Aims and Curriculum at KS3
Year 7
Pupils have five periods of English per week and two 45 minute homeworks. As a foundation year, this is an important period for pupils’ learning in English. Our task is to establish where each pupil has got to in his knowledge, experience and understanding of the subject, whilst establishing departmental expectations and principles. It is a time for pupils to explore more challenging literary worlds, enriching their reading and writing. One period a week may be set aside for pupils to read in the library and pupils will be expected to keep a Reading Record. It is also a time in which core language skills should be established and refined. By the end of year 7, we would expect pupils to have practised and acquired skills in common with the National Curriculum for English, levels 5/6.
Year 8
Pupils have five periods of English per week and two 45 minute homeworks. The
aim here is to build on pupils’ vocabulary and range of sentence structure,
encouraging them to become more mature readers and writers and to work more
analytically. This can be achieved through using a range of challenging and
enjoyable texts to encourage imaginative work and, crucially, through pupils’
reading. One period a week may be set aside for pupils to read in the library
and pupils will be expected to keep a Reading Record. By the end of year 8, we
would expect pupils to have practised and acquired skills in common with the
National Curriculum for English, levels 6/7.
Year 9
Pupils have four periods of English per week and two 45 minute homeworks. The aim here is to consolidate pupils’ learning and look ahead to the demands of G.C.S.E. Pupils should have developed an awareness of language as a creative medium and will have encountered many different forms of writing, both fiction and non-fiction. Pupils should be starting to develop critical and analytical skills in order to apply these to an ever widening range of literary texts. Pupils should continue to read independently. By the end of year 9, we would expect pupils to have practised and acquired skills in common with the National Curriculum for English, levels 7/8..
