English

To access the English Language Revision Area please click here

To access the English Literature Revision Area please click here

English is fundamental to success and is the key to all learning. It is the subject that enables pupils to gain access to all other subjects. It is the subject that enables pupils to make sense of the world around them. It is the subject that enables pupils to form opinions and express them effectively. English teaches pupils empathy and compassion and it teaches pupils to be more tolerant and accepting of others’ viewpoints. English can offer pupils the opportunity to visit different places around the world and travel through various time periods; meet a variety of people and engage with a diverse range of experiences. And we do all this without leaving the classroom. English is simply amazing.

-Miss Davis, Head of English

Curriculum Intent and Vision

Our inclusive curriculum is one of ‘success for all through hard work and harmony’, promoting the values of pride, persistence, patience, preparation, and progress.

The English department takes a holistic approach to the delivery of the curriculum, moulding and shaping pupils to be respectful and empathetic global citizens. As a department we are fully aware of the importance of developing pupils’ cultural capital and the department will strive to create students who have a passion for reading and will endeavour to foster an enthusiasm for learning. The curriculum has been designed to build and develop the vital skills necessary for students to be successful at the end of Key stage 5 and beyond.  We strive to incorporate a range of contexts such as historical, cultural and social through a range of fiction, non-fiction and multi- modal texts.  Our programme of study has been planned and designed to focus on the genre pedagogy of How Language Works and helps to develop students’ understanding of the fundamental skills at the heart of the subject: inference, analysis, evaluation and creativity. We strive to create an engaging curriculum that is diverse, pays attention to our culturally rich cohort and is wholeheartedly inclusive. The curriculum encourages students to be critical analysers, independent learners and active listeners. All schemes of work are designed to enable all students to develop vital intrapersonal, and transferrable skills. All students within English will have the opportunity to access the GCSE curriculum.

We strongly uphold “success for all through hard work and harmony”.

Key Stage 3

GCSE

• English Language Paper 1 Section A Guide
• English Language Paper 2 Section A Guide
• Writing section guide
• Year 7 curriculum map
• Year 8 Curriculum Map

A-Level

English Language & Literature Combined A-Level

About Combined English

This A-Level is probably the most similar to the GCSEs you are currently studying. You will be required to read and study literary texts and apply language analysis to enable you to explore meaning and representations.

What will I study?

You will study a range of different texts both literary and non-literary and make comparisons between them. You will also create your own texts and investigate a chosen area of language for your coursework.

How many exams are there?

There are 2 exams: Paper 1 and Paper 2, both worth 40% of the A-Level course.

Paper 1 – Telling Stories

Paper 2 – Exploring Conflict

Coursework

The coursework will require you to carry out an investigation on a chosen area of literature and language in order to explore how language is used in different types of text. You will be expected to make a connection between a literary text and a non-literary text.

For example: How a key theme or characters is presented in a literary text and how that compares to a non-literary text.

What key skills will I learn?

Analysis; interpretation; evaluation; clear communication; organisation; an ability to write creatively and academically; debate ideas; develop your personal voice and independence.

Why do employers and universities value this A-Level?

Studying English A-Level will enable you to learn how to read, write and communicate more effectively, which is not only a necessary skill for university but also an essential life skill.  In addition, at its core is the skill of independent thinking and the ability to think and analyse ideas in depth.

English Literature A-Level

About English Literature

English Literature is a Russell Group University subject which means that it is highly valued by Universities.  You will be required to read and study literary texts: prose fiction, drama and poetry

What will I study?

You will study a prose text, a Shakespeare text and a poetry collection which relate to the Literary Genre of Tragedy.  You will also study two novels and collection of poetry linked to either the Crime Genre or Social protest.

How many exams are there?

There are 2 exams: Paper 1 and Paper 2, both worth 40% of the A-Level course.

Paper 1 – Tragedy

Paper 2 – Exploring Crime/Social Protest

Coursework

The coursework will require you to explore a novel and poetry collection.  You will create your own question to explore and will apply a specific criticism to each text. For example: How a key theme or characters is presented in a literary text.  The coursework folder makes up 20 per cent of the final A Level grade.

What key skills will I learn?

Analysis; interpretation; evaluation; clear communication; organisation; an ability to  academically; debate ideas; apply literary theories to a range of texts; manipulate language; explore meanings created and challenge other’s ideas; develop your personal voice and independence.

Why do employers and universities value this A-Level?

Studying A-Level will enable you to learn how to read, write and communicate more effectively, which is not only a necessary skill for university but also an essential life skill.  In addition, at its core is the skill of independent thinking and the ability to think and analyse ideas in depth.

Possible Careers:

Law, publishing, marketing and advertising, project management, teaching, roles in the media, HR, Sales, copy writing and editing. 

English Language A-Level

About English

A-Level English Language is probably the most similar to the GCSEs you are currently studying. You will be required to read and study multi-modal texts and apply language analysis to enable you to explore meaning and representations.

What will I study?

You will study a range of different texts both literary and non-literary and make comparisons between them. You will also create your own texts and investigate a chosen area of language for your coursework.

How many exams are there?

There are 2 exams: Paper 1 and Paper 2, both worth 80% of the A-Level course.

Paper 1 – Language, the individual and society

Paper 2 – Language diversity and change

Coursework

There is also coursework which is worth 20% of the A-Level course.

Language in action - coursework

Language investigation: Students will produce an investigation in an area of individual interest. For example, this might include studies of:

• representations of different individuals, social groups or nationalities
• regional dialect
• gendered talk
• the language of new communication technologies
• children’s language use
• norms and variations in usages of different kinds
• the language of the media
• code switching and mixing between English and other languages
• the language of different occupations or pastimes
• historical changes in English over time.

Original writing with commentary: Students will produce one piece of original writing based on one of the following three areas:

• The Power of Persuasion
• The Power of Storytelling
• The Power of Information and one accompanying commentary.

What key skills will I learn?

Analysis; interpretation; evaluation; clear communication; organisation; an ability to write creatively and academically; debate ideas; develop your personal voice and independence.

Why do employers and universities value this A-Level?

Studying English A-Level will enable you to learn the variety of assessment styles used, such as data analysis, discursive essays, directed writing, original writing and research-based investigative writing and develop a wide range of skills. These include critical reading, data analysis, evaluation, the ability to develop and sustain arguments and a number of different writing skills which are vital for both university and future employment.

 Media Studies A-Level

About A level Media

This A-Level courses will give you an opportunity to study a range of Media platforms and texts, as well as gain an understanding into the theoretical framework that underpins the course. You will be required to analyse a range of representations used in different media products and analyse the media language used to create those representations. You will also study media audiences and how audiences respond to media texts, understand how certain media industries operate and consider the social, historical, political, economic and cultural contexts that influence them. 

What will I study?

You will study a range of different texts and industries like newspapers, online, social and participatory media, radio, video gaming, film, long form television drama, music video, advertising and marketing and magazines. You will also be required to create a media product of your own in a making media unit. This will be based on a brief given by the exam board. In addition to this you will be given the opportunity to study a range of theorists from the theoretical framework and evaluate critically the arguments put forward by them.

How many exams are there?

There are 2 exams: Paper 1 Media Messages and Paper 2 Evolving Media, both worth 35% of the A-Level course. The coursework element equates to 30% of the A- Level course.

Paper 1 – Evolving Media

Paper 2 – Evolving Media

Coursework

The coursework element of the course is a unit which requires students to create their own media text. This is based on a set brief released by the exam board every year on the 1^st of March. There will be an opportunity to use a range of software to create either print, radio, film or television products. Each product has an element of digital media to accompany it, in the form of a website with two linked working pages. One of these must be audio/visual content.

For example: Previous briefs have included a fashion magazine with linked website.

What key skills will I learn?

Analysis; interpretation; evaluation; clear communication; organisation; an ability to write creatively and academically; debate ideas; develop your personal voice and independence. Analyse the codes and conventions used across a range of different media texts and consider the ideological messages behind them.

Why do employers and universities value this A-Level?

Studying Media A-Level will enable you to learn how to evaluate the media critically and gain and insight into critical theory. In addition to read, write and communicate more effectively, which is not only a necessary skill for university but also an essential life skill. The theoretical framework along with the making media elements of the course, mean that students are exposed to a range of media software, thus gaining skills considered an attribute in today’s current media climate.

Useful Links

Read Theory is used to test the pupils comprehension. It provides small exercises for them and there are usually 8 questions in total per set. It then adapts the texts to suit the pupils reading age. It lets the pupils know straight away if they have the answers right/wrong so is a useful tool for helping them practice.