In September 2008 we introduced a two-year Key Stage Three. This means that Key Stage Three assessments, formerly completed at the end of Year 9, will be completed in Year 8. This will happen for the first time in 2010. Judgements will be made on the basis of continuous assessment of students’ attainment in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening in class over the two years, in addition to formal tests in Reading and Writing. We aim to enable students to make two levels of progress from their Key Stage Two assessments.
The Curriculum in English is based on the four key concepts of Creativity, Competence, Cultural Understanding and Critical Understanding. Our Schemes of Work are planned to include each of these concepts as the students develop their skills in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
Following our Transition Unit at the start of Year Seven, which introduces the students to the way they will learn in Key Stage Three, each class will work on units including Creative Writing, Introduction to Drama, Non-Fiction texts, Informative Writing, Study of a Novel and a Thematic Study.
In Year 8 students will develop the skills of essay writing and will study a Shakespeare play, as well as working on different types of non-fiction writing, studying newspaper journalism and analysing other types of media, including moving image.
Year Nine
In 2009-2010, Year 9 students are completing the third year of the original Key Stage Three curriculum which they started in Year Seven. Among a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, they will study a Shakespeare play and continue to develop their skills in a range of writing styles. At the end of the year their National Curriculum levels will be formally reported; these will be based both on continuous assessment in Reading Writing, Speaking and Listening, and on formal tests. The students will also have the opportunity to gain a qualification in Functional Skills English at either level 1 or level 2.
In 2010-2011 the Year 9 students, who will have completed their Key Stage Three curriculum, will study an enrichment and extension course which will prepare them for success in their GCSE English and English Literature and give them the opportunity of also taking GCSE Media Studies and English Functional Skills.