English
The English Department is a passionate and talented team of teachers who are dedicated to ensuring that students enjoy and achieve to the best of their ability. We aim to equip our students with the skills and attitudes that will enrich their understanding and experience of the subject, whilst preparing them for their final Year 11 examinations.
We offer a rich and varied curriculum, designed to result in curious and creative individuals who share our passion for the subject and perform effectively in their exams.
Gold Standard Teaching and Learning
We expect that in English this would include:-
- clear learning aims and a clear route to achieving success
- high demands of pupil involvement and engagement with their learning
- an appropriate use of a range of pedagogies and learning strategies
- learning through oracy with regular opportunities for pupils to talk both individually and in groups
- an expectation that pupils will accept responsibility for their own learning and work independently
- regular use of encouragement and rewards to engage and motivate pupils
- topics, texts and activities that aim to engender a love of the subject
- the opportunity to connections between English study and the real world
Key Stage 3 Overview
Year 7
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn 1 | Theme: Extra Ordinary People and Events
Key Focus: Non-fiction reading and writing |
Autumn 2 | Theme: Extra ordinary People and Events
Key Focus: Novel (Chosen according to ability level) |
Spring 1 | Theme: The power of the Imagination
Key focus: Creative writing (Gothic Writing) |
Spring 2 | Theme 1 : The power of the Imagination
Key Focus: Non-fiction writing and Speaking for an audience. |
Summer 1 | Theme: Literary heritage -fiction and non-fiction.
Key Focus: The History of Language |
Summer 2 | Theme: Literary Heritage
Key Focus: Epic Poetry |
Year 8
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn 1 | Theme: Extra ordinary people and events
Key Focus: Short Stories |
Autumn 2 | Theme: Extra Ordinary people and events
Key Focus: War Poetry |
Spring 1 | Theme: The Power of the Imagination.
Key Focus: Non-Fiction Reading and discursive writing. |
Spring 2 | Theme: The Power of the Imagination.
Key Focus: Shakespeare ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ |
Summer 1 | Theme: Literary Heritage
Key Focus : Greek and Roman Myths and Legends |
Summer 2 | Theme: Literary Heritage
Key Focus : Science-fiction Writing
|
Key Stage 4 Overview: English Language
Year 9
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn 1 | Topic: Summary; comparison; writing to argue
Exam Focus: Paper 2, questions 2, 4 and 5. |
Autumn 2 | Topic: analysis of language
Exam Focus: Paper 1, questions 2 and 4. Paper 2, question 3. |
Spring | Topic: critical evaluation and fiction writing
Exam Focus: Paper 1, questions 2 and 4. |
Summer | Topic: Analysis of language and structure; Speaking for an audience
Exam Focus: Paper 1 questions 2 and 3; Paper 2 question 3; Spoken Language Endorsement |
Year 10 2019-20
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn | Topic: Analysing language and structure; Understanding writers’ ideas and viewpoints
Exam Focus: Paper 1, questions 2 and 3; Paper 2, questions 3 and 4 |
Spring 1 | Topic: Analysing language and structure; Writing to argue and discursive writing
Exam Focus: Paper 1, questions 2 and 3; Paper 2, questions 3 and 5 |
Spring 2 | Topic: Writing to inform; Technical accuracy
Exam Focus: Paper 1, question 5; Paper 2, question 5. |
Summer
|
Topic: Analysing language and structure; Understanding writers’ viewpoints
Exam Focus: Paper 1, question 4; Paper 2, question 4 |
Year 11 2019-20
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn 1 | Topic: reading for meaning; analysing language and structure; understanding writer’s viewpoints and ideas
Exam Focus: Paper 1 section A |
Autumn 2 | Topic: Creative writing; Vocabulary; Technical accuracy; Use of tone, style, structure and vocabulary to create effect.
Exam Focus: Paper 1 section B |
Spring 1 | Topic: Reading for meaning; Analysing language and structure; Comparing writer’s viewpoints; Summarising texts
Exam Focus: Paper 2 section A |
Spring 2 | Topic: Writing to argue and discursive writing; Technical accuracy; Vocabulary
Exam Focus: Paper 2 section B |
Summer | Topic: Exam Revision
Exam Focus: Mini questions on key concepts; themes; language and structure. Past paper questions. |
Key Stage 4 Overview : English Literature
Year 9
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn | Topic: A Christmas Carol
Exam Focus: Paper 1 |
Spring 1 | Topic: Unseen Poetry
Exam Focus: Paper 2 |
Spring 2 | Topic: AQA Anthology poetry – Power and Conflict
Exam Focus: Paper 2 |
Summer | Topic: AQA Anthology poetry – Power and Conflict
Exam Focus: Paper 2 |
Year 10 2019-20
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn | Topic: Macbeth
Exam Focus: Paper 1 |
Spring | Topic: An Inspector Calls OR Blood Brothers (Students will be informed at the end of Y9)
Exam Focus: Paper 2 |
Summer | Topic: Re-visit A Christmas Carol
Exam Focus: Paper 1 |
Year 11 2019-20
When | What we are Studying? e.g. Topics/ Skills etc |
Autumn 1 | Topic: Re-visit Unseen Poetry
Exam Focus: Paper 2 |
Autumn 2 | Topic: Re-visit Macbeth
Exam Focus: Paper 1 |
Spring 1 | Topic: Re-visit A Christmas Carol OR An Inspector Calls/Blood Brothers (Based on PPE marks)
Exam Focus: Paper 1 and Paper 2 |
Spring 2 | Topic: Re-visit Macbeth OR AQA Anthology (Based on PPE Marks)
Exam Focus: Paper 1 and Paper 2. |
Summer | Topic: Exam Revision
Exam Focus: Paper 1 and Paper 2 |
Key Stage 4 Examination Overview
- AQA GCSE English Language 8700
- Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
What’s assessed:-
Section A: Reading
- one literature fiction text
Section B: Writing
- descriptive or narrative writing
How it’s assessed:-
- written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 80 marks
- 50% of GCSE
Questions:-
Reading (40 marks) (25%)– one single text
- 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
- 2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
- 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
- 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
What’s assessed:-
Section A: Reading
- one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text
Section B: Writing
- writing to present a viewpoint
How it’s assessed:-
- written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 80 marks
- 50% of GCSE
Questions:-
Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts
- 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
- 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
- 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
- 1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language
What’s assessed:-
- presenting
- responding to questions and feedback
- use of Standard English
How it’s assessed:-
- teacher set throughout course
- marked by teacher
- separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)
AQA GCSE English Literature 8702
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel
What’s assessed:-
- Shakespeare plays
- The 19th-century novel (‘A Christmas Carol.’)
How it’s assessed:
- written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 64 marks
- 40% of GCSE
Questions:
Section A Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
Section B The 19th-century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
What’s assessed:
- Modern prose or drama texts (‘An Inspector Calls’)
- The poetry anthology (Power and Conflict)
- Unseen poetry
How it’s assessed:-
- written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes
- 96 marks
- 60% of GCSE
Questions:-
Section A Modern texts: students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.
Section B Poetry: students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.
Section C Unseen poetry: Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.
What resources could I buy or borrow that will help my child?
Reading
Our library has a wide range of books available for loan and a fully qualified librarian to help support your child in finding not only a book to interest them but one that will be appropriate for their needs.
Set texts for English Literature GCSE
We encourage all GCSE students to purchase their own copies of the set texts so that they can annotate these during study to aid later revision. The ISBN numbers for the editions we use in class are as follows:-
‘Macbeth’ – ISBN 978-0-19-832400-3
‘A Christmas Carol’ – ISBN 978-1-407143-64-4
‘An Inspector Calls’ – ISBN 978-0-435232-82-5
Alternatively, electronic copies of both ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ are available to download for free; parents should please note however that mobile phones are not allowed in school and that any e-readers are brought in at the students own risk. Copies are, of course, provided for students to use in lessons and can be borrowed from the library for students to use for homework and revision.
Copies of the poems in the ‘Conflict and Power’ poetry collection are provided by the school for use in lessons.
Revision guides for GCSE
The department does not recommend any particular style of revision guide as all students have different preferences. However, they must always be suitable for the AQA syllabus as question styles vary between exam boards. Occasionally, where a discounted offer has been obtained, the department will offer revision guides for sale. Parents will be contacted via email where this happens.
Dictionaries and thesauruses
Having copies of these readily available at home helps to support students in not becoming over-reliant on spelling and grammar checking software, whilst also building their ability to recognise word patterns and root words which will support both vocabulary acquisition and reading ability.
What are the key websites or Apps that my child could use?
www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
www.englishbiz.co.uk
PiXL Literature App
BBC GCSE Bitesize
YouTube Revision Videos (Mr Bruff / Mr Salles)
Bedrock
What can I do to encourage my child to take further interest in English?
- Share reading with them – read the same book or just ask about theirs.
- Watch the news together – many of the non-fiction texts we look at are focussed on national and international issues; writing tasks in exams ask students to respond to scenarios involving local council decisions.
- Argue about the news - Oracy and debate are incredibly useful skills which can be practised at home. (Also, it’s fun to win a debate!)
- Find online writing competitions for budding poets and storytellers.
- Play word games – the better your vocabulary the better you achieve in all subjects.
What after school or other extracurricular activities are available in English and when are they?
Fully Booked
Our librarian, Mrs Corbett, runs the ‘Fully Booked’ reading club, an exciting way for pupils to discover, read, discuss and respond to a wide range of fiction. Students take part in both the ‘Staffordshire Young Teen Fiction Award’ and in the ‘Carnegie Award’ where young people review, and vote for their favourites, from a range of newly released fiction.
Theatre trips are organised at various points, as and when performances become available. Students are informed by class teachers and via the Daily Bulletin.
Email Links
To find out more about the curriculum we are studying please contact staff via email