English

English is a key curriculum subject and our inspiring thematic curriculum aims to encourage a love of reading, creativity with language use and a fascination for words and communication in all forms!

Each term Year 8 will focus on developing specific speaking and listening, reading and writing skill sets linked by a common theme and drawing on fiction and non-fiction writing across the ages.

COURSE CONTENT Term 1

● Investigative Journalism ● Gothic Fiction

Term 2

● Love and Deception: Shakespeare ● Ballads and Poetry

Term 3

● Going Green ● Dystopia: Hunger Games

SKILLS DEVELOPED

● The ability to read and make connections across a wide range of literature and non-fiction, analysing and evaluating writer’s choices of language and structure. ● Use of a wide ranging vocabulary, along with accurate and effective standard English to produce their own transactional and creative writing pieces for specific audiences and purposes. ● The ability to speak confidently and effectively in a range of contexts, including small group.

RESOURCES

Please click here to view the English 5 Year Learning Journey. Full resourcing for lessons and homework will be provided by the department. Students should supplement this with their daily wider and independent reading.

SETTING

Students will be broadly grouped according to ability in English.

ASSESSMENTS

As a skills-based subject, our focus is on continually improving a wide range of linked skills across each term, rather than learning separate sets of content each time. We encourage students and parents to see all assessments as an opportunity to identify how they will improve further with the next theme. Assessments will be spoken as well as written both the ‘coursework’ and timed exam approach.

FRENCH