TERM | LANG/LIT | CURRICULUM | ASSESSMENT | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES |
1 | LANGUAGE | DESCRIPTIVE WRITING Disaster Fiction | Write a description based on a given image (45 minutes) | A05 – Students can WRITE
A06 – Students can EDIT
|
1 | LITERATURE | DRAMA The Tempest | Extract essay (45 minutes) | AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
A04 - Students can EVALUATE
|
2 | LITERATURE | POETRY Love Poetry | Response to an Unseen Poem (45 minutes) | AO1 – Students can INTERPRET
AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
The writer’s use of techniques for effect
|
2 | LANGUAGE | NON-FICTION WRITING Speeches, leaflets, articles and letters | Create a non-fiction text on a given subject (45 minutes) | A05 – Students can WRITE
A06 – Students can EDIT
|
3 | LITERATURE | MODERN FICTION Private Peaceful | Character essay (45 minutes) | AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
A04 - Students can EVALUATE
|
3 | LANGUAGE | READING SKILLS Private Peaceful |
| AO1 – Students can INTERPRET
AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
|
English
The English Department concentrates on embedding a love of English and creating a safe environment for all students to speak, listen, read, write and think. Enjoyment and a love of language and literature are fundamental to the planning and delivery of our curriculum.
Communication skills are vital. Being able to speak, listen, read and write are the cornerstones of building personal relationships and being successful in all aspects of life.
TERM | LANG/LIT | CURRICULUM | ASSESSMENT | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES |
1 | LANGUAGE | DESCRIPTIVE WRITING Fantasy Fiction | Write a description based on a given image (45 minutes) | A05 – Students can WRITE
A06 – Students can EDIT
|
1 | LITERATURE | DRAMA Much Ado About Nothing | Extract essay (45 minutes) | AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
A04 - Students can EVALUATE
|
2 | LITERATURE | POETRY World Poetry | Response to an Unseen Poem (45 minutes) | AO1 – Students can INTERPRET
AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
|
2 | LANGUAGE | NON-FICTION WRITING Speeches, leaflets, articles and letters | Create a non-fiction text on a given subject (45 minutes) | A05 – Students can WRITE
A06 – Students can EDIT
|
3 | LITERATURE | MODERN FICTION A Monster Calls | Character essay (45 minutes) | AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
|
3 | LANGUAGE | READING SKILLS A Monster Calls |
| AO1 – Students can INTERPRET
AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
|
TERM | LANG/LIT | CURRICULUM | ASSESSMENT | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES |
1 | LANGUAGE | DESCRIPTIVE WRITING Protest Fiction | Write a description based on a given image (45 minutes) | A05 – Students can WRITE
A06 – Students can EDIT
|
1 | LITERATURE | DRAMA Macbeth | Extract essay (45 minutes) | AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
A04 - Students can EVALUATE
|
2 | LITERATURE | POETRY Unseen Poetry | Response to an Unseen Poem (45 minutes) | AO1 – Students can INTERPRET
AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
|
2 | LANGUAGE | NON-FICTION WRITING Speeches, leaflets, articles and letters | Create a non-fiction text on a given subject (45 minutes) | A05 – Students can WRITE
A06 – Students can EDIT
|
3 | LITERATURE | MODERN FICTION Lord of the Flies | Character essay (45 minutes) | AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
A04 – Students can EVALUATE
|
3 | LANGUAGE | READING SKILLS Lord of the Flies |
| AO1 – Students can INTERPRET
AO2 – Students can ANALYSE
|
At DESC, all KS4 students study towards the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE in English Language. This involves students completing one examination, at the end of Year 11, and one Non-examined Assessment (coursework folder), throughout Year 10 and 11.
Both the examination and coursework focus on improving the students’ skills in reading and writing.
Reading:
- Demonstrate a precise understanding of extended texts
- Synthesise, develop, analyse and evaluate facts, ideas and opinions
- Effectively summarise, paraphrase and re-express
- Demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve their effects
- Recognise and respond to sophisticated linguistic devices
- Extract appropriate information for specific purposes
Writing:
- Express effectively what is thought, felt and imagined
- Order and convey facts, ideas and opinions effectively
- Demonstrate sophisticated use of imaginative and varied vocabulary
- Demonstrate a clear sense of audience and context
- Demonstrate accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar
- Use effectively a variety of sentence structures
| Paper | Paper 1: Reading Passages | Paper 2: Coursework Portfolio |
| What is assessed? | Section A: Transactional Writing Section B: Analysis of Language Section C: Summary question | Coursework One: Descriptive/Narrative Writing Coursework Two: Non-Fiction Writing Coursework Three: Response to a Text |
| How is it assessed? | • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes • 50 marks • 50% of GCSE | NEA • 50 marks • 50% of GCSE |
| Questions | Q1: Write a non-fiction text using the stimulus material (15 marks for reading, 5 marks for writing) Q2: Analysing writers’ language choices (10 marks for reading) Q3: Bullet point summary of key information (15 marks) Written summary of key information (5 marks) | Coursework One: 40 marks for writing Coursework Two: 40 marks for writing Coursework Three 40 marks for writing, 10 marks for reading (Writing marks for the three pieces will be added together and an average will be taken and added to the reading mark for Coursework Three |
At DESC, all KS4 students study towards the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE in English Literature. This involves students completing two examinations, at the end of Year 11.
The examinations will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives:
- AO1: Demonstrate a close knowledge and understanding of texts, maintaining a critical style and presenting an informed personal engagement.
- AO2: Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects.
- AO3: Explore links and connections between texts.
- AO4: Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.
| Paper | Paper 1: Poetry and Modern Prose | Paper 2: Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts |
| What is assessed? | Section A: Unseen Poetry Section B: Anthology Poetry Section C: Of Mice & Men | Section A: An Inspector Calls Section B: Romeo & Juliet |
| How is it assessed? | • Written exam: 2 hours • 90 marks • 60% of GCSE | • Written exam: 1 hour, 30 minutes • 60 marks • 40% of GCSE |
| Questions | Section A: One 20-mark essay question exploring the meaning and effects created in an unseen poem. Section B: One 30-mark essay question from a choice of two, comparing two poems the Edexcel IGCSE English Anthology. Section C: One 40-mark essay question from a choice of two on Of Mice & Men. | Section A – Modern Drama: One 30-mark essay question from a choice of two on An Inspector Calls. Section B: One 30-mark essay question from a choice of two on Romeo & Juliet. |
Examining Board: AQA
Syllabus/Code: English Language (7702)
The English Language A level is a two-year linear course, with the A level qualification being examined and awarded at the end of Year 13. This stimulating course provides students with the opportunity to consider how language is used in different situations, develop their creative writing skills and hone their ability to produce ‘publishable’ texts. It also enhances their academic writing skills, which will benefit their future degree studies whatever they choose to read at university. The A level course consists of two external examinations, plus a non-examined assessment.
Course Summary
Paper 1: This paper focuses on textual variations and representations. Students develop the scientific skills of comparison and analysis. They also explore how children develop and acquire language from birth to 11 years old.
Paper 2: This paper concentrates on language diversity and tests students’ writing skills as they consider attitudes towards Language. Students evaluate larger-scale public discourses relating to language change and variety, drawing on regional, ethnic, national and global English.
Non-examined assessment: The NEA involves a 2,000-word investigation, where students are required to create and test their own language theory alongside a piece of original writing of 1,500 words, accompanied by a commentary detailing and analysing their own linguistic choices.
For a more detailed breakdown of subject requirements, please click on the following link: AQA English Language Specification
Career Pathways/Key Skills Developed:
The ability to communicate effectively in both speech and writing is a necessity for everyone in all aspects of life. This course aims to develop active, responsible and independent learners, and gives students a strong grounding in the academic principles related to working with data. A level English Language is an excellent option for students who are considering reading, amongst others, Law, English Language, Linguistics, Psychology, Politics, Social Sciences, Science and MFL. Possible career paths may include: forensic linguistics, speech therapy, lexicography, digital copywriting, editorial roles, marketing, web-content management, and journalism.
Examination Breakdown
| Name | Assessment Type | Weighting |
| Paper 1 | Language, the individual and society Examination | 40% 2 hours 30 minutes 100 marks |
| Paper 2 | Language Diversity and Change Examination | 40% 2 hours 30 minutes 100 marks |
| NEA | Language in Action Two written pieces:
| 20% 100 marks 3500 words |
Examining Board: Oxford AQA
Syllabus/Code: English Literature (9675)
The English Literature A level is a two-year linear course, with the A level qualification being examined and awarded at the end of Year 13. This inspirational course provides students with the opportunity to read a range of exciting new prose, drama and poetry texts - both in class and independently. The A level course comprises of three examinations, worth a total of 70% and a non-examined assessment component, worth 30%. Each exam is 2 hours and consists of two questions.
Course Summary
Unit 1: The focus of this exam is aspects of dramatic tragedy. Students study one of Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies, Othello, and a play that redefined American Theatre: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. At the core of both set texts is a tragic hero or heroine who is flawed in some way, who suffers and causes suffering to others.
Unit 2: This paper explores two texts that are linked through the cultural genre of place. The texts explore the significance of place(s) in the texts: to their stories; their narrative structures; their socio-cultural views of the world; their potential meanings. Students analyse the remarkable novel The Great Gatsby and the poetry of Seamus Heaney.
Unit 3: This unit examines elements of crime and mystery in literature. Students study one of the most terrifying plays in the English language, Macbeth, and Kate Atkinson’s crime thriller When Will There Be Good News? In both texts a significant crime drives the narrative and the execution and consequences of the crime are fundamentally important to the way the texts are structured.
Unit 4: This unit compromises of a non-exam assessment submission, that is teacher assessed and externally moderated. The NEA involves a critical study of two texts; one prose text and one poetry collection. Students are free to choose texts that interest and inspire them.
For a more detailed breakdown of subject requirements, please click on the following link: Oxford AQA English Literature Specification
Career Pathways/Key Skills Developed
The ability to read for meaning is a necessity for everyone in all aspects of life. English Literature A level is ideal for students who wish to broaden their knowledge and understanding of texts; it also develops different types of reading and research skills. The written responses students will produce offers them the opportunity to develop their writing skills, ensuring that their communication on paper is both accurate and clear. This is an excellent option for students who are considering reading, amongst others, Law, History, Politics, Social Sciences, Journalism and MFL.
Examination Breakdown
| Name | Assessment Type | Weighting |
| Unit 1 | Aspects of Dramatic Tragedy:Shakespeare, Modern Play Examination | 20% 2 hours 50 marks |
| Unit 2 | Place in Literary Texts:Prose and Poetry Examination | 20% 2 hours 50 marks |
| Unit 3 | Elements of Crime and Mystery: Play and Prose Examination | 30% 2 hours 50 marks |
| Unit 4 | Non-examined assessment:Study of one poetry and one prose text Two essays of 1500 words each | 30% 50 marks 3000 words |