes about what they're reading is honestly enough. Ask what they enjoyed, found surprising or disliked.

    Showing genuine curiosity (even if you secretly find the book baffling or not very interesting) can encourage them to think more deeply about texts.


  • Support Their Writing


    Encourage them to write for enjoyment or everyday purposes. Blogs, journals, emails to friends or family and short stories can boost their skills naturally. Encourage them gently to edit and revise their work: not just looking at spelling and punctuation but also to see if they can make their sentences clearer or more engaging. It doesn't have to take long - just a few small tweaks can make a big difference.


  • Revise Grammar and Punctuation Gently


    Grammar doesn't need to mean endless worksheets or drills. Instead, take advantage of everyday moments. Did you spot a funny typo on a cereal box? A shop sign missing an apostrophe? Point it out, have a quick chat about it and move on. Little spelling games or proofreading a quick piece of homework together can be surprisingly helpful and much less overwhelming.


  • Encourage Speaking Skills


    Chat regularly and encourage them to express their opinions. Even silly debates about pizza toppings (pineapple can be very controversial!) or discussions about current TV shows can build their speaking confidence. They don't need perfectly constructed speeches; it's simply about practising explaining and supporting their ideas.


  • Praise the Process, Not Just the Results


    Progress in English can be subtle and slow, so try not to obsess over marks or grades alone. Celebrate a good argument, an interesting sentence or clever word choices: even if spelling isn't perfect. Praising your child's effort and creativity goes a long way.


A Final Thought


Ultimately, Year 8 English is about gently stretching skills, building fluency and fostering curiosity and independence. Your child might sometimes struggle with a few aspects of English and that's normal.


If you notice they're consistently struggling, don't hesitate to reach out to the school. Teachers are there to help your child with Year 8 English as well as other subjects or social issues and catching difficulties early usually means simple fixes rather than big interventions.


With a bit of patience and gentle encouragement, Year 8 can genuinely become a year of growth, independence and confidence in English. Good luck!


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About the Author


I’m a private tutor, a former secondary school English Teacher and the founder of English Home Studies. In addition to offering 1:1 tuition sessions for students from 9 - 16 years old (Year 5 - Year 11), I create digital and printable revision guides and activity packs.


I often post advice and links to free and affordable English resources on the English Home Studies Facebook and Instagram pages but, if you have a child in KS3 or KS4, you might like to join one of my Facebook groups:



If you would like to find out more about my qualifications and experience or read some of the lovely reviews I've received from previous clients, please have a look around my website and, if you have any questions, please send me a message. Many thanks.


 

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