Curriculum
Phase 1
Students are given the chance to study a huge range of different texts at KS3. In Year 7, students learn about Shakespeare and read ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ while also studying non-fiction texts about Aliens and reading an exciting novel like ‘Room 13’ or ‘Feather Boy’. In Year 8, they get the chance to study Media with a look at the James Bond films, read another novel with the classic, ‘A Private Peaceful’ and continue their Shakespeare appreciation with ‘Macbeth’. Finally, in Year 9, students work towards their SATs exams by studying a more advanced novel such as ‘1984’, ‘Lord of the Flies’ or ‘Stormbreaker’, undertake a unit on ‘The Horror and Glory of War’, read Shakepeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and create a selection of Travel Writing.
Phase 2
Students study both GCSE English and English Literature with the WJEC examination board. They must complete a total of six pieces of written coursework to assess their Reading and Writing. English has two 2 hour final exams while English Literature has one 2 and a half hour final exam.
The first, the study of a play by Shakespeare such as 'The Merchant of Venice', 'Julius Caesar' or 'Othello', teaches them how to analyse language in detail, to understand character relationships and motivation as well as giving them a knowledge of stage craft and the art of the playwright.
Secondly, students will read a pre-1914 novel from the English Literary Heritage, for example, the thrilling ‘The War of the Worlds’ by HG Wells, Shelley’s classic gothic horror, ‘Frankenstein’ or the creepy ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, and create an assignment that analyses language use and meaning, considers plotting and structure, and compares and contrasts characters.
Next, students will complete two assignments on a range of poetry. The first will look at poetry from different cultures, poetry by Seamus Heaney, Grace Nichols or Lawrence Ferlinghetti for instance. The second piece will ask them to compare poetry from the 19th Century with poetry from the 20th by such poets as Robert Browning, Ben Jonson or Simon Armitage.
Finally, students are required to complete two pieces to demonstrate their skill in writing. The first piece asks them to write a short story, possibly in the gothic tradition, while the second, done in timed, classroom conditions, asks them to write a review, usually of a film.
In addition, they must also complete three Speaking and Listening assignments, working individually, in a pair and in a group on presentations to the class, drama productions, and discussion and debate.
Students can also choose GCSE Media Studies with the AQA examination board, a difficult but rewarding subject that gives them the chance to critically analyse the ever-expanding range of Media that surrounds them; newspapers, magazines, television, advertising, movies and the internet are all studied in depth and detail. The course is made up of 50% coursework and 50% Controlled Test, a final exam that has the benefit of being pre-released to students giving them time to fully prepare for the three hours they are allowed. There is a strong emphasis on production skills in the subject, too, and students learn a great deal of photography, ICT and English skills. In the past, students have created professional standard examples of Fashion Advertising, exciting and engaging music videos and intricately-crafted magazine front covers. The subject has a record of success, also; in 2008, 77% of students achieved a Grade C or above.
