Within the curriculum area of
English at Wadebridge School, it is our goal to achieve a balance between developing
the literacy skills needed to achieve examination results that will enable
students to unlock the next stage of their learning, whilst fostering an
enthusiasm for high quality literature that opens up the world of the past,
present and future.
English Curriculum Overview
Key Stage 4 English
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Key
Stage 4
(Years
9, 10 & 11)
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At KS4, the curriculum builds on students’ success at KS3 and allows
them to appreciate the depth and power of the English literary heritage. In
Y9, students will engage with challenging GCSE set texts such as ‘An
Inspector Calls’ bookended by the AQA Power and Conflict anthology. Students
will begin to understand and critically evaluate texts through extended
writing opportunities. The curriculum is designed to study and write a range
of transactional text types that are thematically linked to areas of study.
Students in Y9 will have a dedicated grammar lesson once a fortnight to build
on the spelling rules from KS3 and improve accuracy and effectiveness in
their writing. Y10 and 11 will continue their development covering the
remainder of the AQA Literature set texts and fine-tuning their extended
critical writing skills in preparation for their GCSEs.
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A parent's guide to the new GCSE English and English Literature exam
GCSE English Literature Years 9 and 10 - information
English Language Support Information
English Literature Support Information
GCSE English Language - course outline
GCSE English Literature - course outline
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Key
Stage 3
(Years
7 & 8)
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At KS3, curriculum content is wide, varied and challenging. Students
will encounter literature from across time, genres and thematic links - from
Gothic to Shakespeare through a range of prose, poetry and drama. Our
curriculum design will develop an appreciation and love of reading whist at
the same time understanding the craft of writing. The content at KS3 is
designed to feed in to Literature at KS4 giving the foundations for deeper,
more complex understanding of the subject. At KS3, students are allocated one
library lesson a fortnight where they will work through the class reader and
have access to the school’s excellent library to promote reading for
pleasure. Grammar and Spelling lessons are embedded into our curriculum to
help build on existing knowledge and improve the accuracy, structure and
effectiveness of their writing – learning to write exploratory essays, narrative
and transactional writing in preparation for the demands of KS4. Spoken
Language activities are embedded in all schemes with specific teaching in the
Drama units covered.
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Year 7 English Topics
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Year 7
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Text and assessment
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The Gothic
Lang -Narrative/descriptive writing
Lit - Gothic short story (setting and atmosphere) Poe
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Shakespeare
Lit - Presentation of Caliban in Shakespeare’s ‘The
Tempest’
Lang - Speech on climate change/environment (F)
Bullying (S)
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Nature (Romanticism/Art)
Lit - Romantic poets (Anthology led)
Lang - Article about local area/attractions/ focus to
be on the natural beauty of Cornwall
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Charlotte Dymond
Drama - The Ballad/Dramatic
performance
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Year 8 English Topics
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Year 8
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Text and assessment
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Power and Conflict
Literature and Poetry
& Drama
Lang - (Marius)
Complaint Letter and Article
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Play
Lit - Oliver Twist character and theme based analysis
Lang - Report and Review
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English through the Ages
Literature across time
Lang - Informal letters
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Key Stage 3 Homework
At KS3 students are encouraged to read for pleasure. Each year students will read three varied and challenging texts suitable for age and ability. Students will read one book per term and complete linked work as their homework and use library lessons as a forum for discussions.
Recommended Reading List (KS3)
All texts are available in the Learning Resource Centre
Speedy Reads |
Quick Reads |
Gutsy Reads |
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‘Dark Man’ * - Lancet IHero * - Barlow & Skidmore IHorror* - Barlow & Skidmore Superhero* - D.C Comics Anything by Helen Orme Graphic Revolve ... Series of Classic Novels in graphic form |
Skullduggery Pleasant * - Landy Magyk* - Sage Dead Man’s cove- St John Broken Soup – Valentine Life on the Refrigerator Door – Kuipers Blade Series * - Bowler Artemis Fowl – Colfer Tales of Terror from the Black Ship – Priestley A Dog for Life – Matthews A Year without Autumn – Kessler The London Eye Mystery – Siobhan Dowd My Name is Mina – David Almond Boom – Mark Haddon |
Any Book By Kevin Brooks Knife – Anderson Gone* – Grant Ingo* – Dunmore Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins I am Number 4 –Lore Power of 6 - Lore The Secret Garden – Burnett The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe – Lewis Black Beauty – Sewell Swallows & Amazons * - Ransome Mr Creecher – Chris Priestley |
Gifted & Talented Policy
Year 7
Year 7 is a fresh start for all students; those who may not have excelled previously will have new opportunities to succeed. We feel that Year 7 should begin with a level playing field and that each individual student should be judged on their performance within the context of their new English class.
Year 7 Gifted and Talented students will be identified in the January of Year 7, so that there is a body of assessment to display their skills in the three aspects of English: Reading, Writing and Drama/Speaking and Listening. This judgement will not take into account their KS2 data, only their current performance. The students who achieve GCSE 5 and above in any of the assessed aspects will be identified as Gifted and Talented in that particular area of English.
Year 8
The criteria for Gifted and Talented students in Year 8 will be those who have achieved and are working at GCSE 6 and above in any of the assessed aspects of English, by January of Year 8. They will be identified as Gifted and Talented in that particular strand of English. This list will replace the list of those students who were previously identified in Year 7.
Year 9
The criteria for Gifted and Talented students in Year 9 will be those who have achieved and are working at GCSE 7 in any of the assessed aspects of English, by January of Year 9. They will be identified as Gifted and Talented in that particular strand of English. This list will replace the list of those students who were previously identified in Year 8.
Throughout the academic year there will be a series of enrichment opportunities available for our Gifted and Talented learners, as well as differentiated assessments to allow them to showcase their skills.
Useful Websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/english/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/
http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/interactive_ks3_english.asp
http://www.parentsintouch.co.uk/English-KS3/4-worksheets
http://u2learn.com/ks3-english-links.html
http://www.tameside.gov.uk/libraries/childrens/webzone/homework/english
Wadebridge School