KS4 English

Y10 Content Autumn

To begin their GCSE course, students will focus on their first English Literature text: the AQA GCSE Poetry anthology. They will explore a number of poems, from different time periods and genres, which all present ideas about the themes of ‘Power and Conflict’. They will explore poems that cover a range of global conflicts from the 19^th century to the modern day. From Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade” to Carol Ann Duffy’s War Photographer, students will learn about differences in methods of warfare and the conditions for soldiers and civilians as well as exploring the perspective of poets, understanding the impact of propaganda and our changing sensibilities surrounding the effects of mental trauma. They will draw on their knowledge and skills from Key Stage 3 to help them analyse, make comparisons and evaluate the poems in their contexts.

After half term, students will begin their study of their 19^th Century Literature set text - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - building their analytical skills in response to short extracts and developing a critical understanding of the writer's presentation of key ideas/characters/themes across the whole text. Pupils will also be given the exciting opportunity to watch a production of A Christmas Carol by Quantum Theatre in school on Thursday 23^rd November!

Y10 Content Spring

After Christmas, pupils will complete their study of A Christmas Carol that they began in the Winter term.

We will then begin our study of the English Language GCSE, focussing on AQA Paper 1 in which pupils respond to a fiction extract from a modern novel and complete a piece of creative writing. Pupils are encouraged to pay particular focus to their writing skills and accuracy as well as exploring how different authors craft texts using language and structural devices to impact the reader.

Pupils will also prepare for and complete their Spoken Language Examination for which they must give a 10 minute presentation on a topic of their choice. In class, they will consider what makes and effective presentation topic, how to structure ideas and interest the audience as well as responding to questions. They will have the opportunity to watch and evaluate a range of speeches from celebrities, politicians, students and even teachers! They will record their SL assessment with their teacher and a small audience of friends before Easter.

Y10 Content Summer

In the summer term, students study their Shakespearean text – Macbeth. They will consider how Shakespeare crafts characters and structures the play to impact the audience as well as his use of language choices and figurative language. We will consider how historical contextual factors such as the Gunpowder Plot, the ascension of King James to the throne as well as fear of the supernatural, witch hunts and gender stereotypes impacted the play’s production and reception. They will also consider the concept of tragedy, understanding the Ancient Greek traditions from which is stems as well as moral and social questions such as the role of fate, responsibility and pride in our decision making and what makes us human.

Students will have the opportunity to watch a range of productions and consider directors’ choices as well as taking on the role of actors and directors themselves, considering how staging, costumes and acting decisions can affect the audience’s perception of characters and events.

Y11 Content Autumn

Pupils begin year 11 by revising their Shakespearean text Macbeth in preparation for their October mock examination of Edexcel English Literature Paper One (Shakespeare and Modern Text).

Pupils then move onto AQA English Language Paper 2, developing the core skills needed for analysing Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing. They will analyse, evaluate and compare unseen non-fiction texts as well as developing their skills in writing for different audiences and purposes.

Towards Christmas, students will begin their study of their final GCSE Literature set text - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - building their analytical skills in response to short extracts and developing a critical understanding of the writer's presentation of key ideas/characters/themes across the whole text. Pupils will also be given the exciting opportunity to watch a production of A Christmas Carol by Quantum Theatre in school on Thursday 23^rd November!

Y11 Content Spring

After Christmas, pupils will complete their study of A Christmas Carol that they began in the Winter term before returning to their study of Poetry.

Pupils will revise the poems first taught in the autumn of Year 10 and complete their work on the Belonging Anthology, paying particular attention to making links between poems, understanding the impact of context, the importance of poets’ perspectives and language choices and comparing how they are similar or different. They will also develop their ability to respond to Unseen Poems using the skills they have developed in their anthology study.

Pupils will also return to Language Paper 1, focussing on examination skills and responding to fiction texts for the AQA examination.

Throughout the spring term, pupils will frequently revise and revisit topics from across their KS4 study in preparation for their examinations

Y11 Content Summer

Pupils are focussed on revision before sitting their four GCSE Examinations.