English
The English Faculty aims to provide a stimulating and supportive environment in which students can develop. Our enthusiastic teachers encourage the enjoyment of reading, support literacy across the curriculum and ensure that students study a wide range of novels, plays, poetry, non-fiction and media texts. We work with students in order to improve and hone their skills of effective written and spoken expression and we aim to help them develop as independent learners.
Teaching rooms in the Faculty are well resourced and we also have a Media Studio and recording suites with recording and editing facilities. In addition, students enjoy regular access to the Library and ICT areas.
The Faculty also offers and supports a range of extra-curricular activities such as the Debating Club, Creative Writing Club, Carnegie Shadowing, Friday Film Club, World Book Day, Literacy Tips and Word for Life.
Teaching rooms in the Faculty are well resourced and we also have a Media Studio and recording suites with recording and editing facilities. In addition, students enjoy regular access to the Library and ICT areas.
The Faculty also offers and supports a range of extra-curricular activities such as the Debating Club, Creative Writing Club, Carnegie Shadowing, Friday Film Club, World Book Day, Literacy Tips and Word for Life.
KS3 Curriculum Content
In Key Stage 3, students are organised into fine set ability groupings, with additional small Special Needs groups. Students will experience a range of activities focused and centred on the three main skills of Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening. Active participation at all times is encouraged with both individual tasks and group work incorporated into the various topics. The topics are chosen to reflect both current Government guidelines and also to prepare students for their GCSE course of study.
YEAR 7
On entry to year 7, students will complete a reading blutz and teachers will use Lexia to help fill in any gaps in reading and language comprehension.
Skill |
Topics |
Reading |
Poetry, a Shakespeare play, a novel |
Writing |
Writing for a variety of purposes with particular focus on grammar and writing |
Speaking and Listening |
Use of presentations and oral skills to support learning and preparation for speaking and listening at GCSE. |
YEAR 8
At the beginning of year 8, students will be tested by Lexia to help fill in any gaps in reading and language comprehension. The year 8 schemes of work will be a step up from year 7, with more focus on GCSE skills and expectations.
Skill |
Topics |
Reading |
Poetry, a Shakespeare play, a novel |
Writing |
Writing for a variety of purposes with particular focus on grammar for writing |
Speaking and Listening |
Use of preparations and oral skills to support learning and preparation for speaking and listening at GCSE. |
YEAR 9
Year 9 will mark the start of a three year GCSE.
Skill |
Topics |
Reading |
Preparation for GCSE language papers with analysis of language and structure in unseen texts, literature textx |
Writing |
Writing for a variety of purposes (fiction and non-fiction) with continued focus on grammar for writing. |
Speaking and Listening |
Presentation skills. |
KS4 Curriculum Content
At KS4 English fine setting is used due to the increased rigour of the new GCSE examinations. This allows for finer differentiation and more purposeful support for students.
At GCSE, 100% of the marks are secured in the end of year exams: these exams consist of two Language and two Literature papers.
English Language GCSE consists of a non-fiction paper exploring texts from two of three eras of writing: the 19th/20th and 21st centuries. The second paper is a fiction paper on the remaining era.
Students are asked to read the texts and work through a set of tiered questions. The first questions require students to summarise ideas, explore language and then go on to evaluate the perspectives and viewpoints. The paper concludes with writing a thematically linked non-fiction text or narrative piece - dependent upon the paper.
The English Literature papers are closed book which means the texts will not be allowed in the exams to support the students. This means revision and careful preparation from the earliest possible point are key to success.
In addition, the first exam for Literature will focus on a Shakespeare text and a 19th century novel and will be 1 hour and 45 minutes. The second paper will be on a modern text and poetry and pupils will be assessed over 2 hours and 15 minutes. The chosen texts will be Shakespeare's ‘Macbeth’; ‘An Inspector Calls’ for the modern text , and, 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' for the 19th century novel.
There will be a range of opportunities provided for revision. Support will be given to students who struggle, and stretch and challenge to those more able. It is important however, for all pupils to prepare prior to their examinations.
Additionally, within the faculty, we offer Media Studies GCSE.
At GCSE, 100% of the marks are secured in the end of year exams: these exams consist of two Language and two Literature papers.
English Language GCSE consists of a non-fiction paper exploring texts from two of three eras of writing: the 19th/20th and 21st centuries. The second paper is a fiction paper on the remaining era.
Students are asked to read the texts and work through a set of tiered questions. The first questions require students to summarise ideas, explore language and then go on to evaluate the perspectives and viewpoints. The paper concludes with writing a thematically linked non-fiction text or narrative piece - dependent upon the paper.
The English Literature papers are closed book which means the texts will not be allowed in the exams to support the students. This means revision and careful preparation from the earliest possible point are key to success.
In addition, the first exam for Literature will focus on a Shakespeare text and a 19th century novel and will be 1 hour and 45 minutes. The second paper will be on a modern text and poetry and pupils will be assessed over 2 hours and 15 minutes. The chosen texts will be Shakespeare's ‘Macbeth’; ‘An Inspector Calls’ for the modern text , and, 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' for the 19th century novel.
There will be a range of opportunities provided for revision. Support will be given to students who struggle, and stretch and challenge to those more able. It is important however, for all pupils to prepare prior to their examinations.
Additionally, within the faculty, we offer Media Studies GCSE.
KS5 Curriculum Content
As a Faculty, we currently offer 3 options of Post-16 study: English Language, English Literature and Media Studies.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Year |
Coursework |
Examination |
12 |
There is no coursework in year 12 |
|
13 |
Independent Language Research An investigation into an aspect of language that interests the student, involving independent study and research, culminating in an academic report and a poster (20%) |
A Level – two examinations Exploring language (01) Language under the microscope
Child language acquisition
|
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Year |
Coursework |
Examination |
12 and 13 |
One 2500-3500 word assignment based on the reading of two prose texts from different periods, one pre-2000 and one post-2000. For the purpose of this internal assessment, Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ will be studied. |
Component 1: Poetry Open book. Section A – Keats Section B – Comparison of poetry of Duffy and Larkin Component 2: Drama Closed book. Section A – Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ Section B – Comparison of Marlowe’s ‘Doctor Faustus’ and Prebble’s ‘Enron’ Component 3: Unseen Section A – Unseen prose Section B – Unseen poetry |
