The overriding aim of the English curriculum is to foster a love of language and literature and specifically to fulfil students’ ability to use and understand English. The teaching and learning within all English lessons is exciting and challenging. We ensure that all students are successful and fulfil their potential, whatever their starting point.
Our strive for excellence and success has five key principles:
Key Stage 3
KS3 at Weavers includes years 7, 8 and 9, with year 9 structured to embed the skills needed to be successful at GCSE level.
We use a variety of traditional and more modern texts, regularly reviewing the curriculum to ensure it provides a stimulating base to learn, practise and master the skills needed for GCSE and beyond.
Key Stage 4 (GCSE)
All students in Key Stage 4 sit English Literature and English Language GCSEs, following the AQA exam board.
English Language GCSE
The English Language qualification is assessed with two exams sat at the end of year 11, and a spoken language assessment. Paper 1 explores creative reading and writing, whilst Paper 2 focuses on writers’ views and perspectives in non-fiction and literary non-fiction texts. The curriculum covers texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries. We have developed a curriculum that is designed to inspire and motivate, providing appropriate stretch and challenge, enabling the development of the skills needed to read, understand and analyse a wide range of different texts and write clearly.
English Literature GCSE
The English Literature qualification is also assessed with two exams sat at the end of year 11. Paper 1 covers a Shakespearian Play (currently either Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth) and a 19th Century novel (currently Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde). Paper 2 covers a modern text (Lord of the Flies or An Inspector Calls) and a selection of seen and un-seen poetry. The specification is ‘closed text’, meaning students do not have copies of the text in the examination room with them.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students to meet the demands of the specification, taking a skills-based approach to the study of English literature that is consistent across the genres. The English team are focused on teaching inspirational literature lessons allowing students of all abilities to achieve their best on every question. It offers excellent preparation for AS and A-level English Literature, as well as giving students a grounding in a wide variety of literature that will stay with them for life.
Key Stage 5 (A-level)
We are following the A-Level Literature course over two years.
The broad aim of the course is to encourage an enjoyment and appreciation of literature, where personal and critical response is extremely important.
Reading is an essential part of the English literature course and students will be expected to spend much of their own time preparing for lessons by reading the set books. In addition, students will read literature of their own choice. This is especially important as literature helps to open up experience not afforded before; the more the students read, the more competent they become at handling language and the more adept they become at critical analysis. They also become enriched as students of literature.
Students sit two examinations at the end of the two years; Paper 1 ‘Love Through the Ages’ and Paper 2 ‘Texts In Shared Contexts’, for which we will study World War 1 and its aftermath. In addition to this you will submit a 2,500 word essay in which you compare two texts; one of which is your own choice.