English
Back to Subjects ListKey Stage 3
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Course |
KS3 English |
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Overview |
The Key Stage 3 English Curriculum at Orchardside has been designed to promote critical thinking and oracy through respectful discussion and debate while sparking students’ interests and creativity.
We endeavour to introduce pupils to a diverse range of texts and cultures, creating a strong foundation to meet the rigours of Key Stage 4. Within each scheme of learning, pupils will be given the support and knowledge to develop a wide variety of skills including:
At Orchardside, our aim is to ensure that we meet the needs of all our pupils and that we equip them for the next step in their educational journey. |
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How will I be assessed? |
Pupils are robustly assessed at Orchardside. Assessment will occur throughout the schemes of learning by means of quizzes, mini assessments, and oracy tasks.
There will be three formal assessment weeks throughout the school year where pupils will get the opportunity to hone their exam writing skills in preparation for sitting their GCSEs. |
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What will I learn? |
Students will study a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts and learn how to use language and structure to argue their own point of view successfully. Over the course of KS3, students will study Shakespeare, modern drama, novels, short stories, poetry, non-fiction texts and media. Students will also study a variety of famous 20th and 21st Century fiction texts, including Of Mice and Men, Frankenstein, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. |
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Skills and knowledge |
Students will develop their ability to engage meaningfully with fiction and non-fiction texts and mediums. They will develop the understanding and skills needed to express their viewpoint in written and spoken English. We also focus on helping students secure core literacy skills, such as reading for meaning, writing in full sentences and paragraphs, and writing extended texts. |
Key Stage 4
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IGCSE English Language A |
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Overview |
English language focuses on developing core literacy skills: reading and writing. This Edexcel IGCSE qualification develops students’ ability to use and explore language in different contexts and for different purposes and audiences. It also includes the analysis of variety of literary and media texts. Students will have opportunities to write creatively and demonstrate their speaking and listening skills. Students will work towards being able to confidently identify literary features and use relevant subject terminology in their written responses. |
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How will I be assessed |
IGCSE English Language is 60% externally assessed and 40% internally assessed. Students will complete two components as detailed below.
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What will I learn |
Our IGCSE course is spread over two years. In year 10 students will complete their coursework pieces which involves:
Coursework A - Poetry and Prose text One 30-mark essay based on any combination of a total of three texts from the Edexcel IGCSE Language A anthology to include both poetry and prose. Texts will be decided based on the strengths and interests of each cohort.
Assessment B – Literary Heritage Text One 30-mark imaginative writing task which could be either a description or a story. studying the Edexcel IGCSE Anthology Language A as well developing their skills in writing creatively.
We are fortunate to collaborate with the Jack Petchey Foundation to prepare each student for their Speaking and Listening exam.
In year 11 students will focus on the examination section of the IGCSE course which is divided into two sections: Section A: Reading A mixture of short and long answer questions testing a pupil’s comprehension and analysis of writers’ use of language and structure. Section B: Transactional Writing One extended writing task testing a pupil’s ability to communicate with a particular audience and using an appropriate form. These may include, but are not limited to, writing a letter, blog, or article.
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Skills and Knowledge |
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Further support |
Each IGCSE pupil is provided with a login to Seneca learning where independent study materials are provided by their teachers. Students may also use YouTube and BBC Bitesize to support the analysis of individual texts. |
Students will also be robustly assessed through quizzes, mini assessments, and oracy tasks throughout the year. They will also sit three mock formal mock exams to further prepare them for their GCSEs examinations.
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Course |
Edexcel IGCSE English Literature |
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Overview |
English Literature is an interesting, challenging and culturally rich course of study. The students read a wide variety of diverse texts and learn how to write formal academic essays. It is the most advanced course of study we offer in English, and we use the most accessible exam board, ensuring our students receive a well-recognised qualification. Attaining a level 4/5 or above in English Literature will equip students for further study at college or academic A levels in sixth form and will provide them with the extended reading and writing skills necessary for adult life. Our Orchardside students read some of the best books in the world from cover-to-cover and learn how to write to the standard expected at college, sixth form, university and beyond. |
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How will I be assessed |
IGCSE English Literature is 60% externally assessed and 40% internally assessed coursework.
Students will also be robustly assessed through quizzes, mini assessments, and oracy tasks throughout the year. They will also sit three mock formal mock exams to further prepare them for their GCSEs examinations.
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What will I learn |
Our Edexcel IGCSE English Literature course is spread over two years. In year 10 students will complete their coursework pieces which involves: Coursework A – Modern Drama One 30-mark essay on An Inspector Calls Coursework B – Literary Heritage Text One 30-mark essay on Macbeth.
In the Summer terms of year 10 and throughout year 11, students will focus on the examination section of the IGCSE course which is divided into three sections: Section A: Unseen Poetry One 20-mark essay question exploring the meaning and effects created in an unseen poem. Section B: Anthology Poetry One 30 mark essay question from a choice of two, comparing two poems from the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Anthology. Section C: Modern Prose One 40 mark essay question from a choice of two on Things Fall Apart.
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Skills and Knowledge |
Our course takes a skills-based approach to the study of English Literature that is consistent across the genres, whether a Shakespeare drama or a modern poem. We ensure, first and foremost, that our students can read, understand, and interpret challenging texts in order to form their own personal opinions. We then build on their skills to help them write full, secure essays in response to the texts that they are studying. The outcome is that our students will progress from writing guided paragraphs to independently writing five full formal essays over the course of one school year. We are very proud of our students’ hard work and success in English Literature. |
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Further support |
Each IGCSE pupil is provided with a login to Seneca learning where independent study materials are provided by their teachers. Students may also use YouTube and BBC Bitesize to support the analysis of individual texts. |
