All Hallows Catholic High School
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English
Curriculum
In English we aim to create an atmosphere where students develop their curiosity and enjoy taking an active part in their lessons. Through exploring texts to examine how meaning is created, we want to develop confident speakers, reflective readers and fluent, accurate and imaginative writers.
We have a clear focus on literacy skills and use formative and summative assessment to give our students individual targets focusing on what they need to do to improve. The teachers in the English department are all subject specialists who have a passion for the subject and a love of teaching. There is close liaison with the Learning Support department to identify and provide support for those who need it.
Extra-curricular activities and visits
We have a varied and interesting programme of author visits and strong links with Lancashire Book of the Year run by the department. We encourage students to take part in a Reading Week where they participate in a range of activities, including a sponsored read for charity. We run a Gothic Writing Workshop in Year 7 with a visiting author, allowing students full access to the writer’s craft. Alongside the departmental activities, we also contribute to the whole -school celebration of various nationally-celebrated events such as World Book Day and National Poetry Day. There are also opportunities to see plays both in school with visiting companies or trips to the theatre.
Staffing
- Mr S Henderson Head of English
- Mrs Cairns Assistant Head of English
- Mrs Hall Teacher of English/Learning Manager (Yr7)
- Mrs Hodgson Teacher of English/Learning Manager (Yr8)
- Miss Consiglio Teacher of English/Educational Visits Coordinator
- Miss Cooper Teacher of English/Assistant Learning Manager (Yr11)
- Miss Poston Teacher of English/Literacy Coordinator
Facilities
English is taught in six designated classrooms based around the Learning Resource Centre. We enjoy a wide range of resources including class readers, computers and a librarian.
Aims
The English curriculum at All Hallows enables pupils, regardless of their starting point, to learn more about language and how it can be used in different forms for different purposes. It also enables pupils to discover the joy of Literature through reading and arranged enrichment opportunities. Through the study of both Language and Literature, pupils will consider world issues, human relationships and different cultures.
Literacy Lessons
Throughout the English curriculum, literacy is an integral skill and a focus for all lessons. Each unit of work is supported by relevant literacy skills which are both integrated into teaching of all lessons and specifically focused upon during literacy lessons. Literacy lessons offer the opportunity to expand vocabulary and grammar, including regular spelling tests, the use of reading logs to encourage reading outside of the classroom and regular literacy activities on the key foci for the unit. We also select a class reader from a selection of books that are age-appropriate, which we read for pleasure within the lesson. This allows all students to experience the joy of reading and have good reading and oracy skills modelled through teaching.
Assessment
Students are assessed in reading and writing. Continuous assessment is used to level pupils throughout the course. Students are set targets at the end of key pieces of work and given the opportunity work on these targets before revisiting that particular skill.
Year 7
Throughout the course of the year, students will:
- Study a mixture of Literature and Language cover reading, writing and speaking and listening skills.
- Learn how to find textual evidence and analyse its effects on the reader.
- Develop their descriptive writing skills.
- Learn how to write non-fiction pieces.
- Develop understanding of Shakespeare and use drama to explore characters, relationships and themes.
Pupils will be introduced to the literary canon through a study of Gothic literature and Shakespeare. In modern literature they will examine the human experience of war. English Language will encourage students to consider the power of language in the world of business and how it can be used to target and persuade audiences.
Year 8
Throughout the course of the year, students will:
- Study a mixture of Literature and Language developing reading, writing and speaking and listening skills, including the play format outside of Shakespeare for the first time in Key Stage 3.
- Learn how to find textual evidence and analyse its effects on the reader showing more in - depth analysis.
- Develop their descriptive writing skills introducing more descriptive techniques.
- Develop understanding of poetry from other cultures, showing understanding of poetic voice and message. This includes an introduction to historical context of poetry.
- Learn how to write more advanced non-fiction pieces.
In English Language pupils will develop their understanding of other cultures through a selection of non-fiction writing and reading texts. The study of modern literature uses the class play and poetry to explore the theme of childhood and its influence upon shaping later adult life. Creative writing enables the exploration of different identities and experiences, whilst enhancing and improving literacy skills.
Year 9
Throughout the course of the year, students will:
- Study a mixture of challenging Literature texts and Language enhancing reading, writing and speaking and listening skills.
- Learn how to find textual evidence and analyse its effects on the reader developing critical analysis.
- Develop their descriptive writing skills introducing more sophisticated descriptive techniques.
- Learn how to write more advanced non-fiction pieces developing strong arguments and using effective persuasive techniques.
- Develop understanding of a variety of modern poetry. They will also develop the skill to understand poets’ experience and historical context and link this to the meaning behind poetry.
In English Language pupils will learn the art of rhetoric and public speaking. Writing is assessed through an exploration of the influence social media is having upon the individual and human communication. Shakespeare’s Macbeth enables pupils to explore the complex themes of gender and power as a corrupting and destructive force. In Literature, Post-Colonial identities are explored and contextualised. Through the study of contemporary novels and poetry, pupils evaluate how writers and poets have constructed modern representations of ethnicity during the 20th and 21st century.
Year 10 & Year 11
G.C.S.E. English Language.
Paper 1: 20th Century Literature Reading and Creative Prose Writing
- Exam:1 hour 45 minutes
- Weighting: 40%
Section A (20%) – Reading
- 20th century prose extract assessed through a range of structured questions.
Section B (20%) - -Prose writing
- One creative writing task.
- Choice of 4 titles.
Paper 2: 19th and 21st Century Non-Fiction Reading and Transactional/Persuasive Writing
- Exam:2 hours
- Weighting: 60%
- Section A (30%) – Reading
- Understanding of two extracts of high quality non-fiction writing, one 19th century and one 21st century, assessed through a range of structured questions
- Section B (30%) – Writing
- Two transactional/persuasive writing tasks
Spoken language
Non exam
Not weighted
- One presentation/speech, including responses to questions and feedback
- Mark will be reported as part of qualification, but not form part of final mark and grade.
G.C.S.E. English Literature
Paper 1
Exam : 2 hours
Weighting : 40%
Section A (20%) Shakespeare
- Romeo and Juliet
- One extract question and one essay question based on the reading of a Shakespeare text from the above prescribed list.
- Learners are not permitted to take copies of the set texts into the examination.
Section B (20%) Poetry from 1789 to the present day
- Two questions based on poems from the WJEC Eduqas Poetry Anthology, one of which involves comparison.
- Learners are not permitted to take a copy of the anthology into the examination.
Paper 2
Time: 2 hrs 3O minutes
Weighting: 60%
Section A (20%) Post-1914 Prose/Drama
- Blood Brothers (Russell)
- One source-based question on a post 1914 prose/drama text from the above prescribed list.
- Learners are not permitted to take copies of the set texts into the examination.
- Section B (20%) 19th Century Prose
- A Christmas Carol (Dickens)
- One source-based question on a 19th century prose text from the above prescribed list.
- Learners are not permitted to take copies of the set texts into the examination.
- Section C (20%) Unseen Poetry from the 20th/21st Century
- Two questions on unseen poems, one of which involves comparison.
