English

English at Key Stage 3

To help prepare students for English Language and Literature GCSEs, students across all pathways will begin developing the skills needed to succeed in Key Stage Four and develop their love of literature.  Students will explore a range of fiction and non-fiction texts from different  time periods including: prose and poetry as well as developing their creative writing skills.  During KS3 English, students will develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening and grammar skills. This will be achieved through a range of creative, challenging and enjoyable approaches to prepare them for the challenge of GCSE study. 

At Key Stage 3 students across all pathways will develop the skills needed to succeed in Key Stage 4, building on what they have learned at Key Stage 2. Each year group will study five units during the year, each with a different focus.

The aim at Key Stage 3 is for our students to become clear and confident communicators who can use the skills of selection, retrieval, inference, and deduction proficiently and improve their ability to write both critically and creatively. They will explore a range of fiction and non-fiction texts from different time periods and genres. Texts will include poetry, prose, and drama. Units are clearly structured so that students can make links between different stages of the curriculum and draw upon prior learning as they progress through Key Stage 3. Students are also encouraged to make links between what they are studying in a unit and how it relates to other learning areas. For example, they may make links to learning at primary school in Year 7, or other curriculum areas and in Year 9 to what they have previously learnt in Years 7 and 8. Additionally, students will develop their skills in reading, writing, oracy and grammar.

Assessment Tasks & Timings for Key Stage 3 English:

Assessment for Years 7, 8 and 9 will be undertaken on a unit-by-unit basis using formative assessment on either critical or creative writing,

depending on the focus of the unit. Students will be provided with feedback on how to improve their writing skills. They will be taught how to reflect and respond to this feedback to make improvements. Key Stage 3 end of unit assessments are moderated by the English team before formative feedback is provided.

Year 10 Long Term Plan

They have 6 lessons a fortnight.

This should consist of 2 x literature, 1 x language.

Year 11 Long Term Plan

They have 5 lessons a fortnight.

This should consist of 2 x literature, 1 x language in one week and 1 x literature, 1 x language in the other.

Assessment Tasks & Timings - KS4 - Year 10 & 11

Assessments for Year 10 will be carried out on a half-termly basis and linked to an exam style question which has a reading or writing focus; they will also complete a mock exam for Language Paper 1 and Language Paper 2. This gives students opportunities to develop their exam skills and approach in preparation for their GCSEs. Students are then provided with feedback that identifies their next steps and how to achieve these. Assessments for Year 11 will also be carried out on a half-termly basis and may consist of an exam style question, which has a reading or writing focus, or a mock exam. They are also then provided with feedback that identifies their next steps and how to achieve these.