English
Key Stage 3
In English you will be assessed in Speaking and listening, Reading and Writing for each unit.
The levels range from 1-8. Above level 8 is exceptional progress. In years 7-9 you will probably be working between levels 3 and 7. Teachers will give a letter with the level (e.g. 4a, 4b or 4c; a = highest). Your effort will be graded A, B or C.
Year 7
| Units studied | Examples |
| Biography and autobiography | Analysing and writing biographies and autobiographies |
| Shared Text | Clockwork |
| Travel Writing | Looking at various forms and writing your own |
| Innovative Bristol | Looking at audiences and creating a brochure on Bristol |
| Health: Media and Drama | Explore TV dramas from a written and practical perspective. |
| Narrative | Exploring the nature of narrative |
Year 8
| Units studied | Examples> |
| Literary Heritage | Classic books or the origins of phrases and words |
| Shared Text | Stormbreaker |
| Non-Fiction Writing | Newspaper articles |
| Drama | Looking at scripts and characterisation |
| Health: Media and Drama | Explore TV dramas from a written and practical perspective. |
| Media: Advertising | Looking at various forms of adverts and designing your own |
| Literary Non-Fiction: Argument | Learning how to write an argument |
| Poetry | Analysing and writing poetry and poetic techniques |
Year 9
| Units studied | Examples |
| Shakespeare | The Tempest |
| Shared Text | Holes |
| Media | Looking various mediums, how to recognise them and write in different styles |
| Poetry | Looking at war poems and writing your own. |
| Non-Fiction: Writing and response | Looking at the triplets and preparing for the SATs |
| Poetry | Analysing and writing poetry and poetic techniques |
Speaking and listening
To get a higher level 3 or 4 you must improve the way you:
1. attempt to use Standard English in formal situations
2. develop ideas and sequence events through talk
3. ask questions to develop ideas
4. listen carefully to the opinions and ideas of others
To get a higher level 5 or 6 you must improve the way you:
1. make fluent and confident use of Standard English in formal situations
2. extend your vocabulary
3. listen and respond with sensitivity
4. engage the interest of your listener by varying pace, tone and style of delivery
5. show awareness of your audience by using appropriate language, tone and pace.
Reading
To get a higher level 3 or 4 you must improve the way you:
1. have a general understanding of the text
2. recognise what characters are like
3. begin to read beneath the surface for meaning
4. note the effect of particular words and phrases
To get a higher level 5 or 6 you must improve the way you:
1. comment on the writer’s use of language
2. comment on the structure of the text
3. comment on the creation of setting and atmosphere
4. recognise what the writer is trying to do and how they do it
5. give a personal response to the text
Writing
To get a higher level 3 or 4 you must improve the way you:
1. organise your ideas in a clear way
2. demonstrate imagination in fiction writing
3. use a formal style and Standard English where appropriate
4. in essay writing, support your ideas with evidence, examples and quotations
5. begin to develop your ideas
6. spell basic words correctly
7. use full stops, capital letters and question mark
To get a higher level 5 or 6 you must improve the way you:
1. make use of particular language devices for effect
2. use structure to create effects
3. show an awareness of audience and purpose
4. use correct paragraphs, apostrophes and speech marks, spell less common words correctly.
Key Stage 4
GCSE English Specification A
Click here to download the GCSE English Specification A in PDF format.
GCSE English Coursework
| Coursework | Examples of focus texts | Examples of questions |
| Original Writing | Gothic literature Roald Dahl short stories |
Write a short story in the style of… |
| Media | Magazines Films | Write a review in of … in the style of Empire or Q magazine |
| Shakespeare | Romeo and Juliet Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream | How does Shakespeare present violence and how does it affect the audience? |
| Pre-1914 Novel | Frankenstein 3-4 short stories from Dickens or Conan Doyle | How do the writers use techniques, devices and themes in their stories? |
| Post-1914 Drama | P’tang, Yang, Kipperbang An Inspector Calls Blood Brothers | How do the writers use dramatic devices in relation to a character or theme in the play? |
Click here to download the above courswork information in PDF format.
Extra-Curricular Activities
