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Year 10 - English

The significance of Windrush to Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'

Leave Taking: a sense of belonging

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils start their exploration of Winsome Pinnock's play, 'Leave Taking'. They first learn about the play's context of 1980s Britain and the Windrush generation before then reading and exploring the full play. They finally explore themes and characters before working on essay writing.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the importance of the Windrush generation in relation to Scene Two of 'Leave Taking'.

Key Notes

  • The Windrush Generation are those who arrived from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1973
  • The Windrush Generation took up jobs in sectors affected by the post World War Two labour shortage
  • At the time, the Caribbean was part of the British Commonwealth so its citizens had the right to live and work in the UK
  • In 2017, it was uncovered that many Windrush citizens were facing deportation under a discriminatory immigration system
  • 'Leave Taking' was written before the Windrush scandal but remains topical, especially through the character of Brod

Vocabulary To Learn

  • colonisation: When a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain.
  • the Commonwealth: Established 1926 as the British Empire declined, this is an international association of 56 independent countries many of which used to be British colonies.
  • migrate: When you relocate from one country to another.
  • indoctrinate: When you make people believe something. A less formal synonym is to brainwash.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Windrush generation were illegal migrants.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The Windrush Generation are those who arrived from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1973. The Windrush Generation took up jobs in sectors affected by the post World War Two labour shortage.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'colonisation'

When a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The Windrush generation were illegal migrants. Correction: Those coming from the British Commonwealth were considered citizens.

More Lessons In This Unit

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