The Key Stage 3 curriculum for English aims to improve students' skills in:

Reading

Writing

Speaking and Listening

Our aim throughout Years 7, 8 and 9 is to foster a love of reading and English as a form of communication. Each year has a different focus:

Year 7 - Identity

Year 8 - Genre

Year 9 - Power

Within these broader thematic areas we explore poetry, prose and scripts; students' own writing and the analysis of language and structure as used by other writers.

Programme of study Y7 - Identity

Term 1 - At the beginning of the year we carry out baseline assessments to ascertain students' skills and needs followed by a scheme of work based on the novel 'Wonder' by RJ Palacio. Through this novel we explore the issue of identity and what it means.

Term 2 - This term begins with a 6 week programme of study focusing on the issue of identity in the media followed by a 6 week unit of work where students study Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'

Term 3 - in this term we start a 6 week unit exploring poetry based around the theme of identity, followed by a 6 week project on autobiographical writing culminating with a presentation to students' peers on their own autobiographical research and identity.

Programme of study Y8 - Genre

Term 1 - We start the year with an exploration of genre and character through Rick Riordan's popular text 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief' or Michael Morpurgo's 'Kensuke's Kingdom'

Term 2 - We start this term with a 6 week unit studying the play form using William Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', followed by a 6 week unit of work exploring the Gothic genre.

Term 3 - The beginning of this term will be dedicated to building skills in language analysis of various fiction texts in preparation for the Year 8 exams. This will be followed by a unit of work on narrative poetry and an exploration of this genre.

Programme of study Y9 - Power

Term 1 - During this first term students will study 'An Inspector Calls' by JB Priestley. This is a GCSE text that students who go on to study the AQA Literature course will study further in Year 11. In Year 9 students will study the play's thematic concerns, characters and the socio-historical context of the 1940s when the play was written, as well as that of the early 1900s when the play is set. 

Term 2 - The start of this term will be dedicated to reviewing and developing students' skills in language analysis, specifically of non-fiction texts, in order to prepare them for their Year 9 exam. The second half of this term will consist of a 6 week unit of work on protest poetry; here we examine the power of the written word, and the efforts made by many to make their voices heard. 

Term 3 - This terms starts off with a unit named 'Love of Literature'. During these 6 weeks, students will be exposed to favourite literary texts, styles and genres. It is an exploratory unit aimed at the enjoyment of the subject; it's purpose is to prepare students for study of English at Key Stage 4 and beyond. We end the year with a 6 week unit of work focusing on skills in research and presentation. Here, all students will have the opportunity to develop their research and speaking skills by presenting to the class on any topic of their choice at the end of the year.

Assessment

Students will sit one standardised summative assessment per term. Teachers will also carry out formative assessment throughout the year. Students will have the opportunity to display their skills and knowledge in English in each lesson in a variety of verbal, written or creative formats. 

All students in Key Stage 3 will study the same content and sit the same assessments regardless of grouping. It is our aim throughout Key Stage 3 to keep grouping fluid, thus enabling students to move to a class where the pace of learning is slower if they or their teacher feels that they need to develop certain skills, or move to a group that is working at a faster pace if their teacher wishes to challenge and develop their skills further. Changes to groupings may occur several times throughout Key Stage 3 in order to ensure students are correctly grouped at the start of Key Stage 4.

Award: GCSE
Awarding Body:  AQA
Specification Code: 8702
Specification Website: AQA GCSE English Literature

The specification will enable students of all abilities to develop the skills they need to study English Literature in an untiered, closed book context through the use of extract-based questions in the assessment of the 19th-century novel and the Shakespeare plays.

In Year 10 students will begin to study poems from the anthology set by the board. They will also study a nineteenth century novel - currently Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.  

In Year 11 students continue to study poems from the poetry anthology. They will also study JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls and one Shakespeare text.

Internal Assessments

• Year 10 and 11 Mocks

External Assessments

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel

• • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

  • 64 marks

  • 40% of GCSE

  • Section A – Shakespeare (“Romeo & Juliet” or “Macbeth”): students will answer one question on the play they have studied. 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 (“Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”): students will answer one question on the novel they have studied. 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

• • One written exam: 2 hours 15 minutes

  • 96 marks

  • 60% of exam

  • Section A - Modern texts (“An Inspector Calls”): students will answer one essay question from a choice of two.

  • 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. 

Award: GCSE
Awarding Body:  AQA
Specification Code:  8700
Specification Website:  AQA GCSE English Language

The specification will enable students of all abilities to develop the skills they need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of different texts covering the 19th, 20th and 21st century time periods as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures. Each paper has a distinct identity to better support high quality provision and engaging teaching and learning. 

There is only one tier of entry with a range of grades from 9-1.

Subject content

1. Explorations in creative reading and writing

   • The aim is to engage students in creative texts & inspire them to write creatively themselves in the following ways:

     •  in Section A, students read a literary fiction extract in order to consider how established writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to capture the interest of readers.

     • in Section B, writing their own creative text, inspired by the topic that they have responded to in section A to demonstrate their narrative and descriptive skills in response to a written prompt, scenario or visual image.

2. Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives

   • The aim is to develop students’ insights into how writers have particular viewpoints and perspectives on issues or themes that are important to the way we think and live our lives. It will encourage students to demonstrate their skills in the following ways:

     •  in Section A, students read two linked sources from different time periods and genres in order to consider how each presents a perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader.

     • In Section B, students produce a written text to a specified audience, purpose and form in which they give their own perspective on the theme that has been introduced to them in section A.

3. Non-exam spoken assessment

   • The aim of is to allow students to demonstrate their speaking and listening skills by:

     • giving a presentation in a formal context,

     • responding appropriately to questions and to feedback, asking questions themselves to elicit clarification,

     • using spoken Standard English.

In Year 10 students focus on the skills necessary for Paper 1, Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing, which looks at how writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to engage the interest of readers. They will also complete the Spoken Language Endorsement which develops skills in presenting, responding to questions and feedback and the use of Standard English. 

In Year 11 students focus on the skills necessary for Paper 2, Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives, which looks at how different writers present a similar topic over time.

Internal Assessments

• Year 10 and 11 Mocks

External Assessments

Paper 1: Explorations in creative reading and writing 

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

• 80 marks

• 50% of GCSE

• in Section A, students read a literary fiction extract in order to consider how established writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to capture the interest of readers.

• in Section B, writing their own creative text, inspired by the topic that they have responded to in section A to demonstrate their narrative and descriptive skills in response to a written prompt, scenario or visual image.

Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

• 80 marks

• 50% of GCSE

•  in Section A, students read two linked sources from different time periods and genres in order to consider how each presents a perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader.

• In Section B, students produce a written text to a specified audience, purpose and form in which they give their own perspective on the theme that has been introduced to them in section A.

Non examination assessment : Spoken Language endorsement for GCSE English Language

• The assessment will be separately endorsed and will be reported as a separate grade:

  • Not Classified

  • Pass

  • Merit

  • Distinction

• It will not contribute to the result of the GCSE English Language qualification. 

Award: O-Level
Awarding Body: Cambridge
Specification Code:  1123
Specification Website:  O-Level English Language

The Cambridge O Level English Language syllabus enables learners to communicate accurately, appropriately and effectively and to understand and respond appropriately and imaginatively to what they read and experience. They will employ different forms of writing to suit a range of purposes and will show that they can understand the content and argument of given texts. 

The Cambridge O Level English Language qualification is accepted by universities and employers as proof of linguistic ability and understanding. The Cambridge O Level English Language syllabus encourages students to develop lifelong skills, including:

• • the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively

  • the use of a wide range of vocabulary and correct grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed.

Students are also encouraged to read widely, both for their own enjoyment and to further their awareness of the ways in which English can be used. Cambridge O Level English Language study also develops more general analysis and communication skills such as synthesis, inference, and the ability to order facts and present opinions effectively. 

The full range of grades 1-9 are available to all students who sit this exam.

Throughout Year 10 and Year 11 students will work on the skills necessary to succeed in this qualification. They will work towards developing: 

• • communicative competence: the ability to communicate with clarity, relevance, accuracy and variety

  • creativity: the ability to use language, experience and imagination to respond to new situations, create original ideas and make a positive impact

  • critical skills: the ability to scan, filter and analyse different forms of information

  • cross-cultural awareness: the ability to engage with issues inside and outside own community, dealing with the familiar as well as the unfamiliar. (This is not an assessment objective but forms the context of writing tasks and reading passages.) 

Paper 1  

Directed Writing -  Communication of key information is required to achieve a specific purpose for a certain audience in a particular situation.

Creative Writing -  Language (as well as content) is tested in here and candidates have an opportunity to display their English language skills in order to express their opinion, experience or imagination.

Paper 2  

Reading for Ideas - Scanning for and summarising specific information is required to achieve and convey a global understanding of a text. 

Reading for Meaning - In this section language is tested and there is a greater demand for English language skills in order to demonstrate more in-depth understanding of a text.

In this way, it is hoped that candidates will develop strategies to be able to transfer these communication skills to other subjects and to their future careers/studies as they encounter a variety of texts and are required to make a positive impact through the written word.

Internal Assessments

• Year 10 and 11 Mocks

External Assessments

Paper 1

• • 1 Hour 30 Minutes

  • 50% of Award

Paper 2

• • 1 Hour 45 Minutes

  • 50% of Award

A-Level English Literature

Award: A-Level
Awarding Body: OCR
Specification Code: H472
Specification Website: OCR A-Level English Literature
Institution: Westside. Bayside offer a different English Literature course.

The OCR A Level English Literature qualification encourages students to develop their interest in and enjoyment of a broad range of English literature. They apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation to engage critically and creatively with both set texts and others of their own choosing.

There are two examined components and one coursework component at A Level.  

COMPONENT 01 DRAMA AND POETRY PRE-1900

The first exam component, ‘Drama and poetry pre-1900’, offers students the opportunity to engage in close reading and pay attention to Shakespeare’s use of language.  In section 1, they will answer a two-part question: the first part will focus on an extract from their chosen Shakespeare play, and the second part will be an essay question which will assess their wider knowledge of the play as a whole.  In the second section of this exam, students will be expected to use their knowledge and understanding of one drama text and one poetry text chosen by their teacher to respond to a set of non-text-specific but literary questions. 

COMPONENT 02: COMPARATIVE AND CONTEXTUAL STUDY

The second exam component, ‘Comparative and contextual study’, will consist of a close reading (unseen) exercise and a comparative essay. The paper will be split into different topic areas. Chosen topics include: American Literature 1880–1940, The Gothic, Dystopia, Women in Literature and The Immigrant Experience. Students will have free choice of texts (from a list of core set texts and suggested set texts) from within their chosen topic area, which gives a greater degree of flexibility. For the first part of this exam, students will approach an unseen prose extract from within their chosen topic area.  The second part of the exam will offer students a choice of three questions of which they must answer one question on the set texts they have studied in their chosen topic area. 

A LEVEL COMPONENT 03: COURSEWORK

Finally, the coursework component requires candidates to study three texts from across the genres of poetry, drama and prose. Task one offers a choice between a critical piece or a re-creative piece with a commentary, and task two is a ‘linked texts’ essay focusing on connections between two texts.

Assessments

COMPONENT 01 DRAMA AND POETRY PRE-1900

• • Closed text written paper

  • Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

  • Weighting: 60 marks.

  • 40% of total A level qualification. 

COMPONENT 02: COMPARATIVE AND CONTEXTUAL STUDY

• • Closed text written paper.

  • Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

  • Weighting: 60 marks.

  • 40% of total A level qualification. 

A LEVEL COMPONENT 03: COURSEWORK

• • Non-exam assessment.

  • Weighting: 40 marks.

  • 20% of total A level qualification.