English

Head of Department: Ms Duizend

Key Stage 3 English

What you will study:

In each year of study, students will undertake six units introducing them to a range of topics such as: Shakespeare, poetry, prose, and creative and non-fiction writing. Across the key stage, students will develop many of the core skills required for success at GCSE.

Course Content:

• Poetry
• Non-Fiction
• The Novel
• Shakespeare
• Creative Writing
• Speaking and listening (oracy)
• Literary genres
• Transactional writing

Assessment:

Students are assessed by one teacher-marked reading, writing or speaking and listening focused assessment and one self-assessed per half term. They will receive individual focused targets to ensure skills are proficiently developed to prepare them for GCSEs.

Extension Opportunities:

Pupils can nurture their love of both fiction and non-fiction books in our comfortable and highly popular Reading Room. They are also welcome to join the KS3 Book Club which meets weekly. Other clubs include:

• Debate Club
• Creative Writing Club

Key Stage 4 English

Year 10 – What you will study this year:

Pupils study English Language and English Literature concurrently. The courses were designed to be co-teachable; they encourage the skills required for the language papers to be developed through the study of the literature texts. Pupils will be exposed to a range of challenging prose, poetry and drama texts. They will develop their communication, analytical and inference skills, as well as their confidence as independent learners.

Topic list English Language:

• Reading comprehension of unseen fiction and non-fiction texts
• Writing skills (creative and transactional)
• Non-examination assessment – Spoken Language

Topic list English Literature:

• Shakespeare play (Macbeth)
• 19th century prose (A Christmas Carol)
• Modern text (An Inspector Calls)
• Anthology of Poetry (Power and Conflict)
• Unseen Poetry

Exam board:

AQA GCSE English Language 8700 and AQA GCSE English Literature 8702

Assessment:

Each GCSE is assessed through two terminal examinations and will be awarded a grade between 1-9.

Extension Opportunities:

Pupils can nurture their love of both fiction and non-fiction books in our comfortable and highly popular Reading Room. Other clubs and competitions include:

• Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge
• Creative Writing Club
• Debate Club

Key Stage 5 English

English Literature A Level OCR H472:

This course comprises of two components and is assessed by two terminal examinations. Students will study: one set Shakespeare text, a collection of poetry and two America drama and prose texts from the period 1880-1940. They will also be expected to complete regular and extensive wider reading into this period of study, as directed by their course reading list.

Students will be exposed to international texts, away from the literary canon, to foster their critical skills and love of literature.
At A Level, students will sit two external exams. In addition to this, they will complete two non-exam assessed coursework tasks independently, which will account for 20% of their final A Level grade.

English Language and Literature EMC A Level OCR H474:

This course allows students to continue their concurrent studies of English Language and Literature to an advanced level. Students will study one collection of fifteen poems from poets such as Seamus Heaney and William Blake.

They will also study a collection of non-fiction extracts from a range of forms and contexts, as well as a play and a modern text. In addition to their literary studies, students will develop their own writing skills; they will produce creative tasks with supporting reflective commentaries, exploring their own intentions and methodology. Students will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of language, linguistics and literature at an advanced level.

This course is assessed through a coursework unit (20%) and three terminal examinations (80%).

Extra-curricular activities:

• Theatre trips
• Literary exhibitions and study days
• Young Reporter Scheme
  
  

Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations by key stage: