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Description:

English lessons at Our Lady’s will offer students the opportunity to enjoy exciting texts, expand vocabulary, explore writers’ choices and learn the secrets of engaging writing. Our curriculum is diverse and feminist and allows students to venture into the captivating world of novels, poetry, plays, film, print media and a range of non-fiction texts. Year 9 acts as a foundation year or transition into KS4 but we do not begin the GCSE texts until the summer term to keep their experience of Literature broad.

Be prepared to bring your voice and ideas to lessons!

Key Stage 3 Course Content:

Year 7

Autumn term	Term 1 and Term 2: Dystopian fiction: The Giver by Lois Lowry Students will first learn what a utopia is. As the plot develops, students will then learn what dystopian literature is. This unit focuses on the structure of the novel as it develops into a dystopian world. Students use this knowledge, as well as new vocabulary and literary devices, to write their own descriptive writing.
Spring term	Term 1: Poetry: Identity Poetry This introduction to poetry explores the theme of identity and growing up through Jackie Kay’s poetry from her collection Red, Cherry Red. Students will learn how to read and write poetry using literary techniques. Students will perform their own poetry to their class. Term 2: Gothic Horror and Frankenstein: Gothic Horror This unit focuses on providing students with a breadth of knowledge of the genre, canonical texts and writers and thrilling historical information to help students make sense of the genre. By the end of the unit, students will have knowledge of features of the gothic and will have applied this knowledge to their own gothic horror writing.
Summer term	Term 1: Introduction to Dickens The main aim of the unit is for students to know how to approach reading 19th Century literature. Students will know the plot of Great Expectations and will explore character development, focusing mainly on Miss Havisham. We will also study Dickens’ descriptions of setting, exploring language in descriptions of Satis House and the marshes. Students will compare Dickens’ description of Miss Havisham to his description of Bill Sykes Term 2: Shakespeare comedy and the Globe theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream The unit aims to explore the plot of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and its fantastical characters. Students will explore the presentation of Helena and Hermia as feminist readers, and will even rewrite or perform scenes as feminist writers. Students will also learn how to approach Shakespeare’s language. They will visit Bankside and the Globe Theatre, taking part in a workshop on the play.

Autumn term

Term 1 and Term 2: Dystopian fiction: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Students will first learn what a utopia is. As the plot develops, students will then learn what dystopian literature is. This unit focuses on the structure of the novel as it develops into a dystopian world. Students use this knowledge, as well as new vocabulary and literary devices, to write their own descriptive writing.

Spring term

Term 1: Poetry: Identity Poetry

This introduction to poetry explores the theme of identity and growing up through Jackie Kay’s poetry from her collection Red, Cherry Red. Students will learn how to read and write poetry using literary techniques. Students will perform their own poetry to their class.

Term 2: Gothic Horror and Frankenstein: Gothic Horror

This unit focuses on providing students with a breadth of knowledge of the genre, canonical texts and writers and thrilling historical information to help students make sense of the genre. By the end of the unit, students will have knowledge of features of the gothic and will have applied this knowledge to their own gothic horror writing.

Summer term

Term 1: Introduction to Dickens

The main aim of the unit is for students to know how to approach reading 19th Century literature. Students will know the plot of Great Expectations and will explore character development, focusing mainly on Miss Havisham. We will also study Dickens’ descriptions of setting, exploring language in descriptions of Satis House and the marshes. Students will compare Dickens’ description of Miss Havisham to his description of Bill Sykes

Term 2: Shakespeare comedy and the Globe theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream

The unit aims to explore the plot of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and its fantastical characters. Students will explore the presentation of Helena and Hermia as feminist readers, and will even rewrite or perform scenes as feminist writers. Students will also learn how to approach Shakespeare’s language. They will visit Bankside and the Globe Theatre, taking part in a workshop on the play.

Year 8

Autumn term	Black British fiction: Diverse Shorts The short stories chosen in this unit address a range of diverse topics, from prejudice and discrimination to immigrantion, the Windrush generation and the BWIR in WWII. Each story explores challenging ideas and activities designed to encourage students to critically engage with these ideas. Students will also secure knowledge of the short story form itself. 19th Century Fiction and colonialism: Jane Eyre This is the second 19th-century text studied at KS3 and the third unit where students will develop their knowledge of character development. This will be another study of a canonical text/writer (AMND, Frankenstein, Great Expectations). Studying 19th Century literature means students will add to their vocabulary knowledge as well as applying historical knowledge to their understanding of character development.
Spring term	Of Mice and Men: Students will be introduced to a modern classic of American Literature through the Great American Novel. They will be introduced to the historical and political context of the text. They will further their understanding of character and theme development. They will also be introduced to a number of new literary devices. This unit explores the treatment of women and racial segregation and discrimnitation in 1930s American society from an anti-racist and feminist viewpoint.
Summer term	Poetry from diverse cultures: This unit intends to broaden students’ knowledge of poetry from different cultures. Some of the poems studied in Year 7 introduced this topic, but knowledge is deepened throughout this unit. Students will become aware of poetry from around the world and will be encouraged to seek out poetry from their family’s culture. Students will also write and perform their own poetry. Conflict in Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet This is our second Shakespeare unit, so students will build on their understanding of Shakespeare’s plays. Students will deepen their reading knowledge through closer reading of imagery. Once students know plot and characters, the unit focuses on Juliet’s growing conflict with her parents due to gender expectations.

Autumn term

Black British fiction: Diverse Shorts

The short stories chosen in this unit address a range of diverse topics, from prejudice and discrimination to immigrantion, the Windrush generation and the BWIR in WWII. Each story explores challenging ideas and activities designed to encourage students to critically engage with these ideas. Students will also secure knowledge of the short story form itself.

19th Century Fiction and colonialism: Jane Eyre

This is the second 19th-century text studied at KS3 and the third unit where students will develop their knowledge of character development. This will be another study of a canonical text/writer (AMND, Frankenstein, Great Expectations). Studying 19th Century literature means students will add to their vocabulary knowledge as well as applying historical knowledge to their understanding of character development.

Spring term

Of Mice and Men:

Students will be introduced to a modern classic of American Literature through the Great American Novel. They will be introduced to the historical and political context of the text. They will further their understanding of character and theme development. They will also be introduced to a number of new literary devices. This unit explores the treatment of women and racial segregation and discrimnitation in 1930s American society from an anti-racist and feminist viewpoint.

Summer term

Poetry from diverse cultures:

This unit intends to broaden students’ knowledge of poetry from different cultures. Some of the poems studied in Year 7 introduced this topic, but knowledge is deepened throughout this unit. Students will become aware of poetry from around the world and will be encouraged to seek out poetry from their family’s culture. Students will also write and perform their own poetry.

Conflict in Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

This is our second Shakespeare unit, so students will build on their understanding of Shakespeare’s plays. Students will deepen their reading knowledge through closer reading of imagery.

Once students know plot and characters, the unit focuses on Juliet’s growing conflict with her parents due to gender expectations.

Key Stage 4 Course Content: English Language

Core subject: English Language

Qualification Gained	GCSE
Board	AQA (8700)
Potential Tiers of Entry	One Common Tier

Course Outline

GCSE English Language will develop your reading and writing skills. You will analyse a range of nonfiction texts written between the 19th century and the 21st century, covering a range of themes and genres such as letters, autobiographies, opinion articles and diaries or essays, reviews and journalism. You will also analyse fiction extracts from the 20^th and 21^st century. You will develop your writing so that you can write in a range of different styles, as well as for different audiences.

You will study a range of extracts from texts on different topics and themes to develop your knowledge about how writers use language and structure to influence and interest their audiences. These extracts will be from both fiction and nonfiction texts written from 1800 to the present day. You will have the opportunity to develop your creative writing in a wide range of styles for a range of different purposes and audiences. You will build upon the techniques you already know from Key Stage 3 so that you are able to express your views in a way that will achieve the maximum amount of impact on your audience.

In Year 10, students will study how fiction writers use language and how they structure their texts for effect. You will also develop descriptive writing using pictures and develop skills in structuring a narrative.

In Year 11, students will study the perspective of non fiction writers and how they convey ideas and viewpoints. You will write in a variety of non fiction styles, being persuasive or developing a viewpoint. You will perform a speech on a topic you are interested in.

In Year 11, students will study past papers and practise answers for Paper 1 and 2.

Assessment Methods

There are two written examinations for English Language, there are no tiers of entry for this subject.

Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing:

1 hour 45 min exam. 50% of GCSE.

Section A Reading (40 marks 25% of GCSE) Four questions about literary fiction extracts you are given.

Section B Writing (40 marks 25% of GCSE) Descriptive or narrative writing: one extended creative answer.

Paper 2 Writers' viewpoints and perspectives:

1 hour 45 mins exam. 50% of GCSE.

Section A Reading (40 marks 25% of GCSE) Four questions about two or three literary non-fiction extracts you are given.

Section B Writing (40 marks 25% of GCSE) Writing to present a viewpoint: one extended creative answer.

Spoken Language – will also be tested by your teacher. For this element of you course you will receive a Spoken Language endorsement which will not count towards your GCSE grade. For this element of the course you will be assessed on how you present, respond to questions/feedback and your use of standard English.

Key Textbook: AQA GCSE English Language - Developing the Skill for Learning and Assessment - Oxford University Press ISBN: 987-0-19-834074-4

Key Stage 4 Course Content: English Literature

Core subject: English Literature

Qualification Gained	GCSE
Board	AQA (8702)
Potential Tiers of Entry	One Common Tier

Course Outline

GCSE English Literature will develop your reading and analysis skills. You will read a variety of texts by many different authors from different time periods.

You will study a wide range of texts including “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' by R.L. Stevenson and “An Inspector Calls” by J.B. Priestley. You will also study a collection of poetry on the theme of “Power and Conflict” or “Love and Relationships” and learn how to analyse “unseen” poems.

In Year 10, students will study JB Priestley ‘An Inspector Calls’ and 15 poems from the AQA Anthology.

In Year 10, students will study Shakespeare ‘Macbeth’ In Year 11, students will study RL Stevenson ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ or Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Unseen poetry.

Assessment Methods

There are two written examinations for English Literature. There are no tiers of entry for this subject.

Paper 1 Shakespeare and the 19th century novel:

1 hour 45 min exam. 64 marks 40% of GCSE

Section A Shakespeare: one question on “Macbeth”.

Section B The 19th-century novel: one question on “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' by R.L. Stevenson

Paper 2 Modern texts and poetry:

2 hour 15 min exam. 96 marks. 60% of GCSE

Section A Modern texts: one essay question on “An Inspector Calls” by JB Priestley.

Section B Poetry: Compare two poems on the theme of “Power and conflict” or “Love and Relationships”

Section C Unseen Poetry: Analyse an unseen poem and compare it to another unseen poem.

Resources

Grammar and Punctuation site

BBC Bitesize KS3 Spelling, punctuation and grammar site

A Midsummer Night’s dream

Year 7 and Year 8 Recommended Reading List

English Department

Subject Leader

Ms E Tunnicliffe

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