English at Millom School
The Department has a keen desire to raise aspirations and standards to ensure that outcomes for students, particularly in Key Stages 3 and 4, are appropriate. Our improvement agenda therefore is clear; which is to confirm and improve the percentage of students achieving 3 or more levels of progress from KS2 to KS4, continue to improve the proportion of students achieving A*-C in English/Literature and the average points score. As a core subject the department clearly has an important role to play in the academic provision for learners at the school. The department is well supported by the school’s Senior Leadership Team.
Taught by:
Mr P Baggaley
Mrs C Smith
Mrs E Ribchester
Miss N Ashton
Mrs S Morton
KS3 – English at Millom School
Students are advised to read as widely as possible, both fiction and non-fiction, including 19th century literature.
Year 7
All students will cover the following units, over the course of the year:
• Autobiographical recount writing
• Narrative writing using a poem as stimulus
• Analysis of 19th and 20th century ballads (‘The Highwayman’, The Lady of Shallot’ and ‘Charlotte O’Neil’s Song’)
• Introduction to letter writing skills
• The novel (Skellig) : a variety of extract and essay based analytical tasks, descriptive writing, report writing, speech writing and a discussion based speaking and listening regarding ‘home schooling’.
• Introduction to Shakespeare’s world and works: analysis of ‘The Seven Ages of Man’ As You Like It, Horrible Histories style leaflet and a speaking and listening individual presentation
Year 8
• The novel (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas): a variety of extract and essay based analytical tasks, descriptive writing, informal and formal letter writing, empathetic narrative writing and a discussion based speaking and listening regarding ‘Outwith’ (Auschwitz).
• Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing): a variety of extract and essay based analytical tasks and an article writing task
• Poetry : close reading and analysis of ‘Cloud on Black Combe’
• Travel: Compare and contrast a 19th century and a 21st century travel articles, narrative writing based around a tourist destination and an individual speaking and listening presentation on a holiday experience.
Year 9 (Foundation KS4)
• Shakespeare (Henry V): a variety of extract and essay based analytical tasks, followed by a GCSE Literature mock
• 20th century English literature prose reading: this will include extracts from Stone Cold, Heroes and Abomination
• English language media and non- fiction: analysis followed by a mock exam
• English language transactional writing skills: to include articles, reports, speeches, leaflets, reviews and letters followed by a mock exam
• The novel (Of Mice and Men) a variety of English literature, extract and essay, based analytical tasks and a group based speaking and listening discussion.
KS4 – English at Millom School
Students are advised to read as widely as possible, both fiction and non-fiction.
Year 10
Exam Board: WJEC (www.wjecservices.co.uk)
English Language Controlled Assessments
• Narrative and expressive writing (10%)
• Descriptive writing (10%)
• Analysis of spoken language (10%)
• Analysis of the novel; Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck (10%)
English Literature Controlled Assessment
• Close analysis of Shakespeare’s Macbeth
• Close analysis of a selection of poems (‘The Passionate Shepherd to His Love’, ‘Cousin Kate’,
‘Sonnet 18’, ‘Sonnet 43’, ‘Valentine’, ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and ‘My Last Duchess’)
• An essay linking the theme of ‘Commitment’ in Macbeth and the poems.
Speaking and Listening
• An individual presentation on something you feel strongly about
• A group based discussion
• A role play based around the poem ‘Stealing’
Year 11
Exam Board: WJEC (www.wjecservices.co.uk)
English Language Examination preparation
• Unit one Reading Media and non-fiction texts- one hour
• Unit two transactional writing – two tasks, thirty minutes each
The following styles could be examined:
Formal letter
Informal letter
Report
Article
Leaflet
Speech
Guide
Review
English Literature Examination Preparation
• Unit one (a)Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck extract and essay questions -one hour
• Unit one (b) Comparison of two unseen modern poems- one hour
• Unit two (a) An Inspector Calls J B Priestley extract and essay questions -one hour
• Unit two (b) Heroes Robert Cormier extract and essay questions – one hour
KS5 – English at Millom School
Exam Board: WJEC
English Literature Exam Preparation (2 ½ hours)
Unit 1a Poetry – Compare and contrast a selection of poems by Seamus Heaney (New Selected Poems 1966- 87) with a selection from Owen Sheers (Skirrid Hill)
Unit 1b Drama – Close analysis of Murmuring Judges by David Hare
Coursework
Unit 2a Prose Study: Compare and contrast A Room with a View E M Forster and The Remains of the Day Kazuo Ishiguro (1500 words).
Unit2b Creative Reading; a piece of creative writing and a commentary based on the ‘Gothic’ genre (1500 words).
Functional Skills (level 2)
Exam Board: WJEC
Paper 1 (1 hour)
Reading of instructional, explanatory, and persuasive texts
Paper 2 (1 hour)
Two informative and persuasive writing tasks
Speaking, listening and communicating (maximum 1 hour)
Two tasks: discussion to cover a range of contexts, which include those that
are unfamiliar; a presentation on a subject you feel strongly about.
Assessment will reflect real life application of the skills for a given purpose.
Year 13 2014-15
Exam Board: WJEC
Coursework
Unit 3a ‘Language Investigation’ own choice of topic (1500 words)
Unit 3b Writing for specific purposes (transactional writing) and commentary
English Language Exam Preparation (2 ½ hours)
Unit 4a Analysing and evaluating spoken language
Unit 4b Analysing and evaluating written language over time