Key Stage 3 Information
Students study 8 hours per fortnight of English in Key Stage 3. To provide a broad, balanced curriculum and learning experience, these 8 hours are divided into:
- 1 Library lesson (timetabled in the library) to encourage independent reading and engagement with Accelerated Reader quizzes
- 1 Class Reader lesson (new in September 2018) to improve reading stamina, offer a rewarding and creative study of literature and challenge students
- 6 lessons following the schemes of work below to develop the skills and knowledge needed for GCSE
- NB Those classes identified as needing extra literacy support may have 1 Lexia lesson as well: Lexia Strategies is a computer programme which targets individual student’s literacy needs and provides personalised intervention
The overviews of our schemes of work outline the diverse skills that we aim to develop over Key Stage 3 and help each student achieve their potential. At least 4 times over the year, students will complete an assessment piece of work in their Progress Books that is graded on a flight path for progress for GCSE. Although we can no longer provide ‘Working At’ grades for Key Stage 3, these assessments allow us to see whether a student is on track, exceeding expectations or working below their GCSE target (based on their Key Stage 2 results). These assessments are then used to inform the ‘Blue Card’ data that is reported to parents.
A Note on Reading
The new GCSE curriculum (first exams in June 2017) requires students to engage with material (in both English Language and English Literature) that is both challenging and complex. Our aim is to ensure students have the necessary Reading Age and skills to achieve their potential in these exams. Therefore, we recommend that students:
- Read for 20 minutes a day
- Read the whole book – and don’t just dip in and out of books
- Choose books that are of a suitable level – challenging, yet appropriate to Reading Age
- Read a variety of genres, styles and authors
- Quiz at least once a fortnight
- Use the Recommended Reading lists on this page and in the library to guide book choices
- Keep a Reading Journal to track plot, characters and other information
Useful Links
Key Stage 3 Overviews
Year 7 Overview
| Term | Topic & Reading Focus | Learning Objectives | Key Writing Assessments (Best Work Books) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term |
Introduction to English: Storytelling The Umbrella Man by Roald Dahl Initial STAR Reading Age Test |
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1. Narrative A short story or the ending to a story provided Baseline writing assessment | |
| Ancient Myths and Legends A selection of ancient myths and legends Reading comprehension on the description of Grendel A choice of Beowulf or Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Michael Morpurgo |
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2. Explanation Write an essay on tension or structure in one of the texts studied |
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| Inter-House Speaking Competition (November) | ||||
| Modern Myths Class Reader Choice of texts such as: The Wind Singer, Artemis Fowl, The Wind Eye, The Kite Rider, Inkheart, Elidor,, The Spook’s Apprentice, The Gollum’s Eye |
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| Spring Term |
Half Term 3: Home Learning Projects – Creative task based on Class Reader | |||
| Poetry Through The Ages A selection of poetry by:Benjamin Zephaniah, Simon Armitage, Dylan Thomas, Grace Nicholls, Robert Frost |
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3. Creative Writing and Summary Write a selection of original poems, then write a commentary to summarise your ideas |
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| The Great British Novel Including: Boy by Roald Dahl, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, Goodnight Mr Tom Including Internal Exam Preparation |
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4. Evaluation How far do you agree……? An opinion essay based on a character or aspect of the narrative |
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| Summer Term |
June: Reading Comprehension Exam (Language Paper 1) + Writing Exam (Descriptive or Narrative Writing) + STAR Reading Tests | |||
| Travel Writing Including: Drama performances, a letter of complaint, brochures, post-cards, blogs and other non-fiction tasks, Extracts from Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island |
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5. Internal Exams | ||
| Off on Holiday Class Reader Choice of texts such as: My Family and Other Animals, The Famous Five, The Explorer by Katherine Rundell |
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Year 8 Overview
| Term | Topic & Reading Focus | Learning Objectives | Key Writing Assessments (Best Work Books) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term |
Pilgrimage Class Reader A choice of: Walkabout by James Vance, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper and Floodland by Marcus Sedgwick |
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| Language Investigation: Where does language come from? A selection of poetry including: The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer Search for My Tongue by Sujata Bhatt Half-Caste by John Agard Six O’clock News by Tom Leonard |
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1. Description Original writing on The Canterbury Tales: description of The Student or the journey to Canterbury 2. Evaluation How far do you agree…? Linked to language change and technology |
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| Half Term 2: Home Learning Projects – Time Capsule | |||
| Spring Term |
Detective Genre Class Reader A choice of: The Ruby in the Smoke by Philp Pullman, The Murder in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or The Sign of Four or The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (NEW) |
Literary Shorts At least two short stories from: The Open Window by Saki (1914), The Gulf by Geraldine McCaughrean (1999), The Lawyer and the Ghost, The Flowers by Alice Walker Other stories from EMC’s Anthology may also be studied Includes Internal Exam Preparation |
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3. Narrative An original short story which demonstrates the conventions of a specific fiction genre 4. Internal Exams |
| Summer Term |
April: Reading Comprehension Exam (Language Paper 1) and Writing Exam (Descriptive Writing) + STAR Reading Tests (June) | ||
| Introduction to Shakespeare A choice of: Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream |
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5. Comparison An essay to compare two characters, ideas or speeches |
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Year 9 Overview
| Term | Topic & Reading Focus | Learning Objectives | Key Writing Assessments (Best Work Books) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term |
The Gothic Genre At least two short Gothic Short Stories including: The Red Room by HG Wells, The Landlady by Roald Dahl, Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker, The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe, The Trial for Murder by Charles Dickens, Cause Unknown by Benjamin Hulme-Cross |
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1. Narrative An original Gothic short story or story opening |
| Gothic Class Reader A choice of: The Woman in Black (or abridged), The Mist on the Mirror, Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, Kiss Kiss, Whispers in the Graveyard, The Watch House, Witch Child | |||
| Spring Term |
The War Unit Range of non-fiction and literary non-fiction Four set poems (one to be examined on): Who’s for the Game? by Jesse Pope, Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, Suicide in the Trenches by Siegfried Sassoon, The Soldier by Rupert Brooke Additional poets may also be studied e.g. Isaac Rosenberg, Patricia McCarthy, Ciaran Carson, Stevie Smith, Owen Sheers |
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2.Internal Exams Speaking and Listening: Debate on Marine A A newspaper article or letter home from the trenches 3. Comparison An essay to compare two poems: Who’s For the Game? and Dulce et Decorum Est |
| March: Internal Exams: STAR Reading Tests + Conflict Literature – one studied poem and one unseen poem + Non-Fiction Writing: A persuasive speech | |||
| Conflict Class Reader A choice of: Anne Frank’s Diary, Heroes by Robert Cormier, The Machine Gunners, Carrie’s War |
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| Summer Term |
Political Class Reader A choice of: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, The Wave, Animal Farm, 1984, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Cirque du Freak, Noughts and Crosses, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Out of Bounds |
Taking a Stand Selection of political speeches, literary non-fiction and poetry: Out of the Blue by Simon Armitage, The Right Word by Imitaz Dhakar, District 6 |
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4. Description An original piece of writing inspired by a line of poetry e.g. Out of the Blue |
| GCSE Ready: Seminal World Literature A choice of: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck |
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5. Evaluation An opinion essay on the text (How far do you agree…?) |
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| Home Learning Project (half term 6) – Reading Project and reading log on Political and Social Novels – link to GCSE Term 1 | |||
Key Stage 4 Overviews
9 to 1 GCSE Schedule – Starting September 2018
| Term | Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 11 Revision Focus |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Break |
Political Protest – Reading List and Reading Log | 19th Century Novel – Wider Reading | ||
| Autumn | Half-term 1 | The Modern Play: An Inspector Calls Curriculum Enrichment Week: Writing and Performing NEA “Don’t get me started on…” Student’s voice their perspectives |
Poetry Link: London (Revision) The 19th Century Novel: Great Expectations or A Christmas Carol |
Shakespeare: Context, Themes, Characters, Quotes |
| Half-term 2 | Language Paper 1: Reading Creative Fiction Key focus: Character, setting, aspects of narrative, structure Poetry Set 1: Narrative My Last Duchess The Émigré Checking Out Me History Ozymandias |
Language Paper 2: Reading Literary Non-Fiction Key focus: Comparison, Perspectives Mock Exams Language Paper 2 Literature Paper 1 (Shakespeare/Dickens) |
Re-read: Shakespeare Poetry Sets 1 + 4 (Except London/Checking Out me History) |
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| Spring | Half-term 1 | Poetry Set 2: The Reality of War Charge of the Light Brigade Exposure Bayonet Charge Link to creative: Saving Private Ryan Language Paper 1: Writing Creative/writing to describe |
Poetry Link: Checking Out Me History (Revision) Language Paper 2: Writing Non-fiction writing to argue/persuade Revision: Language Paper 1 |
Re-read: An Inspector Calls Poetry Sets 2 +3 |
| Half-term 2 | Poetry Set 3: Effects of Conflict Kamikaze Poppies War Photographer Remains Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing or Macbeth |
Revision: An Inspector Calls Mock Exams Language Paper 1 Literature Paper 2 |
Re-read: Dickens Unseen Poetry |
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| Summer | Half-term 1 | Text Link: Guilt Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing or Macbeth Approaching Unseen Poetry |
Revision: Dickens Shakespeare Language Paper |
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| Half-term 2 | Poetry Set 4: Power & Society Ozymandias (Revise) The Prelude London Tissue Storm on the Island Mock Exams Language Paper 1 Literature Paper 2 |
External EXAMS |
9 to 1 GCSE Schedule – Started September 2017
| Term | Year 11 | Year 11 Revision Focus |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Break |
Political Protest – Reading List and Reading Log | ||
| Autumn | Half-term 1 | The Modern Play: An Inspector Calls |
Unseen Poetry Poetry Set 2 – Reality of Conflict Poetry Set 3 – Effects of Conflict |
| Half-term 2 | Poetry Link to ‘perspectives’: Checking Out Me History and London Language Paper 2: Reading Literary Non-Fiction Key focus: Comparison, Perspectives Mock Exams Language Paper 2 Literature Paper 2 (Poetry + An Inspector Calls) |
Re-reads: Dickens Poetry Sets 1 – Power Poetry Sets 4 – Perspectives |
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| Spring | Half-term 1 | Language Paper 2: Writing Non-fiction writing to argue/persuade Revision: Language Paper 1 |
Re-read: Shakespeare Dickens Revision – plot, character, context |
| Half-term 2 | Revision: Shakespeare & Dickens Mock Exams Language Paper 1 Literature Paper 2 (Dickens/Shakespeare) |
Re-read: An Inspector Calls Shakespeare Revision – plot, character, context |
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| Summer | Half-term 1 | Revision: An Inspector Calls Language Paper 2 Poetry Unseen Poetry |
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| Half-term 2 | External EXAMS |
Key Stage 5 Overviews
A Level English Language
A-Level Language: AQA Language 7701/7702
| Term | Year 12 | Year 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Reading – Terry Deary “Wicked Words” and Bill Bryson “Mother Tongue” | Wider Reading and collation of data for NEA |
| Autumn | Introduction to the study of language.
Analysing texts – understanding how meaning is created in a variety of texts. Introduction to language varieties: regional and national variations and attitudes towards these. |
Introduction to children’s language development.
Develop work on non-exam assessment: language investigation. Non-exam assessment: original writing. Internal Mock Exams |
| Spring | Textual variations and representations.
Language, the Individual and Society – language varieties: social groups, gender and occupational varieties. |
Language Diversity and Change
NEA Final Deadlines |
| Summer | Preparation for mock exams – revision. Internal Mock Exams Introduction to full A level – key topics and non-exam assessment component: investigation. |
Revision of Year 12 topics Exam Preparation External A2 Exams: |
A Level English Literature
A-Level Literature: AQA Literature B
| Term | Year 12 | Year 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Reading of ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ | Reading of independent poetry and prose texts for the NEA |
| Autumn | Introduction to the genre of ‘Tragedy’ Prose: ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ by Thomas Hardy Pre-1900 Drama: Shakespeare’s Othello |
Introduction to the genre of ‘Political and Social Protest Writing’ Unseen Texts (Section A) – Exam Preparation Prose: ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini NEA Planning & Drafting Internal Mock Exams |
| Spring | Poetry: John Keats – Isabella, Lamia, The Eve of St Agnes, La Belle Dame Sans Merci Modern Drama: ‘Death of A Salesman’ by Arthur Miller |
Drama: ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen Poetry: Tony Harrison selection – v., Working, National Trust, Them & [uz], Marked with D NB – contains explicit language NEA Final Deadlines |
| Summer | Section C – Exam Preparation Internal Mock Exams Introduction to Critical Theory – AQA Critical Anthology (Feminism, Marxism, The Canon, Post-Colonialism) Setting questions and texts for the NEA |
Revision of Y12 Texts Section C – Exam Preparation External A2 Exams: Paper 1A – Tragedy Paper 2B – Political & Social Protest Writing |
A Level English Language/Literature
A-Level Literature and Language AQA
| Term | Year 12 | Year 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Reading of ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’ | Reading of independent poetry, prose and non-fiction texts for the NEA.
Reading ‘The Great Gatsby’ |
| Autumn | Introduction to ‘Imagined Worlds’
Prose: ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margret Atwood Introduction to ‘Remembered Places’ |
Introduction to re-creative writing
Prose: ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald NEA Planning & Drafting Internal Mock Exams |
| Spring | Remembered Places continued.
Poetic Voices: Carol Ann Duffy selection from the ‘Mean Time’ anthology. |
Introduction to ‘Dramatic Encounters’
Play: ‘Othello’ by Shakespeare NEA Final Deadlines |
| Summer | Exam Preparation paper 1
Internal Mock Exams Introduction to ‘Writing about Society’ |
Revision of Y12 Texts Exam Preparation External A2 Exams: |