Time Allocation: Students study English for three 1-hour lessons per week in each of Year 7 and Year 8.
Grouping: English is taught in mixed ability groups.
Course Content: During KS3, students complete half-termly units covering reading, writing and speaking and listening:
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Year 7
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Year 8
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Autumn
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Autumn 1: Autobiographical Fantasy Writing
Writing task: A fantasy short story with autobiographical elements.
Autumn 2: Novel ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Students to study a novel and complete a close analysis with a focus on character and context.
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Autumn 1: Mystery and Gothic Writing
My Mystery Story (inspired by The Tell-Tale Heart short story by Edgar Allan Poe)
Autumn 2: War Poetry
Essay comparing attitudes to war presented in two poems: ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen and
‘Who’s for the Game?’ by Jessie Pope.
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Spring
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Spring 1: ‘Roots’ Poetry Unit
Poems from a range of cultures outside the UK, including Ireland and the Caribbean.
Essay comparing two poems – ‘Island Man’ and ‘Hurricane Hits England’, both by Grace Nichols.
Spring 2: Shakespeare ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Writing and speaking and listening assessments: A re-creative writing piece and role-play based on the play.
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Spring 1 Novel: ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’
Students to study a novel and complete a close analysis of language and structure.
Spring 2 Novel: ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’
Students complete their study of the novel and complete a close analysis of language and structure.
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Summer
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Summer 1: Transactional Writing
Students will learn to write in a variety of styles and approaches.
Summer 2: Novel ‘In the Sea There Are Crocodiles’
A whole text thematic assessment
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Summer 1: Rhetoric
Students learn about Graeco-Roman rhetoric and read a range of contemporary and historical speeches before crafting their own.
Summer 2: Shakespeare ‘Twelfth Night’.
Students learn the conventions of a Shakespearean comedy and explore notions of gender and identity.
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Assessment:
Formal Assessment:
Pupils have an interim assessment and final assessment for each unit. The targets set for the interim assessment should help them to achieve their best in the final assessment.
Homework:
Pupils will be set homework on a twice weekly basis. This will include reading and writing tasks as well as learning of spellings.
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