English

In KS3 English, our students study the following topics:

Year 7

1. Novel study of Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
2. Diversity and inclusivity; a study of a range of short stories and poems
3. Creative writing
4. Novel study
5. Shakespeare; focus on Shakespearean heroes and villains from across the plays

Year 8

1. Novel study (Dystopian fiction)
2. Shakespeare; focus on the presentation of women in a range of Shakespeare plays
3. Non-fiction; focus on the environment through a range of newspaper articles, letters and leaflets
4. Novel study

Year 9

1. Novel study of Woman in Black by Susan Hill
2. Creative writing
3. Novel study
4. Spoken language
5. Shakespeare 

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

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

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

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