English Overview:
English develops students’ skills in a variety of other subject areas. In lessons we aim to develop students’ understanding of the necessary skills needed for effective communication through reading, writing and speaking and listening. In the development of these skills, we endeavour to introduce a wide range of texts, from the literature of Shakespeare to more modern texts from local authors such as Benjamin Zephaniah, as well as looking at media adverts and films.
The teaching of English should:
KS3 Schemes of Work:
The English Key Stage 3 National Curriculum has recently undergone some changes allowing schools a greater flexibility to tailor learning to the needs of their students. All schemes of work covered are designed with the GCSE curriculum in mind. Assessment for Learning is embedded in all of the schemes of work, as well as opportunities for peer and self-assessment.
Across the Key Stage, students are introduced to a diverse range of texts, poetry, media and Speaking and Listening opportunities. Students will learn how to improve their reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills, develop observational skills and the ability to analyse their own work and that of their peers, as well as opportunities for independent learning.
Some of the Schemes of Learning include: poetry, Shakespeare, creative writing, superheroes, gothic fiction/ghost stories, media, fiction novels, detective stories, to name a few. Throughout each scheme of learning, pupils are assessed in three areas: reading, writing and speaking and listening. Each assessment is assessed according to the assessment foci for each area.
GCSE Course(s) Overview:
At Key Stage 4 students begin their study of GCSE English. All students undertake study for both the GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature qualifications.
Year 9 is a transition year from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. Pupils focus on specific GCSE skills, for example: forms of writing, Shakespeare, Speaking and Listening, Poetry, modern texts and analysing films.
In Year 10 students follow the programme of study for English Language. Throughout this course, students develop close reading skills of fiction and non-fiction, as well as their writing skills of fiction and non-fiction. Students take the English Examination in the summer of year 10.
The English Language exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Section A is 1 hour and 15 minutes and is reading and responding to non fiction and media texts. Section B consists of 2 writing tasks, one short writing task, which is 25 minutes and one long writing task, which is 35 minutes.
Controlled Assessments are a major part of the English Language specification. Pupils have 4 controlled assessments in English Language, as well as three Speaking and Listening Tasks they must complete. Tasks include: 1 individual task, 1 paired task and 1 group task.
English Literature is studied in year 11. Pupils read Of Mice and Men, An Inspector Calls and Romeo and Juliet. As well as these texts, pupils will study a variety of poetry. The exam is broken up in two parts: 1) Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls and 2) 1 Comparative essay on Literature poems, as well as 1 question on an unseen poem, where pupils need to use their analytical skills when responding to the question.
English develops students’ skills in a variety of other subject areas. In lessons we aim to develop students’ understanding of the necessary skills needed for effective communication through reading, writing and speaking and listening. In the development of these skills, we endeavour to introduce a wide range of texts, from the literature of Shakespeare to more modern texts from local authors such as Benjamin Zephaniah, as well as looking at media adverts and films.
The teaching of English should:
- Be positive, enjoyable, engaging and accessible to all
- Provide opportunities to develop independent learning
- Encourage an enquiring mind
- Encourage students to take a pride in their studies
- To listen to and evaluate other people’s views
- Allow for pupils to reflect on their learning
KS3 Schemes of Work:
The English Key Stage 3 National Curriculum has recently undergone some changes allowing schools a greater flexibility to tailor learning to the needs of their students. All schemes of work covered are designed with the GCSE curriculum in mind. Assessment for Learning is embedded in all of the schemes of work, as well as opportunities for peer and self-assessment.
Across the Key Stage, students are introduced to a diverse range of texts, poetry, media and Speaking and Listening opportunities. Students will learn how to improve their reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills, develop observational skills and the ability to analyse their own work and that of their peers, as well as opportunities for independent learning.
Some of the Schemes of Learning include: poetry, Shakespeare, creative writing, superheroes, gothic fiction/ghost stories, media, fiction novels, detective stories, to name a few. Throughout each scheme of learning, pupils are assessed in three areas: reading, writing and speaking and listening. Each assessment is assessed according to the assessment foci for each area.
GCSE Course(s) Overview:
At Key Stage 4 students begin their study of GCSE English. All students undertake study for both the GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature qualifications.
Year 9 is a transition year from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. Pupils focus on specific GCSE skills, for example: forms of writing, Shakespeare, Speaking and Listening, Poetry, modern texts and analysing films.
In Year 10 students follow the programme of study for English Language. Throughout this course, students develop close reading skills of fiction and non-fiction, as well as their writing skills of fiction and non-fiction. Students take the English Examination in the summer of year 10.
The English Language exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Section A is 1 hour and 15 minutes and is reading and responding to non fiction and media texts. Section B consists of 2 writing tasks, one short writing task, which is 25 minutes and one long writing task, which is 35 minutes.
Controlled Assessments are a major part of the English Language specification. Pupils have 4 controlled assessments in English Language, as well as three Speaking and Listening Tasks they must complete. Tasks include: 1 individual task, 1 paired task and 1 group task.
English Literature is studied in year 11. Pupils read Of Mice and Men, An Inspector Calls and Romeo and Juliet. As well as these texts, pupils will study a variety of poetry. The exam is broken up in two parts: 1) Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls and 2) 1 Comparative essay on Literature poems, as well as 1 question on an unseen poem, where pupils need to use their analytical skills when responding to the question.
