English – Vision

Reading Intent

At Heyford Park School we believe that reading is an essential life skill and we are committed to enabling our children to become lifelong readers. Reading is a skill that enables children to develop their learning across the wider curriculum and lays the foundations for success in future lines of study and employment. We have high expectations of all children and we encourage children to challenge themselves, persevere and pursue success, always ‘reaching for the stars’. We pride ourselves on our creative learning environment and classroom displays. At the heart of our strategy is our drive to foster a love of reading, enriching children’s learning through carefully designed teaching activities that utilise imaginative stories and thought provoking texts.

Writing Intent

At Heyford Park Primary we believe that writing is an essential skill and that we must overcome any barriers that prevent children from becoming confident writers. We aim to help our children develop these skills in the following ways:

• introducing and deconstructing a wide variety of model texts, covering a variety of genres

• by exposing and highlighting higher level vocabulary

• giving children opportunities to write for an authentic purpose

• ensuring children have opportunities to talk about and plan their writing

• a solid understanding of grammar and ability to use it for effect

• giving children opportunity to evaluate, revise and edit their own work as well as offer feedback on the work of their peers

• to be able to spell, not only the prescribed spelling words but also beyond, through delivery of the ‘Sounds and Syllables’ curriculum and methodology.

• take pride in their work and its presentation, including their handwriting We believe that these steps will provide children with the building blocks needed for successful writing at secondary school and beyond.

KS1 and KS2

Click here to read the KS1 and KS2 Primary English Curriculum
 

KS3 English Curriculum

Year 7

- Creative Writing: Myths and Legends

- 19th Century Novel: A Christmas Carol

- Persuasive Reading and Writing

- Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

- Modern Prose: Mortal Engines

- Spoken Language: Poetry and Culture

Year 8

- 19th Century Novel: Frankenstein

- Poetry: WW1 Poetry

- Creative Reading and Writing: Lord of the Flies

- Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

- Modern Prose: Of Mice and Men

- Spoken Language: Subverted Fairy Tales

Year 9

- Creative Writing – Gothic Literature (Language Paper 1 focus)

- Shakespeare: Macbeth (Literature Paper 1 focus)

- Poetry: Power and Conflict (Literature Paper 2 focus)

- 19th Century Novel: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Context (Language Paper 2 focus)

- Modern Drama: An Inspector Calls (Literature Paper 2 focus)

- Spoken Language: Speech Writing and Language Paper 2 Unit (reading and writing)

KS4 GCSE English Language

Examination Board: AQA

Assessment: 100% Examination

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading

Students will answer 4 questions on a literary fiction text:

• 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)

• 2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)

• 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)

Section B: Writing

Students will answer one extended writing question which will be either descriptive or narrative. 24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy.

Paper 1 is worth 80 marks (50% of overall GCSE) and is 1 hour 45 minutes

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Reading

Students will read two linked texts (one non-fiction, and one literary non-fiction)

• 1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)

• 2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)

• 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)

Section B: Writing

Students will answer one extended writing question which will be non-fiction, focused on writing to argue, persuade, explain. 24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy.

Paper 2 is worth 80 marks (50% of overall GCSE) and is 1 hour 45 minutes

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

Students present a speech, and are assessed on:

• Presenting

• Responding to questions and feedback

• Use of Standard English

This is completed in Year 9, is marked by teachers and is a separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)

KS4 GCSE English Literature

Examination Board: AQA

Assessment: 100% Examination

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-Century Novel

Section A: Shakespeare

Students will answer one question on the play Macbeth. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.

Section B: The 19th Century Novel

Students will answer one question on A Christmas Carol. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.

Paper 1 is worth 64 marks (40% of overall GCSE) and is 1 hour 45 minutes

Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry

Section A: Modern Texts

Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.

Section B: Poetry

Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from the Power and Conflict anthology cluster.

Section C: Unseen Poetry

Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

Paper 2 is worth 96 marks (60% of overall GCSE) and is 2 hours 15 minutes