KS4 – Examination Board AQA – GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature (separate qualifications)
In the English department we see Year 9 English as a foundation year for GCSE – we will develop key skills and start to read and prepare some GCSE texts. All of the skills taught and the assessments completed are very much in line with GCSE work.
Year 9:
| Half term | Curriculum focus | Landmark assessment |
| Autumn 1 | Modern prose text: ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck
Students will explore how characters are presented and the significance of the context of the novel – 1930s America.
Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives in non-fiction Students will use practice examination material to explore how writers convey the different attitudes to a common theme such as the issue of child labour in Victorian era compared to today.
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Essay question analysing how a character is presented by the author
Practice GCSE examination paper to be completed with teacher support in class |
| Autumn 2 | 19th century novel: ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens (possible GCSE set text)
Students will explore how the key character is presented and Dickens’ message in writing the novel.
Explorations in creative writing Students will describe a character/setting
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Essay question responding to an extract from the text
Piece of creative writing in response to a picture based on GCSE practice paper |
| Spring 1 | Non-fiction writing: campaign
Students will develop skills in writing to argue/persuade by researching a topical issue and studying speeches by famous orators. Explorations in creative reading: Paper 1 Students will use practice examination material to develop understanding of how writers use language to convey their point of view
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Piece of creative writing – the text of a campaign speech
Practice examination questions completed in class |
| Spring 2 | An Introduction to Unseen Poetry
Students will study a range of poems and develop skills in understanding how poets use language and poetic form to convey their message. Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives in non-fiction Students will use practice examination material to evaluate how writers convey their opinions. |
Written response to a poem
Written response evaluating how writers have conveyed their opinions |
| Summer 1 | Shakespeare: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (set text for English Literature)
Students will be introduced to the plot and characters of the play developing understanding of their characteristics. Spoken Language Students will prepare a presentation to the class on a topic of their choice to build confidence in oral and presentation skills.
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Essay question responding to an extract from the text
Spoken Language Assessment – Pass, Merit or Distinction |
| Summer 2 | Anthology Poetry: Power and Conflict cluster (set text for English Literature)
Students will study a range of war poems from the anthology focusing on poets use language and poetic form to convey their message. |
Written response to an individual poem analysing language and structure. |
Co-Curricular:
Year 10:
| Half term | Curriculum focus | Landmark assessment |
| Autumn 1 | Creative Writing – students will study how to engage the reader using imagery/a motif such as light and darkness.
An Inspector Calls – students will study how characters are presented including dramatic characterisation. |
Extended response to a picture stimulus.
Extended response to a character/theme in the play.
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| Autumn 2 | Spoken Language – students will plan and present a talk giving their opinions.
Romeo and Juliet – students will read key scenes as a class and focus on plot, character development and the theme of conflict. |
Presentation to class graded using GCSE criteria – pass, merit, distinction. |
| Spring 1 | Romeo and Juliet – students will explore the theme of conflict in the play as a whole.
English Language Paper 2 – students will practise key reading skills for non-fiction extracts – summarising information, analysing language and comparing writers’ opinions. |
Essay question responding to an extract from the text.
Year 10 mock examination paper.
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| Spring 2 | English Language Paper 2 – students will study opinion writing and emulate opinionated writers
Unseen poetry – students will explore strategies for how to study poems not ‘seen’ before the examination.
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Extended response – writing to argue/persuade.
Extended response to a poem. |
| Summer 1 | Power and Conflict poetry – students will study key war poems from the anthology.
English Language Paper 1 – students will practise key reading skills in reading fiction – analysing language and structure, evaluating opinions. |
Year 10 mock examination paper (after half-term) |
| Summer 2 | English Language Paper 1 – students will study how to approach creative writing with a picture stimulus.
Power and Conflict poetry – students will compare poems with a similar theme. |
Year 10 mock examination paper.
Extended response comparing 2 poems. |
Co-Curricular:
Year 11:
| Half term | Curriculum focus | Landmark assessment |
| Autumn 1 | An Inspector Calls – students will study how characters are presented including dramatic characterisation.
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Essay question based on a character/theme.
Year 11 mock exam in autumn 2. |
| Autumn 2 | English Language Paper 1 – students will revise key reading skills in reading fiction – analysing language and structure, evaluating opinions.
Unseen poetry – students will revise how to tackle unseen poems including comparison.
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Year 11 mock exam
Year 11 mock exam |
| Spring 1 | English Language Paper 2 – students will revise key reading skills for non-fiction extracts – summarising information, analysing language and comparing writers’ opinions. Students will also revise how to engage the reader in writing to argue/persuade. | Year 11 mock exam |
| Spring 2 | Romeo and Juliet – students will revise key characters and themes.
Power and Conflict – students will revise poems and compare texts. |
Essay question based on an extract.
Essay question comparing 2 poems. |
| Summer 1 | An Inspector Calls – students will revise key characters and themes. | Essay question from past paper.
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| Summer 2 | Revision of set texts and practice exam papers for English Language. | GCSE examinations |
Aims:
- To promote an interest in reading and literature including texts from the literary canon such as Shakespeare.
- To develop students’ reading comprehension and textual analysis of both fiction and non-fiction texts.
- To enable students to write for different purposes and audiences.
- To enable students to produce clearly structured and technically accurate written work.
- To develop confidence in oral work so students express their opinions in formal, standard English.
Key assessment details:
In Years 9 and 10 students will be assessed regularly using GCSE examination-style tasks. There will be formal assessments at the end of each unit of work. In Year 10, students will sit a past GCSE English Language paper. Students will also complete a formal speaking and listening assessment involving a presentation to the class for their spoken language award; this is assessed by classroom teachers. In the autumn term of Year 11, students will sit a formal mock examination based on past papers in English Language and English Literature. Students will also practise essay writing skills through regular extended responses to exam style questions and examination set texts.