English

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 students are given the opportunity to engage with a range of different novels, plays, poems and non-fiction texts from a range of time periods and from other cultures ; all of which aims to broaden and challenge their reading, understanding and responses to texts. Students have the opportunity to write for different purposes and audiences. As well as this, they are encouraged to speak fluently, appropriately and confidently in a range of situations. Sparx Reader is used at Key Stage 3, as homework, to improve students’ reading fluency and understanding of texts, appropriate to their age and reading ability.

Year 7

Four lessons a week.

Year 8

Three lessons a week.

Year 9

Four lessons a week.

Please see overview for more information.

Key Stage 4

All Year 10 and 11 students follow AQA GCSE English Language and Literature Specifications. These can be downloaded, using the links below:-

GCSE/English-language-8700

GCSE/English-literature-8702

Students have four hours of English each week. The courses are 100% examination and assess the students’ abilities to read, understand and interpret a range of fiction and non-fiction texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Novels and plays they will study include ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘An Inspector Calls’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. In addition students will study a Shakespeare play and a selection of seen and unseen poetry.

As well as this the courses in Language and Literature assess the students’ abilities to write for a range of purposes – writing to describe, narrative writing and expressing a viewpoint .

All exams will be completed at the end of Year 11. Details are below:-

• English Language Paper 1 1 hour 45 minutes
• English Language Paper 2 1 hour 45 minutes
• English Literature paper 1 1 hour 45 minutes
• English Literature Paper 2 2 hours 15 minutes

Whilst the courses are 100% examination, during Year 10 and 11, formative assessments will be completed to inform both teachers and students of current expected outcomes and levels of progress. Mock exams will be completed in Year 10 and 11.

Sparx Reader will continue to be used at Key Stage 4.

Department Staff