English
Faculty Leader: Mr J Daniels
English is at the heart of the curriculum at All Saints and has, as its mission, the education of the whole person in English Language and English Literature. As part of the development of a rounded, knowledgeable and literate individual, we study seminal texts across Literature, non-fiction and literary non-fiction and consider the origins of the text and its ability to widen our intellectual knowledge and emotional maturity.
Key Stage 3
In Year 7, students establish a well-rounded understanding of texts with a view to this understanding being used later in their academic career. Students will be able to critically consider different texts from a range of historical periods. Students will practice writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences, plus planning, drafting, editing and proof-reading. They will foster an appreciation and love of reading and writing for pleasure. For challenge, they will focus on the idea of the key concept of the construct.
In Year 8, students consider whole books, short stories, poems and plays with a wide coverage of genres and their importance in Literature and Language. Students will be able to access a wide variety of Literature in order to provide a basis for making comparisons. Students will embed the skills of writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences, plus planning, drafting, editing and proof-reading, and will further embed an appreciation and love of reading and writing for pleasure.
In Year 9, students will deepen the skills of writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences, plus planning, drafting, editing and proof-reading. They will further widen their appreciation and love of reading and writing for pleasure. Students will begin to develop an individual and personal response and will practice how to evaluate texts critically.
Students in Years 7 and 8 also benefit from Literacy lessons, where there is a specific focus on grammar – punctuation, sentence structure and the organisation of texts. This then informs reading comprehension tasks and leads towards the knowledge and skills required at GCSE level.
Key Stage 4
All students are entered for AQA GCSE English Language and AQA GCSE English Literature. In Years 10 and 11 students consolidate prior Key Stage 3 learning and build on this in order to develop the skills needed to be successful in their exams and academic life.
English Language:
- Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing – 50%
- Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives – 50%
English Literature:
- Paper 1: Shakespeare and Unseen Poetry – 40%
- Paper 2: Modern texts – 60%
What can I do with an English qualification?
English is a subject which is included in the English Baccalaureate. This is the list of subjects which Sixth Form Colleges and universities prefer a student to have studied at least to GCSE level. English Language is the passport to Higher Education and a grade 4 or grade 5 pass is considered essential for most occupations.