English and Film Studies

Year 7 English Curriculum Outline

Year 8 English Curriculum Outline

Year 9 English Curriculum Outline 

Year 10 English Curriculum Outline

Year 11 English Curriculum Outline

Exam board: AQA

In KS4 GCSE English Language, our students study the following topics:

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (50% of GCSE)

1. Reading – one literature fiction text
2. Writing – descriptive or narrative writing

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives (50% of GCSE)

1. Reading – one non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text
2. Writing – writing to present a viewpoint

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

1. Presenting
2. Responding to questions and feedback
3. Use of Standard English

Useful websites

AQA GCSE English Language Specification

Year 10 English Curriculum Outline

Year 11 English Curriculum Outline

Exam board: AQA

In KS4 GCSE English Literature, our students study the following topics:

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel (40% of GCSE)

1. Shakespeare play – Romeo and Juliet
2. The 19th-century novel – Jekyll and Hyde by Louis Stevenson or A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry (60% of GCSE)

1. Modern prose or drama texts – An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley or Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
2. The poetry anthology – Power and Conflict
3. Unseen poetry

Useful websites

AQA GCSE English Literature Specification

Year 12 English Language Curriculum Outline

Year 13 English Language Curriculum Outline

Exam board: AQA

In KS5 A Level English Language, our students study the following topics:

Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society (40% of A Level)

1. Textual variations and representations
2. Children’s language development (0-11 years)
3. Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities

Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change (40% of A Level)

1. Language diversity and change
2. Language discourses
3. Writing skills
4. Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities

Non-exam Assessment: Language in Action (20% of A Level)

1. Language investigation
2. Original writing
3. Methods of language analysis are integrated into the activities

Useful websites

AQA A Level English Language Specification

Year 12 English Literature Curriculum Outline

Year 13 English Literature Curriculum Outline

Exam board: AQA

In KS5 A Level English Literature, our students study the following topics:

Paper 1: Literary Genres – Aspects of Tragedy (40% of A Level)

1. King Lear/Othello – William Shakespeare
2. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. Death of a Salesman (drama) – Arthur Miller
4. Selection of John Keats’ poetry

Paper 2: Texts and Genres: Elements of Crime Writing (40% of A Level)

1. Post-2000 prose text
2. Pre-1900 poetry text 
3. Long poem

Non-exam Assessment: Theory and Independence (20% of A Level)

1. Study of two texts: one poetry and one prose text

Useful websites

AQA A Level English Literature Specification

Year 12 Film Studies Curriculum Outline

Year 13 Film Studies Curriculum Outline

Exam board: WJEC

In KS5 A Level Film Studies, our students study the following topics:

Component 1: Varieties of Film and Film Making (35% of A Level)

1. Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study)
2. American film since 2005 (two-film study)
3. British film since 1995 (two-film study)

Component 2: Global Filmmaking Perspectives (35% of A Level)

1. Global film (two-film study)
2. Documentary film
3. Film movements (silent cinema
4. Film movements (experimental film – 1960-2000)

Component 3: Non-exam Assessment: Production (30% of A Level)

1. Assessment of one production and its evaluative analysis

Useful websites

WJEC A Level Film Studies Specification