English

KS 3
About the course
The curriculum offered at Key Stage 3 aims to develop students’ language skills with a focus on a variety of texts. Students are also taught a wide range of speaking and listening strategies to prepare them for this component of the GCSE and the wider world.

What they will learn
Students will study a variety of texts both fiction and non-fiction. In Year 7 groups are taught in mixed ability and study ‘An Introduction to Shakespeare’; poetry, a novel and ‘Frankenstein’. Lots of emphasis is put on extending students’ writing ability through non-fiction study. In Year 8 students study ‘Macbeth’ and the novel ‘Private Peaceful’. By Year 9 they are challenged with ‘A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ and a unit on classic fiction.

Throughout Key Stage 3 emphasis is placed on the students’ ability to extend their reading and writing ability. To encourage creativity and engagement, ICT is a strong component in the classroom.

Extra curricular activities include a debating club, regular theatre trips and cross curricular work. A recent project with Art and an outside design company focused on extending the visual literacy skills of the most able Year 9 students.

How it will be assessed
Each unit is assessed through an end of unit assessment using National Curriculum levels.

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KS 4
About the course
Students cover a variety of topics in preparation for GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. The course includes a ‘Spoken Language Study’, a unit on extended reading, a Media study and creative writing. Literature includes a Shakespeare study and modern fiction.

What they will learn
Students will learn to read and understand a range of non-fiction texts, identifying the writers crafts and transferring theses skills into their own writing for a range of genres, audiences and purposes. There will also be a focus on speaking and listening, students will be taught presenting skills, discussing and listening skills and role play activities.

How it will be assessed
A total of three units will be assessed:
External examination 40%. Controlled assessments: 40%. Speaking and Listening: 20%.

Exam board
AQA

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KS 5
About the course
Students study A level English literature.

What they will learn
Students will develop their ability to analyse literature. In AS the focus is on comparing the ways in which stories are told and thereby construct different realities. At A2 this foundation is extended in two main ways: by looking in more detail at the way texts reproduce cultural meanings; and by considering the ways in which texts can be subjected to different types of critical approach, yielding different and potentially challenging interpretations.

How it will be assessed
Unit 1- LITB1
Aspects of Narrative
60% of AS, 30% of A level.
Written paper. 2 hours. Open book.
84 marks.
Four texts for study: two novels (at least one post 1990) and two poetry texts 1800-1945. The paper has two sections. Candidates answer one question from each section.

Unit 2 – LITB2
Dramatic Genres
40% of AS, 20% of A level.
Coursework.
60 marks.
Minimum of two texts for study within dramatic genre of Tragedy.
A portfolio of two pieces of written coursework (one may be re-creative) each 1200-1500 words.

A2 Examinations

Unit 3 – LITB3
Texts and Genres
30% of total A level.
Written paper. 2 hours. Closed book.

Unit 4
Further and Independent Reading
This is a really exciting unit and rounds off the whole course beautifully. It consists of two pieces of coursework in which students will apply critical theory or theories to texts. Some of these texts will be the students’ own choice, thus preparing them for the independent research skills needed for university and beyond.

The first piece of coursework is a comparative study of an aspect of two texts and is 1500 – 2000 words in length. The second is an application of an aspect of critical theory to a literary text and is 1200 – 1500 words. Critical theory – meaning the different approaches that can be taken in order to ”read” a text – is an intellectually rigorous area of study and provides fascinating insights into Literature.

This unit is 20% if the A level mark.

Exam board
AQA English Literature Spec B.

Future Career Paths in subject
Education
English Literature A level is recognised by the Russell Group of Universities as valuable A level.

Employment
Students with English Literature may choose to go into a variety of occupations such as Retail Management, Creative Industries, Teaching, Public Sector work, Human Resource Management, Librarians.

Head of Departmen
Ms Ryan

Email:
ryanh@cfbs.islington.sch.uk

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HOMEWORK