English
Why should students study your subject?
English is a compulsory subject – you have to study it! – and we absolutely love that. The English teachers here at FBEC are fiercely passionate about our subject: we simply adore it. We love words, we love reading, we love writing, we even love spelling, punctuation and grammar!
In English we study a wide variety of texts so there’s something to suit everyone…students always enjoy the novels, plays and poems we teach.
In English, we encourage students to take part in writing competitions where work is published in a book; we bring theatres companies into school; and work with authors on various projects. We are looking to start an after-school reading club soon, too. Every year we participate in Book Buzz, where our new Year 7 students can choose a book from a fairly lengthy and varied list…and we pay for it!
What skills does your subject teach?
‘Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.’ – Kofi Annan
English teaches the skills of life: reading, writing, and speaking and listening, skills which are needed to be successful in every walk of life, no matter the career path you choose. We want our young people to be accurate and technical writers, whether it be through creative pieces or functional, ‘real life’ writing because spelling, punctuation and grammar matters. We teach students to develop their vocabulary and written expression.
We teach our students to love reading and encourage them to understand the place that Literature has in the past and the present. Students are taught to explore the messages and intentions of various writers; to explore the contexts the texts were written in; to investigate and analyse language; to consider how characters and themes are presented; and to think about what we can learn about ourselves and our lives from them.
Why is your subject useful for the world of work, or future employment? What kind of jobs could someone do using your subject? How can students take your subject further, eg at college, university, the world of work etc
Why is your subject useful for the world of work, or future employment? What kind of jobs could someone do using your subject? How can students take your subject further, e.g. at college, university, the world of work etc?
No matter which career path you choose, you need to have reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills! They are part of everyday life. You can study both English Language and English Literature at A Level and Degree Level. You can even study Creative Writing!
English graduates find opportunities with many different employers. Public and private sector organisations such as: The National Health Service (NHS); educational institutions; local and national government; financial and legal firms; and voluntary and charitable organisations, employ English graduates in a range of roles, including:
* administration
* arts management
* events management
* finance
* general management
* teaching
* research.
Other typical employers include:
* advertising, marketing, and public relations agencies
* media organisations
* publishing companies.
The retail, and leisure and tourism sectors also typically recruit English graduates.
What is your overall curriculum intent?
English at this school contributes to the whole school curriculum intent by developing pupil knowledge of reading, writing and oral communication. We aim to develop the understanding of a wide variety of texts, both fiction and non-fiction, modern and pre-19th century, from our culture and others. We encourage students to be able to write in a variety of forms and styles. We place great importance on the accuracy of spelling, grammar and punctuation so students can be clear and effective communicators.
The overarching intent of our curriculum for English is to:
• Develop and foster a love and appreciation of Language and Literature in our students.
• Make learning, exploring and investigating the subject fun and enjoyable.
• Increase students’ awareness that both English Language and Literature are found in a wide variety of forms, styles and contexts, and that it has a significant place in history.
• Encourage students to be enquiring thereby developing personal interpretations and opinions of texts.
• Challenge students to strive for success and achievement.
• Develop appropriate study skills and techniques, with students learning to listen and to question sensitively; to argue rationally and respectfully; and to apply themselves resiliently and positively to tasks.
• Develop confidence and a ‘can-do’ attitude to learning; develop a positive growth-mindset.
• Equip pupils with the key (and functional) skills of: speaking and listening, reading and writing which they need to meet the requirements of the world of work, leisure and further education.
• Make a significant contribution to the personal, social, cultural, intellectual and moral development of students.
• Provide an environment which is purposeful and academic yet caring and supportive; structured yet flexible; where pupils are able to develop as individuals and to operate as members of a school community in which expectations are very high.
• Encourage students to take pride in and for everything they say, do and, in terms of work, produce and create.
The English department has defined some core first order concepts that we feel are essential to the development of knowledge and understanding. These are: the ability to infer beyond the literal and ‘reading between the lines’; understanding that characters in texts are constructs which have been deliberately and consciously created to serve a purpose; understanding that many of the texts studied have been written with a clear purpose in mind and a message to convey; and to be able to establish a line of enquiry during the study of texts.
How is it implemented?
We teach English via a series of carefully sequenced units which are organised around the National Curriculum and requirements for GCSE, as well as the development of the substantive and disciplinary knowledge of both fiction and non-fiction texts from a range of time periods and cultures. This then links to students being able to write both creatively and analytically. Our five-year plan shows links to the skills required at GCSE level and how they are developed from Key Stage 3.
End points for each unit, in terms of the knowledge we intend pupils to acquire, are clearly defined in the MTP and shared with pupils and parents/carers.
Throughout KS3 departmental planning will identify the key knowledge concepts to be learned by pupils, embedded in long term memory and to be checked by teachers during lessons and via more formal assessment.
How is it Implemented?
The impact of the curriculum will be seen on a regular basis in the knowledge pupils express in discussion and written work of various types during lessons and as homework. Regular, high-quality marking from staff ensures the monitoring of students’ achievement and identification of areas for focus in order to improve and make progress.
Over time, assessment information will indicate that pupils have a secure grasp of the intended knowledge for particular units as well as prior learning. Each unit of work has formal assessments built in to ensure commonality across all year groups and classes.
How is your subject examined?
Both qualifications are 100% external examination. English Language is examined through two exam papers, both one hour and 45 minutes long. Paper 1 is called ‘Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing. Paper 2 is called ‘Writers’ Viewpoint and Perspectives’.
English Literature is examined through two exam papers. Paper 1 covers ‘Macbeth and ‘A Christmas Carol’ and is one hour and 45 minutes long. Paper 2 covers’ An Inspector Calls’, Power and Conflict Poetry, and Unseen Poetry; this exam is two hours and 15 minutes long.
How can someone improve in your subject?
How can someone improve in your subject? (e.g. links to revision sites etc)
Of course, students improve all of the time in English, simply by working hard and completing the work set in lessons! However, we also regularly offer opportunities to purchase study guides from a company called CGP. Mr Bruff on You Tube produces some very useful revision clips. Additional useful websites are:
GCSE English Literature - AQA - BBC Bitesize
How can students find out more?
Ask any English teacher at FBEC if you want to know more about our subject. See the websites above, too.