Curriculum Area:
English
Last Modified: Tuesday, 01 September 2015
Curriculum Area Booklet
Introduction
The English Department at St. Bernard’s aims to inspire, motivate and challenge all pupils within a
supportive and stimulating environment.
At both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, pupils will engage with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction
texts and develop skills in the three attainment areas of: Reading, Writing and Speaking and
Listening which will equip them with the skills they need for success not only in school but in their
future lives.
The English Department is a thriving and successful department which
achieves excellent results and is well equipped with a wide range of classic
and contemporary fiction and its own set of laptops for pupils to use during
lessons. We aim to enthuse pupils through our own passion for literature and
language and hope that pupils will develop their own love of reading, writing,
speaking and listening.
Staff & Roles
The English Department consists of:
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Mrs Karen Moroz- Curriculum Leader for English
Miss Kate Henderson– English Teacher/AHT
Mrs A Jenkinson – English Teacher
Miss K McArdle – English Teacher/Strategy Leader for I.T.T.
Mrs N Marshall – English Teacher
Mrs S Power - English Teacher/Curriculum Leader for Media
Mrs T Howe– English Teacher/SENCO
Mrs J Hawke– English Teacher
Miss S Lister– English/ Modern Foreign Languages Teacher
Mr Niall Geogehan – English Teacher
Course Information
Key Stage 3 – Y7 and Y8
Year 7
Unit
Novel
Reading and writing – Non Fiction
Shakespeare Study – Literary Heritage
Poetry Across the Ages
Contemporary Play
19th Century Prose – Childhood and Family
Focus
Development of reading, writing and speaking
and listening skills through the study of one of
the following novels: Skellig (David Almond);
Millions (Frank Cottrell Boyce); Kensuke’s
Kingdom (Michael Morpurgo).
Examining a variety of non-fiction texts and
developing reading, writing and speaking and
listening skills for different purposes and
audiences.
Development of reading, writing and speaking
and listening skills through the study of a
Shakespearean text.
Exploring a variety of poetic texts across the ages,
analysing the poets’ use of language and ideas.
Development of reading, writing and speaking
and listening skills through the study of the
structure, themes and characterisation of a play
text.
Exploring a variety of texts from this period and
developing reading, writing and speaking and
listening skills.
Y8
Unit
Novel
C19th and C21st Non fiction and writing to
present a viewpoint
Shakespeare Study – Literary Heritage
Poetry
Contemporary Play
19th Century Prose – Adventure and Mystery
Focus
Development of reading, writing and speaking
and listening skills through the study of one of
the following novels: Holes (Louis Sachar) or The
Boy in Stripped Pyjamas ()
A thematic approach to the examination of a
variety of non-fiction texts, developing reading,
writing and speaking and listening skills for
different purposes and audiences.
Development of reading, writing and speaking
and listening skills through the comprehensive
study of a Shakespearean text.
Exploring a variety of poetic texts across the ages,
analysing the poets’ use of language and ideas.
Development of reading, writing and speaking
and listening skills through the study of the
structure, themes and characterisation of a play
text.
Exploring a variety of texts from this period and
developing reading, writing and speaking and
listening skills.
Skills
Students will develop skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening,
including drama, debate and discussion. They will also be encouraged to
develop their Personal Learning and Thinking Skills in the areas of creativity,
independence, participation, self-management, reflection, team work, social
skills, self-awareness, motivation and empathy.
Assessment
Students will be assessed at key stage 3 through National Curriculum levels and as the year develops
move to the new 1-9 system in line with the new grading policy at GCSE.
Class teachers will assess students over the course of a half term and will regularly set targets for
development. At the end of each unit of work a formal assessment will be carried out across the
department.
Red Hot Reads for KS3
Cosmic – Frank Cottrell Boyce
Framed - Frank Cottrell Boyce
Millions - Frank Cottrell Boyce
Scarper Jack and the Bloodstained Room – Christopher Russell
The Ice-Cream Cone – Jimmy Docherty
The Yellowcake Conspiracy – Stephen Davies
Tamburlaine’s Elephants – Geraldine McCaughrean
The Garbage King – Elizabeth Laird
Century – Sarah Singleton
Darkside – Tom Becker
Martyn Pig – Kevin Brooks *
Wilderness – Roddy Doyle
The Tulip Touch – Anne Fine
Fat Boy Swim – Catherine Forde
Once – Morris Gleitzman
Two Weeks for the Queen - Morris Gleitzman
Thursday’s Child – Sonya Hartnett *
The Black Book of Secrets – F.E. Higgins
Stormbreaker – Anthony Horowitz
Burn my Heart – Beverley Naidoo *
Ways to Live Forever – Sally Nicholls
Tins – Alex Shearer
Blitzed – Robert Swindells
Gangsta Rap – Benjamin Zephaniah
The Whale Rider – Witi Ihimaera *
Private Peaceful – Michael Morpurgo
Carrie’s War – Nina Bawden
His Dark Materials Trilogy - Philip Pullman *
The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne
I, Coriander - Sally Gardner
*challenging books for high achievers
Key Stage 4
The English and English Literature courses aim to develop students’ skills as confident and engaged
readers, writers and speakers, building on what they have already learned at Key Stage Three. These
skills are vitally important for future success, both at school and in a future career.
Y9 – Y11
Skills
Students will study a range of poetry, prose and drama texts, as well as non-fiction texts in
preparation for their examinations. They will focus on the skills needed to be a successful reader,
writer and speaker, developing their understanding of audience, purpose and form.
Additionally, students will develop their communication skills, both written and spoken, as well as
building upon skills in co-operation, team work, creativity, analysis and critical evaluation. They will
be encouraged to voice their own opinions about language and literature, developing a personal
response to the texts studied.
Y9-Y10
From September 2015 students will follow the new AQA specification for both English Language
(8700) and English Literature (8702)
Core Course Components
English Language:
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Reading unseen literature fiction texts (25%)
Reading and analysing an unseen literature fiction text, to consider how writers use narrative
and descriptive techniques to engage readers
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Creative writing – descriptive or narrative writing (25%)
Writing own creative text – demonstrating descriptive and narrative skills in response to a
written prompt, scenario or visual image. (Linked to the topic in the reading section of the
exam)
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Reading (25%)
Two linked sources from different time periods and genres, to consider how each presents a
perspective or viewpoint to influence the reader
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Writing to present a viewpoint (25%)
Writing own text for a specified audience, purpose and form in which they give their own
perspective. (Linked to the theme in the reading section of the exam.)
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Spoken Language Non-Examination Assessment
Giving a formal presentation, responding to questions and feedback, using Standard English
English Literature:
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Shakespeare play
Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About
Nothing, Julius Caesar
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19 century novel
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein,
Pride and Prejudice, The Sign of Four
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Modern prose or drama text
Prose: Lord of the Flies, Telling Tales, Animal Farm, Never Let Me Go, Anita and Me, Pigeon
English
Drama: An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, The History Boys, DNA, The Curious Incident, A
Taste of Honey
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Poetry Anthology
Clusters: Love and Relationships or Power and Conflict.
Need to study all 15 poems in the chosen cluster. Exam includes one comparative question.
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Unseen poetry
Analyse and compare key features. E.g. content, theme, structure, use of language, etc.
Exam includes one comparative question.
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Y11 English Language Qualification (AQA IGCSE)
Assessment for English in Y11 comprises of one coursework project worth 40% of the overall grade,
one speaking and listening activity worth 10% and one examination worth 50%
Coursework Project (40%) - Candidates will carry out independent research and utilise their findings
for a written task in which audience, purpose and form are specified. This will be assessed alongside
a commentary for both reading and writing produced by the candidate.
Speaking and Listening Assessment (10%) - Candidates will complete one task requiring an
individual presentation supported by data and followed by a question and answer session.
Examination - Paper 1 (50%) Section A: Candidates will be given a single text for close study. The
text will be Literary non-fiction. For Foundation tier candidates the text will be divided into short
sections, although at least one question will relate to the whole text.
Section B: There will be three tasks from which candidates choose one: Descriptive, Imaginative,
Argumentative or Discursive.
Examinations.
GCSE English Language:
Paper 1
Creative Reading and Writing
Section A: Reading
Students will read and respond to an unseen literature
fiction text, to consider how the writer has used particular
techniques to interest the reader.
Section B: Writing
Students will write their own creative text, inspired by the
topic that they have responded to in Section A.
Paper 2
Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives
Section A: Reading
Students will read two linked extracts from different time
periods, to consider how each one tries to influence the reader.
Section B: Writing
Students will write their own text, according to a specified
audience, purpose and form, in which they give their own
perspective on the theme introduced in Section A.
Spoken Language
(Non-examination
Assessment)
Students will demonstrate their speaking and
listening skills by:
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Giving a presentation
Responding to questions and feedback
Using Standard English
GCSE English Literature:
Paper 1
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Shakespeare and the 19 century novel
Written exam: 1 hour and 45 minutes
64 marks
40% of GCSE
Section A: Shakespeare
Students will answer one question on the play they have studied in class. They will be
required to write about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
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Section B: 19 century novel
Students will answer one question on the novel they have studied in class. They will be
required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel
as a whole.
Paper 2
Modern Texts and Poetry
Written exam: 2 hours and 15 minutes
96 marks
60% of GCSE
Section A: Modern texts
Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on the modern prose or
drama text they have studied in class.
Section B: Poetry
Students will answer one comparative question on a named poem and one other
poem from a poetry anthology which they have studied in class.
Section C: Unseen Poetry
Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing
this poem with a second, unseen poem.
Y11 English Literature Qualification (AQA IGCSE)
Assessment for English Literature is by coursework and one examination
Coursework
Students will be required to study two texts and write about the links between them. (40%)
Examination
The examination represents 60% of the total marks. There will be one paper for English Literature:
Section A: Candidates will be asked to write on a compulsory unseen poem.
Section B: Candidates will be asked to write about a prose or play text which they will have studied
in class.
For further information please contact a member of the English Curriculum Area.
For GCSE information follow these links: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/englishlanguage-8700
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702
For IGCSE information follow these links:
Y11 English: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/aqa-certificate/english-language-8705/spec-ata-glance
English Literature: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/aqa-certificate/english-literature8710/spec-at-a-glance
KS4 Wider Reading List
Modern Fiction
Alison Allen-Gray Unique
Sherry Ashworth Blinded by the Light, Disconnected, Something Wicked
Iain Banks The Wasp Factory
Bill Bryson Short History of Nearly Everything
Melvin Burgess Junk
Kate Cann Diving In
Jim Carroll Basketball Diaries
Anne Cassidy Tough Love, Story of my Life, Looking for JJ
Tracy Chevalier Girl With a Pearl Earring
Susannah Clarke Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Robert Cormier We All Fall Down
Anita Desai The Village by the Sea
Jennifer Donnelly A Gathering Light
Jack Gantos Desire Lines, Holes in My Life
Arthur Golden Memoirs of a Geisha
Susan Hill I’m the King of the Castle, Woman in Black
Nick Hornby Fever Pitch
Rachel Klein Moth Diaries
David Levithan Boy Meets Boy
Eric Johns Trip of a Lifetime
John Marsden Letters from the Inside
Margaret Mahy 24 hours.
Patricia McCormick Cut
Jan Mark Heathrow Nights
Robert O’Brien Z for Zachariah
Terri Paddock Come Clean
Chris Paolini Eragon
Bali Rai (Un)arranged Marriage
Alice Sebold Lovely Bones
Robert Swindells Wrecked
William Sutcliffe New Boy
Ting-Xing Le Throwaway Daughter
Matt Whyman Boy Kill Man
Jeanne Winterson Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
Gabrilee Zevin Elsewhere
Pre-twentieth century classics
Jane Austen Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility
Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights
Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre
Wilkie Collins The Woman in White
Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist
Mary Shelley Frankenstein
Bram Stoker Dracula
Jonathan Swift Gulliver's Travels
Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Twentieth Century Classics
Arthur Conan Doyle The Hound of the Baskervilles
Daphne Du Maurier Rebecca, Jamaica Inn
F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night
E.M. Forster A Passage to India, A Room with a View
William Golding Lord of the Flies
Jack Kerouac On the Road
Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird
Toni Morrison Beloved
George Orwell Animal Farm, 1984
J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye
John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men
J.R.R. Tolkein The Lord of the Rings
Alice Walker The Colour Purple