English | Year 9-11

GCSE Specification

English Language

English Literature

Intent

Literacy and the ability to read, write and communicate are at the heart of learning and of later successes in life. At LEAF, we take pride in our ability to challenge and support students so they may learn, excel, achieve and fulfil in these three core areas. Our aim is to enable all students to perform to their potential.

Through engaging lessons which stimulate discussion, we provide an environment in which students are confident in their ability to express their understanding and opinions on a wide range of texts – both fiction and non-fiction. The English Curriculum at LEAF aims to transmit a culturally enriching knowledge of literature by drawing from the literary Canon and a wider variety of texts that reflect voices in a diverse society, developing the cultural capital of all students at our school.

Our curriculum is designed to develop empathetic and engaged citizens through careful text choice, reflecting contemporary concerns and debates such as those about class, gender, intolerance and discrimination. Careful and considered curriculum construction prepares our students for the world of work and life after education through the development of key skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, public speaking and leadership. We aim to achieve this by offering a suitable challenge to students of all abilities.

Implementation

LEAF English curriculum aims to support student progression in the following key concepts:

1. Form, structure and coherence – understanding that texts are organized with intent.
2. Spelling, punctuation and grammar rules – understanding word classes, key spellings, sentence forms and varied punctuation.
3. Awareness of Impact and Intent – understanding that writing is shaped by the priorities of a writer and the needs of a reader, including the teaching of genre, audience and purpose.
4. Context – understanding how production and reception shape meaning.
5. Evidence – understanding how to read and listen for meaning and use evidence from texts to support personal and critical viewpoints.
6. Methods – understanding how writers and speakers choose from a variety of methods to create meaning and communicate and engage readers and audiences.

In Year 9, our students study:

• Critical Thinking – developing students’ critical understanding of how language and structure are used for effect across a diverse range of texts in preparation for GCSE English Language and Literature study.
• Shakespeare’s Villains – developing students’ understanding of the context of Shakespeare’s writing and the conventions of genre with respect to writing villains in preparation for the study of Macbeth for GCSE English Literature Paper 1.
• Propping Up the Line – developing students’ understanding and implementation of the skills required for GCSE English Language Paper 1. This unit also offers important contextual knowledge towards the study of Power and Conflict Poetry for English Literature Paper 2.
• Gothic Literature ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ – developing students’ understanding of the conventions of the gothic genre and providing the opportunity to study a short story that challenges their critical analysis abilities. This text offers important contextual knowledge towards the study of ‘An Inspector Calls’ for GCSE English Literature Paper 2
• The Art of Rhetoric – developing students’ understanding and application of the power of persuasion within written and spoken communications. This unit builds key skills in preparation for the study of GCSE English Language Paper 2.
• Power and Conflict Poetry – developing students’ knowledge of and ability to apply poetic techniques in analysis of meaning with poems. These poems form part of the AQA Poetry Anthology studied for GCSE English Literature Paper 2.
• Reading Strategy Class Readers – in addition to the above units, students enjoy the opportunity to read 3 complete texts as a whole class provision. These texts are: teen novel ‘Nought and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman, drama playscript ‘DNA’ by Dennis Kelly and political allegory ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell.

In Year 10, our students begin their study of the AQA English Language and AQA English Literature courses:

• ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B Priestly (GCSE English Literature Paper 2)
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens (GCSE English Literature Paper 1)
• ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare (GCSE English Literature Paper 1)
• Creative Writing Skills (GCSE English Language Paper 1)
• Power and Conflict Poetry (GCSE English Literature Paper 2)
• GCSE English Language Paper 2

In Year 11, our students complete their study of the AQA English Language and AQA English Literature courses:

• GCSE English Language Paper 1
• Power and Conflict Poetry
• Unseen Poetry
• Spoken Language Endorsement (Non-Exam Assessment)
• Dedicated GCSE exam revision programme

Impact

It is expected that GCSE specifications in English language should ensure students can read fluently and write effectively.

They should be able to demonstrate a confident control of Standard English and they should be able to write grammatically correct sentences, deploy figurative language and analyse texts. In addition, GCSE specifications in English language must enable students to: listen to and understand spoken language, and use spoken Standard English effectively.

Through literature, students have a chance to develop culturally and acquire knowledge of the best that has been thought and written. Studying GCSE English literature should encourage students to read widely for pleasure, and as a preparation for studying literature at a higher level.

Students are expected to leave school with the skills for employment and are aware how to make a positive and successful contribution to the society in which they live.