Year 7 & 8 Students are in ability sets and complete a range of interesting reading, writing and speaking and listening tasks. They study a mixture of fiction, non – fiction genres including novels, plays, media texts, short stories and poems.
Students are encouraged to analyse the conventions of different written styles as well as produce their own writing to suit audience and purpose. Their reading and writing is assessed each term and set changes are made accordingly.
Students in English are taught in a variety of styles. The pace of lessons is rigorous and features independent, pair and group work. The department has worked hard to ensure that all learning styles are catered for.
Year 9 Students build on skills of the previous two years and prepare for a common end of Key Stage 3 assessment. All students study a Shakespeare play. Currently, the play is ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The department ensures that all students have the opportunity to see Shakespeare in performance. Students are taught the Shakespeare text in a lively and dramatic way. They also complete a first piece of GCSE coursework on this play. This assignment will be carried forward to yr 10.
How you can help your child: Please encourage your child to read as widely as possibly. Reading lists for each year are available from Mrs. Deane. Reading a wide range of good quality fiction and non-fiction will help your child develop their own essential English skills.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Is a challenging mix of coursework and exam preparation. English and Literature follow the OCR syllabus.
GCSE English students will cover 3 speaking and listening coursework assessments and 3 written coursework responses including Shakespeare, Poetry comparison and Original Writing. Texts and assignments are chosen to interest and stimulate students. The GCSE English exam consists of 2 papers, testing reading comprehension of unseen passages, students’ own writing and understanding of short stories from other cultures. In Year 11 students will either complete GCSE English and GCSE English Literature or GCSE English and GCSE Film Studies. GCSE English Literature students will cover written coursework on a Pre 1914 Prose text The GCSE English Literature exam consists of testing of class prepared poems, a post 1914 play and short stories from other cultures. GCSE Film Studies students will study all aspects of film language and analysis. They will complete coursework consisting of: Film analysis, Film Pitch, Pre production, Production and Evaluation tasks. The production activities can be a film web page, magazine, posters or even a short film! The GCSE Film Studies exam consists 2 papers testing the study of one film genre (currently Disaster Movies) and Films Outside Hollywood.
GCSE Media Studies Media Studies is an options subject offered at GCSE. The course consists of 3 assignments to show knowledge and understanding, analysis and production skills.
Students are expected to develop their critical thinking of the mass media in society. Students must study a minimum of three media from a choice of: • Television • Film • Radio • Popular Music • Newspapers • Magazines and Comics The GCSE Media Studies exam tests knowledge of a prepared aspect of the media. Previous exams have covered Music Press, Sit-coms, and Comics. 2009 exam topic is Television Quiz Shows 2010 exam topic is Newspapers
How you can help your child: Discuss current events and encourage your child to analyse and question what they see and read.
