English | ENFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

In English lessons we explore the importance of Language and develop analytical skills. We develop a love of reading through the exploration of texts throughout time. In an ever-changing society we explore the changes in language and how it can be used to articulate our thoughts and beliefs in an appropriate way for the intended audience. Through doing this we develop and build our oracy skills and use this to explore how we communicate in different settings and contexts. Our study of both fiction and non-fiction texts exposes our students to a breadth of literature; both canonical and modern.

Key Stage 3

We ensure students have the opportunity to study a wide variety of texts and genres to develop reading, writing and speaking and listening skills. Throughout our curriculum we aim to develop a love of reading and learning and closely mirror the skills needed for their GCSE English Language and Literature exam.

Students are encouraged to, and should, read a book of their choice twenty minutes a day at home. Suggested reading lists can be found on the school homepage under ‘The Day and Library Noticeboard.’

We encourage students to use online resources to help them revise, practise their skills and develop their knowledge. ‘BBC Bitesize’ has a range of activities and resources to support learning at KS3.

Year 7

Non- Fiction Writing – Students create an autobiographical piece on their own life using renowned and all-time favourite autobiographies as inspiration
Poetry – Students explore and analyse ideas, literary techniques and structural devices used in Poetry
Modern Fiction – Students develop their understanding and analytical skills of writers’ choices whilst reading the award winning book ‘A Monster Calls’ by Patrick Ness
Creative Writing – Students develop their writing skills through horror creative writing and practice becoming imaginative thinkers
Short Stories and GCSE style examination questions – We encourage our learners to recognise the overlapping skills assessed in Key Stage 4 whilst reading a range of short stories
Media Studies – Students use the skills learnt over the year to analyse and create different media texts

Year 8

Writing to Persuade- Students develop their persuasive writing skills learning different techniques and developing their oracy skills through speech writing
19th Century Novel – Students develop their understanding and analytical skills of writers’ choices whilst reading the ‘Speckled Band’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Shakespeare Text – Students explore and analyse ideas, literary techniques and structural devices used by Shakespeare in ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Poetry from Other Cultures – Students continue to explore and develop their analytical thinking, analysis of literary techniques and structural devices used in Poetry
Media Unit – Students use the skills learnt in Year 7 year to develop their analysis of different media texts
English Language Paper 1 skills – Students are introduced to the skills needed for the AQA GCSE English Language Exam

Year 9

Writing to Argue –Students develop their argument writing skills learning different techniques and developing their oracy skills through speech writing whilst studying famous speeches
Modern Texts –Students develop their understanding and analytical skills of writers’ choices whilst reading ‘Of Mice And Men’ by John Steinbeck and ‘Looking For JJ’ by Anne Cassidy
An Inspector Calls – In the Summer Term students begin studying their first English GCSE English Literature text: ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley

Key Stage 4 - GCSE

Years 10 & 11 – English Language and English Literature

Our GCSE English curriculum is a rigorous and exciting course that enables students to excel and develop skills and knowledge attained at Key Stage Three.

Students will need to purchase a copy of Macbeth, The Sign of the Four and An Inspector Calls for revision and annotations to guide their learning revision. Texts must be brought into school when the relevant text is being studied.

We suggest students continue reading texts beyond those studied for the exam including texts similar to the genres and time periods we study. To support revision students are also encouraged to purchase revision guides for each unit we study which will guide their independent revision at home.

There are several online resources that can be used alongside revision and learning, including: Seneca, GCSE Pod, BBC Bitesize and Sparknotes

English Language

GCSE English Language enables 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.

Paper 1 – Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing – looks at how writers use narrative and descriptive techniques to engage the interest of readers
Paper 2 – Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives – looks at how different writers present a similar topic over time

English Literature

GCSE English Literature encourages students to develop knowledge and skills in reading, writing and critical thinking. Through literature, students have a chance to develop culturally and acquire knowledge of the best that has been thought and written. Studying GCSE English Literature should encourage students to read widely for pleasure, and as a preparation for studying literature at a higher level. The texts we study for GCSE English Literature are:

Macbeth
The Sign of the Four
An Inspector Calls
Power and Conflict Poetry

KS4 Personal Learning Checklist

Further Information:

AQA GCSE English Language 8700

AQA GCSE English Literature 8702

Key Stage 5 - 6th Form

A Level English Literature

Our A Level English Literature curriculum is empowering, rigorous, demanding and inclusive.

English Literature enables students to:

read widely and independently set texts and others that they have selected for themselves
engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding to them
develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation
explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them
undertake independent and sustained studies to deepen their appreciation and understanding of English literature, including its changing traditions

We follow the Edexcel A Level specification. This assesses the students with 2 exam papers including a course work assessed essay.

Year 12

Drama:

1 Shakespeare play (Othello)
1 other play (A Streetcar Named Desire)

Leads to final exam Component 1 Drama – 2 hours 15 mins – 2 essays / ‘open book’ (this means you are given a clean copy of the text in the exam)

Prose:

Hard Times (pre 1900)
Atonement (chosen theme: Childhood)

Leads to final exam Component 2 Prose – 1 hour 15 mins exam – 1 essay

Year 13

Coursework: 1 extended comparative essay on two texts
Poetry: Poems of the Decade – An Anthology of Poetry comparison with an unseen poem
Medieval Poetic Drama: The Wife of Bath – Geoffrey Chaucer

Leads to a final exam Component 3 Poetry – 2 hours 15 mins – 2 essays / ‘open book’

Component 4 – Course Work Essay – 1 extended comparative essay (2500-3000 words) on two texts (teacher/student choice) linked by theme, movement, author or period

Further Information: Edexcel A Level English Literature