English

Key Stage 3
The current KS3 curriculum has been carefully designed in tandem with changes to the new GCSE courses.  Our schemes of work cover a range of texts from Shakespeare to Steinbeck, and encompass all the skills necessary to prepare our pupils for the GCSE they will take from 2017. Pupils introduced to all of the GCSE Assessment Objectives (Reading, Writing and Spoken Language) during year 7, 8 and 9 and will be assessed regularly to track their progress towards GCSE targets.

 

All teachers set weekly homework which will be on Show My Homework. Your child should spend a minimum of 30 minutes per week on homework for English. There is further support available online through BBC Bitesize - please ask for more information.

 

Reading is a central part of the KS3 curriculum. All classes have a timetabled fortnightly Library lesson and year 7 and 8 are also following the Accelerated Reader Programme. English teachers will encourage pupils to select books that will develop their love of reading and raise their reading age and level. Pupils are expected to have a reading book at all times in school and will have a selected tutor period also dedicated to independent reading. English teachers are more than happy to recommend books to read within school and at home and pupils are encouraged to bring in their own suitable books from home if appropriate.

 

The Accelerated Reader programme helps staff guide pupils to select books that are difficult enough to keep them challenged, but not too difficult to cause frustration. It has been proven that AR raises the literacy standards for pupils of all ages and abilities. Once pupils have finished a book they can take a fun, short quiz and gain points and rewards for this. Pupils are rewarded for dedicated reading through their Bronze, Silver and Gold booklets and can win prizes through the year.

 

It is important for your child to read a minimum of thirty minutes a day.  Reading improves vocabulary, focus and concentration and imagination.  All of these skills are important in every subject at Reddish Vale; reading is important for your child’s future.

 

Key Stage 4
In Year 10 and 11 we follow the Pearson/Edexcel course. Students work towards 2 GCSEs: English Language and English Literature. There are 2 papers for each exam which are sat at the end of year 11:

 

Language Paper 1: Reading Fiction and Imaginative Writing (40%)

Language Paper 2: Reading Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing (60%)

Literature Paper 1: Shakespeare and Modern British Prose/Drama (40%)

Literature Paper 2: 19th Century Fiction, Poetry Anthology and Unseen Poetry (60%)

 

Students also sit a compulsory Spoken Language Assessment as part of the GCSE course.

 

There are no tiers of entry for exam in English: pupils are assessed by written examinations only. Students complete regular mock exams through the course and will be given feedback to improve their skills and exam technique. Revision is vital for exam success and we recommend your child completes at least 2 hours of independent revision per week during the course. Revision guides for English Language will be available to purchase. Teachers can recommend further revision guides and there are a range of resources online that will support learning. There will also be further classes and revision support available - please ask for more details. 

 

Students will study a range of texts specific to their English class, but some commonly studied texts are:

 

An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley

The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stephenson

A Shakespeare play such as The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth

Edexcel Conflict Poetry Anthology

 

Please contact your English teacher more information.

 

Outside of the classroom:

There are so many ways to get involved with English outside of lesson time. The Library is open to students every lunch time for independent study or quiet reading. Student Librarians are available to help select a book (please see Ms Carter if you are interested in helping out running the Library). Debate Mate is a club to develop public speaking skills and learn the rules of formal debating from University of Manchester students. It is also a chance to compete against other schools in the Urban Debate League (please see Miss Albanese to get involved). The English department regularly enter students for local and national Creative Writing competitions such as Young Writers and 500 words - these will be promoted throughout the year. There are plenty more opportunities this year such as the Harry Potter trip, Carnegie Awards, Creative Writing Club and much more - just ask your English teacher to get involved!