English and Media
Developing a Lifelong Love for the Learning of Literature and Language
Our curriculum across all key stages is intended to develop world-class students through the power of knowledge that can too often be hidden from view and in doing so help to make the implicit, explicit.
We want students to understand that behind every text ever written there is writer intent so that our students develop a critical eye and do not blindly accept things.
As a result of learning in our curriculum area, students will be creative, articulate, imaginative learners who are confident and secure in their opinions and thoughts. We want our students to be adaptable, flexible communicators in spoken and written word and not to be afraid to challenge complex ideas and material.
We want students to have access to a wide range of texts where they can explore universal themes/ideas that transcend the boundaries of time, such as: gender, class divide, power, and inequality.
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Key Stage 3
Years 7 and 8 follow a mastery curriculum based on the premise of embedding core skills to develop a solid base for KS4 learning. They study a range of texts encompassing poetry, prose and plays that clearly link to GCSE examination skills/questions. For example, Year 7 study a range of modules such as: Origins of Literature, The Power of Words: poetry and rhetoric, and the novel The Bone Sparrow. Year 8 modules include: Gothic Fiction, “The Tempest” and Identity poetry, amongst others.
In Year 9, we continue to develop students' skills through the teaching of the following texts: "Media Messages", “Romeo and Juliet” and “An Inspector Calls”, (the latter text being used as a stimulus for their GCSE Spoken Language Presentation in the summer term.)
Key Stage 4
Students study the AQA English Language and English Literature specifications.
Over the two years in Year 10 and 11, students will study not only their set texts, (Macbeth, DNA and A Christmas Carol), but also unseen texts in preparation for English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2. Students will also practice their writing skills for the specific purpose of “writing to describe” and “writing to argue”.
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Key Stage 5
We offer the following popular subjects: English Literature – AQA, English Language – Edexcel, Media - OCR
English Literature: AQA Spec B Board – the core units are “Tragedy" and “Political and Social Protest writing” where students will study Othello, A Death of a Salesman, poetry of Keats, A Handmaid's Tale, The Kiterunner and a collection of poetry by William Blake The NEA unit allows students to choose two texts of their choice and analyse under a particular critical theory such as Narrative, Post-Colonial or Feminist Lens
English Language: Edexcel Board – core units include “Child Language Acquisition”, “Language and Gender”, “Language and Power”, and “Language Variation”. The NEA unit is centred about being creative in writing, with students producing two pieces in a genre of their choice followed with an evaluative commentary.
Media: WJEC Board –The Eduqas AS & A level in media studies offers learners the opportunity to develop a thorough and in-depth understanding of key issues, using a comprehensive theoretical framework and a variety of advanced theoretical approaches and theories to support reflection, analysis and debate. The study of a wide range of rich and stimulating media products such as music videos, advertising, and film promotional material is central to the course, offering opportunities for detailed analysis of how the media communicate meanings in a variety of forms. You will also study Television in the Global Age, Magazines, and Online Media. The course also has a NEA element where students will create two pieces of media such as Magazine pages, music videos and a website.
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Department Staff:
Mrs Kalyan - Curriculum Leader
Miss Groves – Assistant Curriculum Leader in charge of KS3 English
Mrs Bell - Acting Assistant Head
Mr Cockroft - Year 8 Performance Director
Mrs Lindsay (Literacy Lead)
Mrs Coles
Ms Stone
Mrs Stiles
Mrs Bass
Useful Websites
| Subject Documents |
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| English Curriculum Map |