All students study English and English Literature at both Key Stages. In addition they study Media as part of their Key Stage Three English lessons and have the option of Media Studies at Key Stage Four . Throughout Key Stage three, students study a wide variety of literature genres from contemporary works to Literary Heritage texts. At Key stage Four students are given wider reading lists and are expected to read a minimum of three books, some classic and some modern. In order to support this, the English Department arranges a biennial Book Week where authors and poets are invited in to discuss their work. Students raise money for this event with sponsored reading. We also value Speaking and Listening and organise a school “Speech Competition”; an event all students participate in.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)

Students are taught in mixed ability classes; in years seven and eight, in their teaching groups, in year nine we have one Foundation group (focussing on consolidating literacy) and four mixed ability groups in each population.

Every year, all groups study at least one prose text, drama text and poetry collection. They study modern texts and some pre 1914 texts; in particular, Shakespeare. There is one media unit studied in each year.

Students complete at least two key assessments per term in Speaking and Listening, Reading or Writing and their levels of achievement help inform their teacher-assessed levels on their reports. Each year students are given a formal exam in reading and writing in the summer term. In Year 9 this is a Non-Fiction Practice GCSE paper.

Throughout Key Stage 3 students are given opportunities to improve their skills in writing descriptive, informative, explanatory, discursive, persuasive, instructive texts in preparation for GCSE.

Suggestions for Key Stage 3 reading: the Carnegie long list 2013The-CILIP-Carnegie-Medal-long.docx

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)

Students are taught in broadly banded groups at Key Stage Four (some groups range from A* - C, others from C – G). Students are placed in groups according to their Teacher Assessments in year nine and the results of their Year 9 exams (Non-Fiction and Shakespeare).

We follow the AQA GCSE syllabus. Foundation Group students are prepared for the English GCSE and will achieve one grade at the end of the course.  The course involves studying Literature and Language through controlled assessment (60%) and the Non Fiction examination (40%). Other groups prepare for the English Language and English Literature GCSE which will result in two grades at the end of the course. C grades or above in English and English Language are essential for further study at college. Whichever course students follow, they will be entered for Higher or Foundation examination papers. The entry level will be decided on the basis of the mock examinations during the two years.

During Year 10, the main focus of the course is to complete the majority of the controlled assessments for English/Language/Literature. In Year 11, the focus is on the prose text and poetry set in the exams and on examination practice.

 Key Stage Four reading list

 2012-2014-students-course-overview-for-2012-13.docx