English
Year 7
During Year 7 students build on the skills they developed in Primary School in English Language and Literature. The year is divided up into themes that include Animals, Refugees and Shakespeare. Each term students will study prose, poetry and non-fiction in order to develop their reading and analytical skills. They also develop their writing skills with an emphasis on accuracy, fluency and creativity. They are expected to contribute to class discussions and build their speaking and listening skills.
Year 8
In Year 8 students continue to develop their skills in Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening. The work encompasses work around Sherlock Holmes short stories, a modern play and a range of thematically organised texts. They also study non-fiction and continue to develop their writing skills with an ongoing emphasis on accuracy, fluency and creativity.
Year 9
This is an important year in preparing students for the challenge of GCSE. They study forms of poetry, a novel, a Shakespeare play and pre 20th Century fiction extracts with a view to developing the reading and analytical skills they need for the new GCSE. They also read a range of non-fiction and continue to develop their own writing skills with an ongoing emphasis on accuracy, fluency and creativity.
Year 10
Students begin their EDEXCEL GCSE courses in English Language and Literature. The focus of English Language is to work towards their Paper 1 on Fiction and Creative Writing. In English Literature they will study a modern drama or fiction text and a 19th Century novel. At the end of the year they will deliver a Spoken Language presentation to their class.
Year 11
Students will continue the work they began in year 10. The focus for English language will be on Paper 2 Non Fiction and Transactional Writing. In English Literature they will study a Shakespeare play such as Macbeth and a collection of poetry.
Year 12
We study the EDEXCEL A level in English Literature. In year 12 students will study a Shakespeare play such as Hamlet or Othello, another drama text such as Dr Faustus or The Duchess of Malfi, and two collections of poetry. They will also begin working towards their independent Coursework with the first text that is a taught text.
Year 13
In year 13 students will begin the year by completing work on their coursework, bringing in the text that they have chosen themselves. They will also study a pair of novels for the exam and will finish work on poetry.